A qualitative analysis on the perceptions of middle-aged Filipina women to 'female confinement' based on Samuel Beckett's representation of Winnie in "Happy Days"

Date

6-2022

Degree

Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts

College

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Jeremy Reuel N. Dela Cruz

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Abstract

amuel Beckett's Happy Days, among all of his 'counter-canonical' works of art, features the female body as its focal point. So much needs to be analyzed and contextualized before proceeding to a series of adaptations that claim to depict female confinement experienced by women in the society. This study aims to examine the relationship between Beckett's depiction of 'female confinement' in Happy Days and existing feminist theories concerning age and race, and to identify which themes of female confinement in the play are representative of the experiences of middle-aged Filipinas of varying social and civil status, as well as religion. This qualitative research used the method of one-on-one interviews to collect data. Maximum variation purposive sampling was used in the selection of the participants of the study. A four-step framework was applied and developed to sample the population of middle-aged Filipinas, and aimed to prioritize individuals of varying social class, civil status, occupation, and religion. A total of 12 participants were selected for the interviews, each representing the formulated criteria. Examination of the responses through thematic analysis revealed that the play's themes concerning female confinement, namely; stasis, nature reliance, immanent fixity, and existential barriers, resonate among middle-aged Filipinas in varying degrees, with respect to their varying resources, upbringing, dependencies, and exposure to the outside world. On this basis, the study implies that accurate representation of the experiences of middle-aged Filipina women in female confinement may push artistic teams to challenge the way they use space, elements, and movements for the reimagination of the text.

Language

English

LC Subject

Beckett, Samuel, 1906-1989, Happy days Imprisonment--Drama Feminism in literature, Drama--History and criticism, Communication Arts, Theatre Arts Department of Humanities

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 993.5 2022 M3 V55

Document Type

Thesis

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