mock thesis
Mock Thesis Proposal I. Title Robert or Roberta: Gender Performance Theory in John Irving’s The World According to Garp II. Aim Through the use of Judith Butler’ theory on gender performance this thesis proposes an exploration into the pre-operative versus post-operative character of a transsexual named Roberta. III. Methodology I have read almost all of John Irving’s novels and though I have not studied any of them formally in school it is apparent that Irving has a special ability to bring subjects considered taboo out of the dark and into the light of his reader’s minds. In his novel The World According to Garp Irving portrays one of his supporting characters as a former NFL football player who has under gone a male to female sex change operation. This thesis will utilize Judith Butler’s gender performance theory to examine the character of Roberta. Judith Butler’s theory of gender performativity is helpful when examining the character of Roberta. The theory claims it is “doing” that makes gender what it is. Butler contends that we (people) are not a gender, however we do perform a gender and through repetition of these actions we become a gender. By each gender performing its appropriated tasks there is acceptance; it is when people step out of their assigned roles that society has a problem. Butler stresses that performing gender does not mean one is free to choose their sex. Through methods of surveillance, discipline, punishment, and required heterosexual function one is kept in his/her gender based place. In the novel it seems that Roberta has been performing her sex assigned role while hiding her desire to be a woman. Irving presents Roberta as formerly being a man’s man. Her position as a famous linebacker places her into an elite category that most men spend their entire lives dreaming about.