In David Mamet’s play Oleanna, there is a massive power struggle between the two main characters of the plot. John, a college professor, who is awaiting tenure, attempts to help Carol understand his class; however, Carol one of John’s students misinterprets the agenda of John, which leads her to believe that she is becoming a victim of sexual harassment. Even though John does make a number of sexually oriented remarks throughout the play, they are not seriously directed towards Carol in any way which allows the reader to decide if Carol is harassing John, or if John is harassing Carol. There are a multitude of different aspects that are focused around sexual harassment as whole in this play, and they are all equally important when determining who was truly harassed in Oleanna (Curry). …show more content…
One view holds that the play demonstrates how academia thrives on faculty control of students. This is shown in John's exaggerated use of scholarly words to present an image of knowledge and superiority over his students. John is condescending to Carol, even in the second act when she has leverage against him; he feels he can dissuade her by using his superior ability to reason. Later, when he has lost all superiority and is demoralized, he lashes out physically, whereas she is calm and her last words are almost a recrimination against him. Another aspect of the use of power in Oleanna concerns male and female relations. John is in the traditionally male position of power and Carol is the female supplicant whom he, suddenly, decides to help