Dec 15, 2009

Cloud Nine | Themes

Colonialism and Sexism
Churchill wrote in her introduction to the play that she wanted to show ‘‘the parallel between colonial and sexual oppression.’’ She meant that it is the same mentality of the colonial power, reflecting male values, that also results in the oppression of women.

The colonial attitude can be seen in Clive, who has contempt for those he refers to as the ‘‘natives.’’ His attitude is paternalistic. He thinks of himself as a father to the natives, just as he is a father to his family. He also has a low opinion of the natives’...