Power In David Mamet's Oleanna

David Mamet’s Oleanna involves a male university professor, named John, and a female student, named Carol, in a modern university setting. An ordinary discussion between the two about Carol’s failing grade progresses into a sexual harassment and it strongly displays each of their struggle for power. Each character strives to exaggerate themselves by using difficult words to dominate the opponent character. Moreover, stereotypical power associated with the social status of a university professor turns out to be nothing when the modern female student gains a voice and uses her power to destroy John and his career. Carol, who in the beginning represents a powerless female, under a dominant and successful male figure John, becomes an active advocate …show more content…
John is a representative icon of the established ideology as a proud university professor in comparison with the female student, Carol, who belongs to a powerless class. John is very proud of himself, of his accomplishments, his career, and his house. He rates them above anything. He is isolated in his school office from the rest of the world. For example, his self-centeredness can be observed when he frequently replies to interrupting phone calls that he “can’t talk now” or that he will “call later” (pg10). John’s dominance in power can be seen when he dismisses Carol’s sincere ask for help by replying “I’ll make you a deal.” “Your final grade is an ‘A.’” “If you will come back and meet with me. A few more times. Your grade’s an A” (pg 25).Having crossed unspecified social and economic barriers to get to college, Carol seems to be especially troubled by John's cynical attitude of education. Also, John is abusing his authoritative power for not assessing and grading his student on a fair, legitimate standard. On the other hand, Carol’s power is oblivious because she expresses her frustrations that “It’s difficult for me…The language, the ‘things’ that you say” and she repeats herself over and over “I don’t understand” (pg38). However, from Act two, Carol is in charge. She in turn, settles a deal at John that she will drop the charges if he will agree to ban several “questionable” books, including his own, from the curriculum. Carol's efforts to dictate class content and reading list, clearly violate John's academic freedom. This infuriates John but he persistently tries to convince Carol to drop her charges by pleading her for sympathy, which Carol arrogantly refuses by disclosing, “I came here as a favor” (pg 50). The power has clearly shifted when Carol uses rhetorical strategies of sexual politics to change her position in the