1. Miss Julie explores the power dynamics between a countess and servant on Midsummer's Eve as they succumb to passion. 2. Written by Swedish playwright August Strindberg in 1888, it examines issues of sexuality, class, and gender roles in a naturalistic single-set work. 3. Directorial interpretations can vary the understanding of who seduces whom between the title character and servant Jean.

1. Miss Julie Jee-In Hur and Amy Hruby

2. August Strindberg (1849-1912) Born in Stockholm. 1867 Begins studies at the University of Uppsala. Publishes his first novel, the Red Room. Miss Julie is published. It is banned by the censor but premieres secretly at the Copenhagen University students Union. 1894 Suffers a series of psychotic episodes 1909 Writes his last play, the Great Highway. 1912 Dies in Stockholm of stomach cancer.

4. He suffered from the class distinction between his parents --> superiority of one over another Three unhappy marriages --> narrow views of the feminine soul (The Father, Creditors, and Comrades) Episodes of mental instability <-- after being accused in charge of blasphemy

5. Miss Julie (1888) “The play covers a single night in which a couple, caught in the revelry of the madness of Midsummer’s Eve, make love, quarrel, and succumb to every manner of “lunacy.” (Greenwald, Schultz, Pomo. The Longman Anthology of Drama and Theater. Pearson Longman, 2001)

6. Youtube Clip Miss Julie Trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e4uRonQWtU

7. Performance Review John Foster reviewing the 2002 Berkshire Theatre Festival performance

8. Does Jean seduce Julie or does Julie seduce Jean? Discussion of the director’s interpretation of the cutting block and riding boots Production Design

9. This director puts the kitchen table on wheels so that it can spin as these characters literally “turn the tables.” The lead actress utilized facial expressions as Strindberg argues is important in his preface.

10. Commentary on how the lead actor handles the final scene of Jean’s breakdown Final effect

11. Critical Article Private Parts: Sex, Class, and Stage Space in Miss Julie, UnaChaudhuri

12. Sexuality Territoriality Sexual Determinism Spatial Determinism Class

13. The Naturalistic Stage and Issues of Privacy 1 The naturalistic stage is a place to confront heredity and environment through presentation 2 But the stage can only present some of the picture—a “partial” view 3 So the private realms not seen on stage are created in the mind of viewers or knowledgeable characters—the public. What happens in Jean’s room is determined by what the public thinks will happen in Jean’s room

14. Strindberg’s Author-Hypnotist

15. Examples One act play Single set Higher-ranking character is hypnotist Sex transfers hypnosis The Count hypnotizes all of the characters

17. Questions Does Jean seduce Julie or Julie seduce Jean ? READ: page 930Julie. “Sit down, then….” to Julie. “Then what?”. page 931Julie. “Have you ever…” to Julie. “How amusing” What determines the power relationship between Julie and Jean? What alters this relationship throughout the play? In the end of the play, which character holds the most power?

18. Works Cited Chaudhuri, Una. “Private Parts: Sex, Class, and Stage Space in ‘Miss Julie.’” Theatre Journal 45:3 (Oct 1993): 317-332. JSTOR. Web. 22 Jan 2011. Foster, John. “Miss Julie.” Theatre Journal 55.2 (May 2003): 332-4. JSTOR. Web. 22 Jan 2011. “August Strindberg.” Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 1994-2010. Answers.com 24 Jan. 2011. August Strindberg. Answers.com. Biographies, Answers Corporation, 2006. http:www.answers.com/topic/august-strindberg, accessed January 24, 2011