Female Portraits in Harold Pinter and Oscar Wilde

Abstract

This article offers a feminist approach to the literary works of Oscar Wilde and Harold Pinter by focusing on their female characters and trying to offer a psychoanalytic approach to them. The female figures are not only important to the dramas themselves but they are also crucial to understand the process by which patriarchy attempted to oppress women during the decades. In many cases women resisted such oppressions and encouraged audiences to view their position in the society differently. This study will argue and encourage for a greater appreciation of female characters through a feminist psychoanalytic approach. We will focus on the similarities and differences of the female figures of these two authors who had a great impact on modern and postmodern English drama. This will surely change the audience view point of reading literary pieces and will make them have a clear image of women’s position in the society.

DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2013.v3n7p679