| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立臺灣大學 === 外國語文學研究所 === 93 === Tennessee Williams, one of the greatest American dramatists, is highly praised for his exquisite female characterization. While generally occupying a main position, Williams’ women are also overloaded with images and significances that reflect not only critics’ ideology but the author’s own propensity. The aim of the thesis is to explore the contradictory images of female characters through the lens of masquerades in Williams’ three plays, The Glass Menagerie, A Streetcar Named Desire, and Summer and Smoke. By focusing on the multiple masquerades of sexuality, language, imagery, and social regulations, the thesis will also have a look at the author’s homosexual world and scrutinize his identification with and prejudice against women. Besides, the “authenticity” of masculinity and femininity will be problematized, and the paradox of Williams’ South will be rediscovered. This way, masculinity and femininity are to be endowed with more possibility and fluidity, and the significance of artifice in Williams’ plays is to be highlighted. By reexamining the multiple masquerades in the three plays, the thesis will delve into Williams’ world of aggrandizement and theatricalization as well as into his view of women and sexuality.
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