Concepts of Domestic Space and the New Family in Rabbit Hole and Clybourne Park

Abstract

This article examines two modern American plays, Rabbit Hole (2006) by David Lindsay-Abaire and Clybourne Park (2010) by Bruce Norris, in order to demonstrate the changing characteristics of domestic spaces. These plays depict the ways in which characters’ identities and familial dynamics are influenced by disruptions to their home lives, shifts in representations of femininity, the decline of patriarchy, and the generation gap. Although domestic dramas are often criticized for perpetuating negative stereotypes about women, these plays challenge these perceptions in several ways. The families depicted in both plays are white, heterosexual, and relatively affluent, and while they may conform to societal norms in terms of race, sexuality, and wealth, they still reflect changes in power dynamics within contemporary American society. These families have become a site for social progress and a symbol of the weakening of patriarchal structures. This trend is slow but steady, offering insight into the evolving dynamics of family values and gender roles, and providing a clear picture of the ongoing changes within families. Both plays address a variety of issues that contemporary American families face, from dysfunctionality to communication breakdowns, and offer innovative solutions while presenting a different family structure than that of previous generations.