Introduction
Art is not just a source of aesthetic beauty and pleasure for people. It is the author’s method of conveying one’s own vision on some issues of human life. In addition, with the help of art, the author has the opportunity to draw attention to any problem, displaying its fundamentals in the story. The most topical issues that the authors raise in their works are those that are of more concern to the public and that are on the agenda. Due to specific stylistic devices and an exciting plot, the author makes the reader reflect on the defined problem. The work aims to analyze issues of gender, identity, and feminism in Cloud 9 by Churchill Caryl.
A characteristic feature of the dramaturgy of Caryl Churchill is the raising of acute social problems in works. It applies, for example, to problems of gender, feminism, and identity, the issues of which have been analyzed more than once in various works and the problem of which is being raised to a new level. Popular topics of the author’s works are the role of money in society and the issue of similarities and disagreements between the British and Americans. In addition, Churchill raises the topic of self-identification and race.
Further, among the topics that the author touches on in their works, there is the ethical aspect of scientific progress and the role of creativity in human life. However, each piece of Churchill can be conditionally divided into two elements, namely the external plot and the internal idea. The external plot is only a shell of the main idea, with the help of which the author expresses the vision of the problem. Plot twists are a prism through which the viewer sees the world created by the writer and the role of the issue raised in this world.
It is worth noting a literary device that is often used as a means of expression by Churchill is a historical anachronism. The writer creates theatrical situations in which characters live in different eras and in various countries. This paradoxical approach creates additional tension for the audience and reveals more tension. Besides, it can be noticed that every word, phrase, and text of the characters in Churchill’s plays accurately conveys the main idea without using unnecessary words. This peculiarity is created by broadcasting on television and radio, where it is necessary to share one’s thoughts with the audience clearly.
The Chosen Play: Its Idea and Features
The chosen piece is Cloud 9, a two-acted play that was co-produced with the Joint Stock Theater Company in 1978. It premiered on February 14, 1979, at Dartington College of Arts, Devon, and gained massive success from the audience. The two acts of the play create a special theatrical structure, with the help of which the author represents additional tensions and emotional pressure and conveys the main idea. One may notice how skillfully and interestingly Churchill uses time periods. The action of first act takes place in the Victorian era in British colonial Africa. The second act is characterized by a performance in London Park in 1979, but 25 years passed for the characters. Moreover, the play has various actors for the many characters in the acts. Therefore, each actor does not play only one role and can have two roles in one act.
The idea of first act is a parody of the traditional genre of comedy and a mockery of colonialism and the Victorian era. The second act, supplementing the idea of the first one due to the plot twists, shows what can happen if the views of the comic genre and Victorian ideology are not limited (Morosetti & Okagbue, 2021). Thus, with the help of the ideas of two acts and characters, the author not only raises the problems of gender, identity and feminism. Churchill conveys a warning to the viewers, trying to present them with the chosen issue. It is worth noting that the author uses contradictory techniques to create additional tension and convey an idea.
Among the controversial means used by Churchill are those, which in some ways may seem unacceptable to the audience and cause strong emotions. For example, there is obscene language in the play as a means of expression and controversial depictions of sexuality. Furthermore, it might be noticed that there is a parallel between Victorian colonialism and sexual oppression. The main idea of the humor of the play, namely inconsistencies and carnival style, conveys the idea that each person can be whoever one wants. People can be unique and not like others, and, at the same time, individuals should not dominate over anyone and force them into a particular social role.
The Problem of Identity
One may notice the intertwining of the characters’ relationships and the display of both homosexual and lesbian relations in work. For example, Harry Bagley, a researcher who arrives at Clive’s house, has a secret relationship with Clive’s son, Edward (Churchill, 1984). In addition, Ellen’s governess is a lesbian and must marry Harry after his relationship is discovered. Such an intertwining of relationships between characters helps the author effectively draw the viewer’s attention to the problem raised by Churchill, namely the problem of identity. With the help of various situations, condemnation from the outside, and possible reasons for the bisexuality of the characters, the author tries to convey a definite idea. It is formulated by the notion that anyone can be whoever they want and cannot be judged for it.
It is stated by the fact that one is not ambiguous in what identity one has. In other words, it can be expressed in the opinion that one cannot be blamed for whom one is born. In addition, one may notice how, by switching between actors, the author draws the attention of the viewer to the problem of identity in terms of the racial issue. It correlates with the main ideas of Fires in the Mirror by Anna Smith, where the author, with the help of monologues, represents the race issue (Smith, 2015). For example, the theme of adapting to society and feelings of separation from it while remaining a part of society. It is connected with the global issue of identity, namely how a person identifies himself in a community.
