William Inge and the Subversion of Gender: Rewriting Stereotypes in the Plays, Novels, and Screenplays

American playwright William Inge found success early, winning a Pulitzer for drama and an Academy Award for best screenplay. His small-town upbringing profoundly influenced his writing, and one of his major recurring themes was the traditional roles of gender.
This close study of Inge's work focuses particularly on his technique of "gendermandering," patterns of gender-role reversals which Inge exploits not only for dramatic effect but also to subvert social expectations. Fully considered are stereotypes and established gender roles, especially as they were reinforced socially during the 1940s and 1950s. All of Inge's major plays, a collection of his short plays, the screenplay of Splendor in the Grass (1961), and his novel Good Luck, Miss Wyckoff are covered. Hard-to-find short plays and unpublished manuscripts are also addressed.