Martha as Virago Character in Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf

Abstract

This thesis on Edward Albee's play Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf examines how major characters' act of assuming of opposite gender roles subverts the patriarchal ideology of gender binary making her a virago character. The study analyzes the play from the perspective of third-wave feminism especially drawing ideas from gender criticism of Judith Butler, Moi Toril, Ketu Katrak and others. In simple terms, third wave feminism is the act of feminism that began in the 1990s and has lived up until current day. Third wave feminism holds that that there should not be a universal identity for women as women come from many backgrounds. This includes religion, nationality, culture, sexual preference, and women of color. Opposite gender roles in the play displays subversive politics with the radical potential to overthrow patriarchal ideals. In an attempt to escape from the existing reality, Martha and George live in performative world as they do not conform to the generally established notion of gender, family life, career and social values. In this way, Martha's virago character deconstructs the traditional notion of gender, which allows women to enjoy maximum freedom in patriarchal society.