This problem is conveyed through the character of Joshua, where an African-American person plays a European-American character. This reveals the conflict within Joshua’s personality when the character does not consider himself part of the nation, and their performance and expression highlight it. The character states that his identity is not who Joshua belongs to. In this regard, one may notice the author’s intention to convey the inequity aspect of some social rules. Besides, the author demonstrates that a person’s identity can differ from the appearance of an individual. It reveals the importance of the freedom of choice of a person in terms of who one feels oneself to be. Churchill emphasizes that the imposition of certain social norms is unacceptable. Thus, it formulates a stylistic way to convey the issue to the audience.
Gender Issue
In the first act of Cloud 9, the author, with the help of suspense features, reveals not only the problem of identity but also the gender issue. It is represented, for example, by the situation when Betty’s daughter, Victoria, marries the “imperious” Martin (Churchill, 1984). Namely, their relationship shows the problem of gender inequality, namely Martin’s overbearing behavior. In general, act 1 expresses a biased attitude toward gender identity and sexuality through the prism of the colonial past of Great Britain. It is formulated by judgment and by the severity of the choice of some characters. Again, the basic idea is that everyone can be whoever one wants to be. In addition, there should be balance and mutual respect in the relationship between a man and a woman. The uneven distribution of forces in marriage and any manifestation of the inequality of the sexes is unacceptable.
By switching the characteristics of the race and gender identities of the actors between the characters in the two acts, Churchill levels out the stereotypes in these factors. Thus, in the first act, the character of Betty is played by a man, and in the second, by a woman. Similarly, Edward in the first act is played by a female actor, and in the second by a male. It is applied to heighten the astonishment aspect and subvert the audience’s expectations, which helps draw more attention to the issue of gender and identity. Regarding the character of Betty, it is explained by the fact that by using such a method, the author deals with the concept of gender identity by debunking the idea of femininity. Namely, this model is only a stereotype, which was largely imposed by the rules of the public. It articulates the conceptual factor of raising mentioned problems in work.
The emphasis on the gender issue is also noticeable in the play’s second act. It is formulated by the fact that in the first act, energy from men prevailed, and therefore the first act has a more solid structure. In contrast, the second act’s model highlights the significance of women and minorities. In addition, the military presence of Northern Ireland displays an aspect of colonial oppression. Using such a time span, Churchill displays a vision of the problems in different eras and demonstrates that the basic principles of freedom are unchanged. The author uses the Victorian era and the transition to 1979 as a way to show the causes of the problem, how attitudes to this issue have changed, and the consequences of these changes. Besides, it formulates the thematic aspect of representing certain problems in the play.
Feminism
One may notice the ideas of feminism, which are articulated by the transition from the first act to the second, namely, how the structure and influence of men and women change in the two acts. It involves freer relationships, including sexual ones, in the second act. Besides, the impact of women in the second act increases compared to the dominance of men in the first. Additionally, it is articulated by the relationship between Martin and Victoria, Betty’s daughter (Churchill, 1984). The author emphasizes Martin’s domineering nature and injustice towards Victoria. It demonstrates not only the idea of gender equality but also the principle of feminism, namely the even distribution of balance in relations between a man and a woman.
Furthermore, aspects of feminism can be noticed in Betty’s character. Namely, the fact that the female character was played by a man underlines the above-mentioned ideas. The main point is the goal of the author to convey a specific idea to the audience with the help of such a technique. The notion is that femininity as a characteristic is artificial and contrived. In other words, this factor symbolizes excessive attention to the division of the sexes and the denial of the main principles of feminism. That is, the balance between the attitudes towards men and women should be applied, which is expressed in an equal distribution of the functions of society. Finally, the above-mentioned idea should be respected and observed in marriage.
Conclusion
In conclusion, literary works, such as plays, do not only act as entertainment; they convey important messages and issues that were relevant to the society of that time. It is worth noting that Churchill’s the Cloud 9 has become one of the bold, innovative, and breakthrough plays among those that offer similar ideas. The purpose of the author is to contribute to a radical reassessment of the problems of feminism, gender, and identity. In addition, with the help of vivid characters, plot twists, and author’s tools, Churchill was able to take these problems to a new level. It is formulated by the fact that the stylistic features of the work play a positive marketing role. Namely, vivid performance and excitement will encourage a large number of people to pay attention both to the author and to the vital issues raised.
References
Churchill, C. (1984). Cloud 9. Psychology Press.
Morosetti, T., & Okagbue, O. (2021). The Palgrave handbook of theatre and race. Springer Nature.
Smith, A. D. (2015). Fires in the mirror. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group.