Beatie Bryant’s Quest for her Roots through Self Discovery and Expression: A study of Sir Arnold Wesker’s “Roots”

Abstract

The Wesker Trilogy is critically acclaimed as one of the most ambitious project by a young playwright under the age of thirty years. The trilogy in its broader aspect reflects the situation of the working class community after the Second World War was over. Roots is the central play of the famous trilogy which deals with the personal aspect of the humanitarian society. The story revolves around the protagonist of the play and gives an account of a fortnight in Beatie’s life. All her dreams shattering within a fortnight and her journey towards the path of self discovery become the central theme of the play. Beatie Bryant turns out to be the spoke person of the working class people and the play mainly focuses on the problems of working class in the 20th century. Beatie finally succeeds in librating herself from the fixed ideologies of society and finds a voice and thought of her own. She establishes her identity and her power of expression by asking questions and not by involving in some revolutionary acts.