Women in contemporary English drama translation: enhancement and downplay mechanisms to portray Golden Age damas

Abstract

In the last two decades British and American drama translators have shown a growing interest in the Spanish classics, resulting in English versions exclusively intended for the stage. Within this particular context, this paper is intended to provide a general view on how a motif present in the source texts, i.e. the role of women, is transferred into the target plays. A close analysis of the translated works reveals how women's acts can be enhanced or downplayed in order to accommodate them to the recipient culture. Hence, political correctness, reaction to male domination, moral squeamishness and honour emerge as important elements to be taken into account. Conclusions will ultimately provide us with information about the current vision of Spanish Golden Age drama through English translation, and will hopefully invite discussion on the validity of these mechanisms to guarantee its reception in the Anglo-Saxon theatre world. [Source: Author]