Married life on the brink : American domesticity in Richard yates' revolutionary road (1961)‎

Abstract EN

American domesticity in the second half of the twentieth century witnessed many changes.

This is reflected in the family fiction of Richard Yates (1926 – 1992).

This paper attempts to answer some questions regarding domesticity in Yates' first novel Revolutionary Road (1961).

First, this novel documents social, economic, and cultural conditions especially in post-WWII America.

Second, the author's autobiographical details add credibility to the novel.

Although Yates has not written a separate autobiography, he depends heavily on true events and characters in writing this novel.

Third, Yates tackles feminist domestic issues like women's work, marriage, and abortion.

The novel depicts the heated conflict of the age, namely the pro-family VS the pro-feminist.

Through the portrayal of three families living in the American suburbs at that age, Yates manages to show readers how married life can sometimes reach a dead end and, in turn, the whole society crumbles.