great works ii – 2850 jta 12:25-2:05: love letters from the world

Since Strindberg was interested in psychology, I see Miss Julie described as “crazy with a weak mind” and “sick” as Jean commented on her behavior. Jean says, “Tonight Miss Julie is crazy again, perfectly crazy”. He says that he danced with Miss Julie at the local barn. Miss Julie is also seen as high-spirited in the wake of her broken engagement. Miss Julie was raised by an empowered mother who basically despised men. Miss Julie says, “You see, my mother was not of noble birth. She was brought up with ideas of equality, woman’s freedom and all that”. Because of her mother, Miss Julie is disgusted by and drawn to men and horrified by sex. Her hatred of men leads her to attempt to enslave them sadistically. I feel like Strindberg’s term, “half-woman” is interesting. In the excerpt from he’s introduction to Miss Julie, he states that she is a man-hating half-woman. Miss Julie is an aristocratic woman with a self-destructive personality and a hesitant feeling toward men. Miss Julie does identifies with both male and female figures in the play.