The Function of Female Characters in the Ethical Arc of Cankar’s Plays

Abstract

Based on the fact that all seven of Cankar’s plays can be understood as a closed whole that follows an idiosyncratic arc of values, it is possible to determine the key authorial values that define each of the texts separately. The bearers of values are usually the central protagonists of individual plays, but in the case of Cankar’s dramas it can be established that female characters have a more important value function than male characters. Although they are not as emphasized as male characters and therefore always appear “in the background”, females are generally much more clearly convinced about and more resolutely defend their values, which appear to coincide with those of the author. From this point of view, it is possible to see Cankar’s female dramatic characters as equal, if not even more significant than the their male counterparts.