The process of discovery insurmountably affects perceptions of human nature and the wider world. Discovery, literally and metaphorically, is the foundation of an individual's physical and emotional evolution, influencing all aspects of their life. The concept that a change of location allows personal growth or decay is considerably relevant to the idea of physical discovery leading to emotional revelation. This is a prevalent thematic concern within Michael Gow’s play Away (1986) in which discovery evidently impacts upon the characters’ perceptions of class structure. This text also explores the changing perceptions of feminism and sexual consent, leading to a shift in societal behaviours. The acknowledgment of mental illness is a discovery
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This changes the audiences’ preconception of the nature of sexual consent and the influence of it upon their own world. Sylvia Plath was a martyr of the Second Wave feminism as her writing induced this questioning of the conventional values surrounding sexual consent. The Bell Jar confronts the issue of sexual consent when Esther is sexually assaulted by a wealthy man she is introduced to at a party, “If I just lie here and do nothing it will happen … I fisted my fingers together and smashed them at his nose. It was like hitting the steel plate of a battleship.” Plath’s use of tactile imagery and simile demonstrates Esther’s discovery of her ability and power to refuse unwanted sexual advances. This affirmation of a young woman’s empowerment influences the audience’s perspective on feminism and sexual consent, supporting the importance of discovery in the evolution of empowerment. Away similarly illustrates this concept, both texts establishing the necessity of discovery in changing perceptions and values surrounding feminism and sexual …show more content…
Gow embodies this discovery with Coral, a woman who suffers from depression after her son dies in the Vietnam War, utilising her self-acceptance to demonstrate an individual's’ ability to change perspective upon experiencing personal revelation. “I’ll sort things out … I’ll be right as rain... ” Coral metaphorically states, in first person, her conscious decision to acknowledge and improve her mental health, discovering that personal evolution is key to changing her outlook of human nature. The audience realises an individual’s inevitable change in perspective, following this discovery. This concept is Plath’s primary theme in The Bell Jar as Esther’s view of the world is dependent on her ability to discover solace within her mental illness. Plath uses the motif of ‘the bell jar’ to symbolise Esther’s depression, metaphorically alluding to improvement of Esther’s perception of her world, “The bell jar hung, suspended a few feet above my head. I was open to the circulating air.” Esther’s discovery through acknowledgment allows her to expand her understanding of human nature and the world around her. The audience is able to see the effect an individual’s understanding of mental illness has upon their outlook. Both texts support this ideology and each display a character’s personal growth following their discovery of mental
This changes the audiences’ preconception of the nature of sexual consent and the influence of it upon their own world. Sylvia Plath was a martyr of the Second Wave feminism as her writing induced this questioning of the conventional values surrounding sexual consent. The Bell Jar confronts the issue of sexual consent when Esther is sexually assaulted by a wealthy man she is introduced to at a party, “If I just lie here and do nothing it will happen … I fisted my fingers together and smashed them at his nose. It was like hitting the steel plate of a battleship.” Plath’s use of tactile imagery and simile demonstrates Esther’s discovery of her ability and power to refuse unwanted sexual advances. This affirmation of a young woman’s empowerment influences the audience’s perspective on feminism and sexual consent, supporting the importance of discovery in the evolution of empowerment. Away similarly illustrates this concept, both texts establishing the necessity of discovery in changing perceptions and values surrounding feminism and sexual …show more content…
Gow embodies this discovery with Coral, a woman who suffers from depression after her son dies in the Vietnam War, utilising her self-acceptance to demonstrate an individual's’ ability to change perspective upon experiencing personal revelation. “I’ll sort things out … I’ll be right as rain... ” Coral metaphorically states, in first person, her conscious decision to acknowledge and improve her mental health, discovering that personal evolution is key to changing her outlook of human nature. The audience realises an individual’s inevitable change in perspective, following this discovery. This concept is Plath’s primary theme in The Bell Jar as Esther’s view of the world is dependent on her ability to discover solace within her mental illness. Plath uses the motif of ‘the bell jar’ to symbolise Esther’s depression, metaphorically alluding to improvement of Esther’s perception of her world, “The bell jar hung, suspended a few feet above my head. I was open to the circulating air.” Esther’s discovery through acknowledgment allows her to expand her understanding of human nature and the world around her. The audience is able to see the effect an individual’s understanding of mental illness has upon their outlook. Both texts support this ideology and each display a character’s personal growth following their discovery of mental