EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE OF THE CHARACTERS OF MARSHA NORMAN (Pages 164-174) by Dr. N. G. Kapila Shobini in THE ENGLISH RESEARCH EXPRESS / ISSN:2321-1164 (Online); 2347-2642 (Print)

Drama as a technique of communication among human beings has entered upon a completely new phase of development of truly secular importance in the modern age. The present study isolates those plays of Marsha Norman in which the characters after excruciatingly traumatic experiences ranging from epileptic seizures, incestuous rape to mental chaos, regain emotional balance and emerges emotionally intelligent. Liberation from emotional bondage is achieved only when there is self-motivation, clarity in thought and aim leading to emotional intelligence. Marsha Norman’s characters can be studied in this angle especially the characters of the plays ’night, Mother, Getting OutandTraveler in the Dark emerge free from emotional harassment with self-awareness, clarity and control. They are able to overcome their weaknesses and find strength from their individual weakening and ravaging experiences. Initially they are emotionally handicapped characters. the play ’night, Mother where Jessie emerges emotionally intelligent after her careful, quiet, realistic acceptance of her life and by the way she seeks self-autonomy. Jessie in ’night, Mother has suffered severely by her various handicaps but the way she deals with the practicalities of a sans-Jessie existence which her mother has to face after Jessie quits, shows the carefully premeditated emotional resolution and balance that Jessie finally finds after her agonized, arduous and dreary life. Norman’s play Getting Out. Arlie’s emotional holocaust leading to her vicious lashing out and her subsequent imprisonment leading to the rebirth of an emotionally intelligent Arlene after her heart - rending encounter of kindness with the Chaplain is hauntingly depicted. Traveler in the Dark, Dr. Sam is a lost soul caught in a crisis of faith. Sam emerges as a lost child in the face of the death of his mother and later his childhood friend Mavis. This hits him hard generating in him an emotional conflict. The way he finds an answer and slowly gets recon ciliated to his loss with the support of his family, specially his wife, a woman of emotional resilience is traced. The eminent surgeon cuts out his pain and long buried resentments and emerges emotionally intelligent. The relevance of emotional intelligence in the family, society and corporate world is established. The importance of emotional intelligence for peaceful existence and peaceful co-existence is emphasized. It is interesting how these characters find a resolution for their emotional conflicts “LOOK INWARD”, “MOVE FORWARD” and “EMERGE CLEAR IN THEIR VISION OF LIFE”. In this sense, the characters of Marsha Norman become emotionally intelligent as they seek and find a balance. Keywords: technique of communication, secular importance, self-awareness, clarity, control, emotionally handicapped characters, self-autonomy etc.