Ans. Marie Clements’ play ‘The Unnatural and Accidental Women’ is a Canadian play that is a product of the twenty-first century that explores various overlapping themes including feminism, sexism, racism, and violence at various levels. This play is based on a real-life incident, which the author wants the world to know. The incident talks about the mysterious disappearance of multiple indigenous women. In her story, Clement confronts the assured depiction of missing and murdered Aboriginal women by emphasizing the issue of racist stereotypes. The play is painted through the eyes of different women who have suffered and witnessed violence at the hand of a killer.
Clement began writing the play after reading an article that refers to the women’s murder that was published in various newspapers and magazines. With the unique theatrical style of blending Aboriginal storytelling, ritual, and western theatrical conventions, she wrote the play. She began writing the play with accuracy like that of a documentary, as it is based on true events with all factual details included in it.
The play begins with a picturization and sound of falling trees as stated “a collage of trees whispering in the wind… the sound of a tree opening up to a split.” With the use of sound and imagery Clement connects the deconstruction of trees with that of women. The author binds the scene of the city with that of a forest giving the idea of women who are not associated with earth. Thus, the falling of trees can be a symbol of the exploitation women’s bodies have suffered.
In ‘The Unnatural and Accidental Women’ Clement used surreal effects with the combination of poetic dialogue to shift the main focus of the audience from the severe and brutal murder of women. Though on the contrary, she has added news clippings and segments of the coroner's official report to give insight into the situation and the way the whole incident has been disregarded, irrespective of the proper evidence. The official report of the coroner says, “Coroner’s inquiry reported she was found nude on her bed and recent bruises on her scalp, nose, lips, and chin.”
The two-act play, ‘The Unnatural and Accidental Women’ tries to reimagine true historical events. As act one begins, we can see an awful image of Aunt Shadie lying on a bed in a disgustful manner with several bruises on her body. Later in the scene, Rebecca, the victims’ daughter, is seen discovering her mother. Rebecca intertwisted her part of the story, to find her mother by revealing the logger history of Vancouver, Canada. The logging story in Canada perfectly symbolizes the social discourse that women and nature suffer through. The introduction to the dominant narrative is brought into significance after displaying the dominance of man on women and nature. Thus, act one is concluded as being a part of a detective story.
The narrative is somewhat non-linear as it moves back and forth in time which is showcased with the help of the past life of the victims. As the story progresses, Clement has surreally represented the past story of these women. As showcased, the early life of women they were shown isolated and alone before the murder. The women share their horrifying memory which overlaps when they speak as women and trapped souls. Along with the life of victims, the life of various other characters is represented. The systematic fusion of patriarchy and racism has forced the women to remain silent and passive.
To show the distinction, the author has placed Indigenous and non-Indigenous women to place contrast between them. The surrealistic setting allows the connection between these women. The lives of women are comfortless, dark, and colorless.
As stated, "Scenes involving the women should have the feel of a black and white picture that is animated by the bleeding-in of color as the scene and their imaginations unfold. Colors of personality and spirit, life and isolation paint their reality and activate the particular landscape within each woman’s own particular hotel room and world." Marie Clement skillfully employs multiple perspectives as the interference or depiction of the story from multiple narrators makes the murder less heinous.
Say for the writing of Rebecca is presented which is indicative of dramatis personae employed by Clement. Rebecca’s memories and her dreams have allowed her to pen down the thoughts to make them widely available to the audience. Through the figure of Rebecca, the relationship between mother and daughter is brought up. Being a great storyteller, Clement has highlighted the playful and eventful episodes with Aboriginal theatrical style.
As the narrative moves towards the second act, we can see the victims helping Rebecca to find the killer. In the second act, all the murdered women gather around a victim’s daughter ‘Rebecca’ to guide her on her journey in different ways. All the women showcased as enlivened and ardent. The leading path and the signs created by these women helped Rebecca to successfully end her journey as well as her story.
Clement interjects the play with several themes, especially the maternalistic themes which conflict with the ongoing derogation of Indigenous women by colonial culture. This remarkable play offers a perfect balance between surrealism and realism by highlighting the past and internal lives of the characters, especially women.
‘The Unnatural and Accidental Women’ is a multiple narrative play that encourages the audience, especially those who are well aware of history to find their own perception of truth. Clement presents the various social, racist, and sexist societies of Canada, where the murder of ten Indigenous women was committed. Though, before their murder, the women appear to be isolated and alone which made them look defenseless in front of the barber. However, when Rebecca struggles to find the killer of her mother, they refuse to stay silent but guide her till the actual killer is found. Perhaps, the play appears to be the true blend of solidarity, and alliance. Clement pictures the critical image which signifies hope for many cultures and without the typical cultural and patriarchal influence.
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