GENRE STUDIES UNIT-IV Problem Play

 

Problem Play

            The problem play, the type of drama that developed in the 19^th century to deal with controversial social issues in a realistic manner, to expose social ills, and to stimulate thought and discussion on the part of the audience.

            The problem play refers to a kind o drama which emerged in the 19^th century as a section of the extensive realism movement in the arts. It handles contentious social problems via debates between the stage acting characters, who characteristically signify conflicting view points with an truthful social context. The play normally focuses on handling a certain social issue in an accurate manner structured to alter the public opinion. It is mostly employed to demonstrate a situation where the main character in a play experiences religious, personal, environment and social issues common to entire society. This concept of the problem play has highly been illustrated in the play Henrik Ibsen’s “A Doll’s house”.

            The play “A Doll’s House” was written in 1800s and it focussed on demonstrating social problems that existed in the society during this time. This is the time when women were supposed to be submissive and to live based on the social restriction. Women were required to stay home and look after their children. Men on the other hand, supposed to provide for their families. They could work hard and go out of their way to satisfy the financial needs of the family. Women were considered weak and could only subordinate their men.