A Critical Conceptual Analysis of Symbolic Interactionism in Caryl Churchill's Cloud Nine

World- famous sociologist Herbert Blumer, a proponent of empirical reading of the sciences, transformed the science of sociology and gave rise to what is now known as modern sociology. One of the main theories he proposes is that of the symbolic interactionism. In this theory, interaction between individuals in society is considered to be based on the individual's objective interpretation. Responses from the individual are derived according to the situation in which s/he is and in parallel to the past experiences s/he has had. Many studies have been conducted by critics and sociologists on the theory from the time Blumer proposed the theory to date. Caryl Churchill employs non- naturalist techniques and has serious feminist orientations. Her dramaturgy is concerned with the depiction of the exploitation of power and the exploration of the repressed sexual desires and tendencies. Like Blumer her dramaturgy has been subject to myriads of studies. The present study, though, undertakes to apply Blumer's theory of symbolic interactionism to Caryl Churchill's play, Cloud Nine (1979) in order to bring to light the fact that social norms and conventions act as prerogatives for acting units through which world views are shaped by social conventions. By taking sociology into consideration, the study validates symbolic interactionism's analytical power for cultural texts. And, by modelling liberation as daily reinterpretation, identity politics is addressed.