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Darwinism In Miss Julie

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August Strindberg 's Miss Julie is a naturalist theatrical deconstruction of the socially upheld gender norms of the time period. The play was written in 1888 and premiered in Stockholm the following year. Strindberg himself was supportive of these societal structures, however, modern readings of this play do not necessarily consider the author 's intention. Strindberg 's thought processes in regard to gender were heavily influenced Darwinism, or what is referred to as Darwin Misogyny. Kimberley Hamlin describes Darwin 's views on sex and gender expression in her book From Eve to evolution: Darwin, science and women 's rights in Guilded Age America, explaining that “Darwin 's own views on gender, at least as expressed in his published writings, …show more content…

Strindberg, being the dedicated misogynist he is, did not account for this. Modern audiences struggle to see the writing for its intended naturalism, the dialogue is often interpreted as melodramatic and extreme, as are the outcomes of the conflict. The themes are still highly relatable in the context of the modern world, “the play deals with bold themes of class and sexual identity politics. Notwithstanding the progress made in breaking down gender barriers, the inequalities inherent in a patriarchal system persist in modern society. Miss Julie highlights these imbalances” (Jain, 164). The play highlights persisting imbalances, although Strindberg had meant for the ending to be a lesson in how biological traits mix with the environment and the virtue of the soul, although he had intended Julie to be a warning to women of how they victimize themselves by being “stunted” and unable to reconcile their place, modern audiences view Julie as a passionate and tragic heroine. A modern staging of Miss Julie could go in so many different topical directions. The whole play is full of opportunities to flesh out gender expression beyond Strindberg 's own black and white, “scientific” reading. Jain points out that “Jean introduces Miss Julie as a woman who wishes to dominate men, subjecting them to her sadistic will. Her fiancé has walked out on her, because of her wish to ‘train’ him, her urge to crack the whip... ...The whip is a phallic symbol that signifies Miss Julie’s masculinity and identity as a master while the references to her bodily functions – her sexual urges and her menstruation – establish her vulnerability as a sexual being, and as a

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