Sexual trauma is a difficult subject to write about, but playwrights have found ways to explore it with nuance and depth. In this article, we'll examine how playwrights can depict sexual trauma and recovery using innovative narrative techniques.
How Playwrights Can Explore Sexual Trauma Through Narration
One way that playwrights can explore sexual trauma is by focusing on how the character experiences the event. This can be done through dialogue, internal monologues, flashbacks, dream sequences, or other methods.
Sarah Kane's "Blasted" portrays a woman who has been raped by her partner and struggles to come to terms with what happened. The audience sees the event unfold from her perspective as she recalls the details of the assault and tries to make sense of it.
How Playwrights Use Setting To Convey Emotions Around Sexual Trauma
Another technique used by playwrights is setting. By setting the scene in an environment where the character feels comfortable, they can highlight the contrast between their safe place and their experience of sexual violence.
In "The Vagina Monologues", Eve Ensler places the characters in different settings such as a gynecologist office, a public restroom, and a party to demonstrate how the character copes with her traumatic past.
Using Symbolism To Represent Sexual Trauma On Stage
Playwrights can also use symbolism to represent sexual trauma. This can involve using objects, colors, or images that evoke feelings associated with the character's experience.
In "A Doll's House," Henrik Ibsen uses a door that locks behind Nora when she leaves her husband to signify the closing off of her life after she discovers his infidelity. Similarly, in "The Color Purple," Alice Walker uses purple to represent Celie's abuse at the hands of her stepfather.
Exploring Recovery Through Dialogue And Character Development
After experiencing sexual trauma, a character may go through various stages of recovery. This can include denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Playwrights can explore these stages through dialogue between characters or internal monologues.
In "Angels in America," Tony Kushner explores the emotional journey of Prior Walter, who contracts HIV from his lover and has to come to terms with the fact that he will soon die.
Using Humor And Comedy To Address Sexual Trauma
While sexual trauma is often portrayed as a serious subject, playwrights have found ways to address it through humor and comedy. By injecting humor into their plays, they can provide catharsis for audiences and allow them to process difficult topics without feeling overwhelmed.
In "Boeing Boeing," Marc Camoletti uses farce to explore gender roles and the consequences of extramarital affairs, which can be seen as a metaphor for sexual violence.
How do playwrights depict sexual trauma and recovery through innovative narrative techniques?
Playwrights have created several inventive methods to describe sexual abuse and healing on stage. One such method is using flashbacks to present events that happened before or after the traumatic event. This approach allows viewers to see how the character's previous experiences influence their reaction to the current situation. Playwrights also employ monologues, soliloquies, and dialogue between characters to convey inner thoughts and feelings related to the trauma.