A cofounder of the Provincetown Players - the group that acted as midwife to the American theatre - Susan Glaspell (1876-1948) can also lay claim to be a major figure in her own right. Her early plays were in many respects as challenging and original as those with which O'Neill made his debut. Her concern with language as subject, with character as an expression of social role, with plot as a mechanism that may ensnare rather than locate the self, mode her very much a modern. In Trifles (1916) she developed a feminist critique of social role. In The Outside (1917) she staged a debate between…mehr
A cofounder of the Provincetown Players - the group that acted as midwife to the American theatre - Susan Glaspell (1876-1948) can also lay claim to be a major figure in her own right. Her early plays were in many respects as challenging and original as those with which O'Neill made his debut. Her concern with language as subject, with character as an expression of social role, with plot as a mechanism that may ensnare rather than locate the self, mode her very much a modern. In Trifles (1916) she developed a feminist critique of social role. In The Outside (1917) she staged a debate between the life force and a perverse celebration of death. In both plays silence becomes an eloquent expression of meaning. The Verge (1921) is an experimental work of considerable proportions, more daring in many ways than anything attempted by O'Neill. Though Inheritors (1921) is far more conventional it touched a contemporary nerve, questioning the nature and reality of American pieties. Long known only for a single play, Susan Glaspell now emerges as a significant figure in the history of American drama, a woman of genuine creative daring.
Susan Keating Glaspell (July 1, 1876 - July 27, 1948) was a pioneering American playwright, novelist, actress, director, biographer, and poet, best known for her contributions to modern American drama. A founding member of the Provincetown Players, she played a key role in shaping the early years of modern theater in the United States. Glaspell's writing, whether in plays or novels, is characterized by her focus on complex, sympathetic characters and an exploration of the human experience. She often delved into issues of social and moral significance, using realism to portray life's challenges. Her work reflects a deep interest in philosophy and religion, and many of her characters are depicted as making principled stands in the face of personal and societal conflict. In addition to her literary work, Glaspell served as the Midwest Bureau Director of the Federal Theater Project under the Works Progress Administration, further demonstrating her commitment to advancing American theater. Her legacy endures in the richness of her characters and the depth of her exploration into the complexities of life and human nature.
Inhaltsangabe
Introduction Biographical record Trifles The Outside The Verge Inheritors The plays of Susan Glaspell Select bibliography.
