Ruby Moon

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It is possible to read this extract from a 2003 play “Ruby Moon” from a feminist perspective, as it portrays gender stereotypes of women in modern context and evokes the reader’s thoughts by suggesting that even in current society, women’s nature has not changed progressively as they still possess submissive, fragile qualities. This universal and controversial argument is expressed by the usage of narrative and dramatic conventions. Sylvie is characterized as a domestic, disfunctioning woman who might be suffering from psychological illness. It can be seen through the dialogue of her and her husband Ray: “How was the world today?” This may seem like a slightly odd phrase to modern readers due to the unnecessarity of asking this question to other people. Because of our involvement in the community and social groups, as well as the commonness of Medias such as television, we obtain essential information and daily news quite easily from the multiple sources available. By asking this question, Sylvie displays her detachment from the society while Ray is the only medium she have to communicate with the outside world. With reference to the plot and background information provided, Sylvie’s condition could be explained by the loss of her daughter Ruby. Through the contrast with Ray’s ‘normalness’ and Sylvie’s seclusion, it is implied that after a traumatic event, females are more likely to be prone to grief and usually have difficulties accepting the reality. This stereotype is reinforced as she also said: “How do we do this again?” together with her deliberate or undeliberate ignorance of Ray’s request for a kiss, suggests that she has forgotten, or is simply unable to perform some basic activities. While men, in this case Ray, has the ability to get back to usual daily routines quite quickly and hence are mentally stronger. Through Sylvie’s action of asking about the world, it is obvious that she is confined to the house while her husband works. This is an...