"The Morality of it All:" The Educational Value of Canadian Drama for Moral Education

Abstract

Recent theories in moral philosophy elaborate on the dialogical nature of moral development and stipulate that moral identities are constituted within social, historical, and cultural contexts. According to this philosophical perspective, one of the ways in which moral agency needs to be understood and evaluated is according to those contextual variables which may generate moral response. This article aims to illustrate how theatre is a potent instructional medium to educate about the often enigmatic nature of moral choice. I suggest that plays include compelling studies of moral agents caught in complex and lifelike dilemmas through which are exposed the often ambiguous and paradoxical dimensions of moral conduct. Furthermore, I argue that contemporary Canadian plays offer useful fictional contexts to illuminate the intricate process of moral choice, and I cite concrete examples to illustrate the kinds of moral scenarios recent Canadian drama explores.