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A review by readingisadoingword
Miss Julie by August Strindberg
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Miss Julie was the June choice for #12Playsin12Months and I m just catching up.
This version is an adaptation of the original by August Strindberg.
Miss Julie is the daughter of a Count but having had an unconventional upbringing and after a failed engagement, she despises men and her restrictive role in society. She defies convention and consorts with the servants. The servants Jean and Kristin don't approve of her behaviour. However when tempted, Jean is seduced by Miss Julie and they have to face the consequences of this disastrous liaison.
There's a lot about class, gender roles, domination, societal expectations, wealth, heredity, status and reputation in this play. Miss Julie is a complex and not entirely likeable character. While she behaves as a wild, free spirit to begin with, when she ultimately steps over the line, it as if she loses all agency. Meanwhile Jean is disapproving until it comes to satisfying his own desires and Kristin sets herself above them both but is not herself faultless.
Miss Julie's transformation from domineering to submissive was the most interesting aspect for me. As a women acting as the alpha character, she's scorned and ultimately punished - not a fate that would befall men behaving in the same way at that time. Her character is not sympathetic however, so I suspect we're not meant to feel sorry for her but to condemn her - a reading that's perhaps unpallatable to today's society.
This version is an adaptation of the original by August Strindberg.
Miss Julie is the daughter of a Count but having had an unconventional upbringing and after a failed engagement, she despises men and her restrictive role in society. She defies convention and consorts with the servants. The servants Jean and Kristin don't approve of her behaviour. However when tempted, Jean is seduced by Miss Julie and they have to face the consequences of this disastrous liaison.
There's a lot about class, gender roles, domination, societal expectations, wealth, heredity, status and reputation in this play. Miss Julie is a complex and not entirely likeable character. While she behaves as a wild, free spirit to begin with, when she ultimately steps over the line, it as if she loses all agency. Meanwhile Jean is disapproving until it comes to satisfying his own desires and Kristin sets herself above them both but is not herself faultless.
Miss Julie's transformation from domineering to submissive was the most interesting aspect for me. As a women acting as the alpha character, she's scorned and ultimately punished - not a fate that would befall men behaving in the same way at that time. Her character is not sympathetic however, so I suspect we're not meant to feel sorry for her but to condemn her - a reading that's perhaps unpallatable to today's society.