LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 24:10 October 2024
ISSN 1930-2940

Editors:
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         T. Deivasigamani, Ph.D.
         Pammi Pavan Kumar, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.

Managing Editor & Publisher: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.

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Screams of Broken Souls in Ruined with the Context of Existential Feminism

Dr. Parvesh, Ph.D.


Courtesy: www.amazon.com

Abstract

Existential feminism paved the way for other female writers who desired to explore literature with the lens of gender equality. After World War II, Jean Paul Sartre propounded the theory of Existentialism where he concluded that ‘existence precedes essence’ (26). In 1949 Simon de Beauvoir redefined the limits of gender and wrote a book called The Second Sex where she lamented upon the status of labeling a woman as other. She stressed upon the fact that even women, like men are not pre-destined. This theory proved to be revolutionary and was an amalgamation of her firsthand experiences and philosophical ideology.

The main purpose of existential feminism is to serve absolute liberty in making choices and acknowledgement to every sex and gender on the basis of individual spontaneity whether it is political, social, domestic or psychological, and not from external or authority. The basic trait of a woman in each corner of the world is similar as well their issues are.

In this present article I will be focusing on one of the darkest and harsh realities of a region called Democratic Republic of Congo while exploring a play by Lynn Nottage called Ruined with the context of existential feminism. Nottage is a very profound playwright who is the only playwright to win Pulitzer award twice in her life for plays, one for Ruined in 2009 and another in 2017 for the play, Sweat. Nottage has published more than ten plays and acclaimed worldwide popularity. Her plays are the replete of basic and relevant social issues based in Congolese culture and the people. Her play Ruined has multifaceted themes discussing darkest sides of female exploitation. The setting of the play is a bar in an anonymous small mining town with the backdrop of civil war in DRC. The bar’s owner Mama Nadi is an authoritative lady in her early forties who runs a bar where she sells alcohol as well as ladies. The present paper will throw light on the circumstances where all these above-mentioned topics were brutally ignored. Beauvoir affirms that despite tireless endeavors a woman still experiences existential crisis in every sphere of life.

Keywords: Lynn Nottage, Ruined, Existential Feminism, Democratic Republic of Congo, genital mutilation, rape, violence.

Introduction

Lynn Nottage’s writing style often investigates the human mind and soul from depth while also focusing on introspection of the characters. Her language mirrors the plain prose depicting true events and brutal atrocities perpetrated on Congolese women. She reflects the true picture of these women with a convincing and accessible narrative addressing the themes of existentialism, patriarchal society and raising feministic point of view. In an interview, Lynn Nottage mentioned the following: “I cannot bear to live in a world where such horrific things are happening to my African sisters without doing whatever I can to help them... Our silence on this issue sends a message to the Congolese government that it can continue to rape the land and its people with impunity" (Nottage, 2012).

War has always proved to be means to violate female rights. Women become victim of war and have been exploited the most. Civil wars too created much chaos and here women as assumed to be the weakest section of society, have been subjected to gender-based barbarism. Even after the fourth wave of Feminism the issues and debates seem much needed for raising voices in the favor of gender equality today.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Dr. Parvesh, Ph.D.
SMDRSD College
Pathankot 145001
Punjab
drparvesh85@gmail.com
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