OYSTERS UNASSEMBLED : OVIDIA YU'S WOMEN

Abstract

The title of this thesis draws from two of Yu's plays analysed here. Oysters have long been associated with fertility, regarded as soulless and the subject of immense exploitation for its pearl. Not surprisingly, oysters are an often utilised metaphor for women. This thesis is an attempt to unassemble or unravel the depiction of women in Ovidia Yu's plays. ln situating Yu, one of Singapore's more prolific playwrights, as a feminist writer, this thesis serves to analyse the position of women in Singapore and the discriminations that they may face. Yet, paradoxically, women's issues have been given their fair share of attention in theatre and this thesis will attempt to account for this. In addition, it also hopes to be able to clear some misconceptions about feminism as a concept and in terms of its practice and function in theatre. Above all, it seeks to demonstrate Yu's use of feminist strategies: her choice of characters and themes and her questioning of stereotypes in a bid to provide an empowering depiction of women in the six plays under study : The Woman in a Tree on the Hill; Three Fat Virgins Unassembled; Six Lonely Oysters; Playing Mothers; Breast Issues and Love Calls . The introduction gives an overview of the role and status of Singaporean women. Chapter One provides a postulation for the relatively fertile ground for feminist plays and provide a clarification of some misconceptions of feminism. It also offers materialist feminism as the most relevant school of feminist thought in Singapore. Chapter Two analyses the use of feminist stratagems and the women in : Woman, Virgin and Oysters. Chapter Three analyses the themes explored and the women in Mothers, Love and Breast.