Can the Subaltern (Teach)‎ ? : A postcolonial semiotic reading of George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion

Other Title(s)

هل يستطيع التابع أن يعلم : دراسة ما بعد كولينيالية سيميائية لمسرحية بيجماليون للكاتب جورج برنارد شو

Author

Salamah, Muhammad Subhi

Source

Journal of Scientific Research in Arts

Issue

Vol. 2019, Issue 20، ج. 6 (30 Jun. 2019), pp.523-546, 24 p.

Publisher

Ain Shams University Faculty of Women for Arts Science and Education

Publication Date

2019-06-30

Country of Publication

Egypt

No. of Pages

24

Main Subjects

Literature

Topics

Abstract AR

يهدف هذا البحث إلى دراسة مسرحية بيجماليون للكاتب الأيرلندي الشهير جورج برنارد شو (1856-1950)، و تحليلها وفقا لنظرية ما بعد الكولونيالية مع الإلماعة إلى مقال الناقدة الهندية جياتري اسبيفاك، الموسوم: "هل يستطيع التابع أن يتكلم ؟" من ناحية و دراسة أهمية المكان في المسرحية : و ذلك بالإشارة إلى تطبيق المنهج السيميائي (علم العلامات) من ناحية أخرى.

تناول البحث تحليل الشخصية الرئيسة في المسرحية، و كيف عانت هذه الشخصية و قاومت تقاليد المجتمع و الهيمنة الذكورية منتصرة عليه في النهاية.

فعلى من التهميش الذي تعرضت له البطلة أثناء المسرحية ؛ فقد تمتعت بإرادة قوية، و لم تعان في صمت، بل بدت شجاعة متجاوزة الأعراف الاجتماعية السائدة وقتئذ.

Abstract EN

Throughout his literary career, George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) used literature as a means to address social issues.

In doing so, he succeeded in 'speaking truth to power' to borrow Edward Said's words.

Shaw's dramatic art has often been appreciated for its philosophical undertones and social consciousness.

The aim of this paper is to address the oppressive reality women endure in their roles as 'live dolls' or 'toy objects, ' or as being considered merely a means to an end.

Here, we investigate whether women can have a say in patriarchal societies by considering one of Shaw's most discussed plays, Pygmalion (1912), from postcolonial and semiotic perspectives in light of Gayatri Spivak's influential essay “Can the Subaltern Speak? ”.

The researcher will also explore how Shaw employs the juxtaposition of characters, conflicts, and settings to signify ideological barriers from a semiotic analysis.

The role of women has traditionally been defined according to models put forward by the male privilege.

In Pygmalion, Shaw unequivocally demonstrates how women are marginalized by the indigenous power structure that thrives on patriarchy and class-based privilege, but he also portrays women as equal to men in capability and sufficiently able to confront their male oppressors.

By exuding confidence and creating their own spaces to assert their voices against injustices, women break down the barriers that separate them from their male counterparts and share common ground or centric position.

In spite of being marginalized, the female characters developed by Shaw possess a strong will and resist forces hazardous to their survival.

In Pygmalion, the main character, Eliza Doolittle, is a victim but does not suffer in silence.

She is represented as the ideal of a courageous, talented, and determined woman who rises above societal conventions.

Eliza resists imposed authority and the hegemony of the elite classes.

Hence, the subaltern, in this play, breaks out in an attempt to be recognized.

American Psychological Association (APA)

Salamah, Muhammad Subhi. 2019. Can the Subaltern (Teach) ? : A postcolonial semiotic reading of George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion. Journal of Scientific Research in Arts،Vol. 2019, no. 20، ج. 6, pp.523-546.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-997845

Modern Language Association (MLA)

Salamah, Muhammad Subhi. Can the Subaltern (Teach) ? : A postcolonial semiotic reading of George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion. Journal of Scientific Research in Arts No. 20, p. 6 (2019), pp.523-546.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-997845

American Medical Association (AMA)

Salamah, Muhammad Subhi. Can the Subaltern (Teach) ? : A postcolonial semiotic reading of George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion. Journal of Scientific Research in Arts. 2019. Vol. 2019, no. 20، ج. 6, pp.523-546.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-997845

Data Type

Journal Articles

Language

English

Notes

Includes bibliographical references : p. 544-545

Record ID

BIM-997845