This introduction to the text deals largely on the basis of the play, that is, how it

came about and where the ideas where strung from. More importantly, it is
David Williamson’s attempt to present his views on ideologies, the main ones
being:

 Post structuralism
 Radical Feminism and
 Multiculturalism

Williamson’s play came about at a literary conference he had attended, when a

young intellectual presented his paper on post-structuralism to a room full of
writers. Many came out of the lecture with absolutely nothing, as the concept
behind it is extremely hard to understand, and is almost impossible to make a
simple definition.

The theory came about as a response to structuralism and was prominent

throughout the 1960’s. It held that language is not a transparent medium that
connects one directly with a "truth" or "reality" outside it but rather a structure
or code, whose parts derive their meaning from their contrast with one another
and not from any connection with an outside world.

BUT LETS NOT WORRY ABOUT THAT.

As daunting as this theory is, the reason it became so popular is because

however much people wanted to deny and persecute this theory, it must have
held some truths. A good example of this given by Williamson is that each of us
hear, without a doubt, have told a story and changed it to make it that much
cooler, or to make a greater contrast between the villain and the hero. In this
case, Williamson draws upon the fact that this theory applies to literature, saying
that the “truths” and “insights” it holds are in fact not truths, but are just another
source of misinformation.

Williamson accepts that this theory holds some truth but he still chooses think
otherwise. Angela Judd, who essentially mimics Williamsons views, believes that
literature from all eras can speak to us and can offer us wisdom and insight,
especially on the subject of human nature.

Using Angela once again as a vehicle, Williamson touches on the state of

Shakespeare’s literature and whether or not his works were used to drive
forward a sexist patriarchal ideology, which is brought up by Dr. Grant Swain,
her lecturer and ultimately, the “villain” in the story.

Another idea brought in throughout the play, once again using Dr. Swain and
Shakespeare is the social status of men and women. Shakespeare believes that
male and females are biologically different, in both structure and nature. In
contrary to this, Dr. Swain believes that it is largely dependent on cultural
factors, and in no way is influenced by biology.

Williamson suggests to us through this play that ideologies no matter how

convincing or truthful they may seem, are still ideologies. As an example
Williamson states that “it is not helpful to claim that all men are rapists or
potential rapists. It is also, frankly, not true.”