Conflict in Marsha Norman's Getting Out,  Night, Mother, and Third and Oak: A Weberian Reading

The present essay attempts to accomplish a Weberian reading of Marsha Norman’s Getting Out, ‘Night, Mother, and Third and Oak. The depicted status quo in the selected plays corresponds with the concept of conflict, propounded in Max Weber’s Economy and Society, which is the main concept of this study. Conflict which is a social phenomenon that occurs due to inequality in class, status, and power, can be found through the life of the characters. As class is associated with economy and status is associated with prestige, the level of prestige and economy and its relation to power are examined through the process of conflict. Through this process, while domination appears due to the power, it transforms to authority if its legitimacy happens out of the submission of the other part. This study tries to probe the inevitability of conflict, the reactions of the individuals through the process of conflict, the elements which have a role in this process, and also the types of authority that emerge due to the compliance of the subjects. Through the examination of the mentioned issues, the current study aims to see the different consequences of the conflict. While ‘Night, Mother and Third and Oak convey the negative aspect of the conflict, Getting Out depicts the positive one.