Introduction
Violence is the sole theme of Manjula Padmanabhan’s Lights Out (2000). Lights Out is based on a real incident which took place in Mumbai suburb in 1982. Bodily violation, mutilation & rape is the heinous incident in the play.
Real-Life Inspiration Behind the Play
The main fact of the play is present where the society’s indifference towards humanity is checked. Violence can have various forms—domestic abuse, sexual violence, emotional or psychological abuse. In the case of Lights Out, a rape takes place every night and disturbing sounds of screaming and gurgling comes from the building under.
Violence as the Central Theme in Light’s Out
Leela suffers from anxiety & steps is traumatised by the voices but Bhaskar remains casual & pretends that it a simple offence. Lights Out presents sexual violence as well as psychological abuse. The play is an embodiment of women oppression, her helplessness in a patriarchal society and her rights on her own body & soul.
Sexual Violence and the Crime of Rape
Leela, the protagonist of the play Lights Out is the victim of emotional violence. Leela and Bhaskar, a higher middle class, married couple, have been hearing strange sounds of harassment of a woman from their neighbouring building frequently.
Psychological Violence and Trauma
Leela is terrified and distressed because of these sounds. These sounds make Leela hysterical; she is able to hear the voice of the victim and it dehydrates her subconscious mind. She seems helpless before Bhaskar, she constantly implores Bhaskar to call the police. But Bhaskar is least bothered by all these action and sounds.
LEELA: But I can hear them… BHASKAR: (As if to a child) But sounds can’t hurt you LEELA: Oh, but they do those dirty, ugly sounds… BHASKAR: so shut your ears, see? Like this— (places his hands over hers) There! Is that better?
Leela’s Emotional Suffering
The main defference between Leela and Bhaskar is their reaction to the incident. Leela, being a woman, strongly feels the pain of the victim. For Leela, the woman’s chastity of her body and soul is important. It is important to every woman. Bodily violation is a crime for any gender.
Bhaskar as a Representative of Patriarchal Society
Bhaskar, representative of patriarchy, like Mohan and Surinder could not feel the angst of the victim. One can question about their humanity. People like these men are literate but not educated to take any action. They could not take any action against a crime going on near their own apartment.
Women’s Helplessness and Lack of Empowerment
Leela and Naina raise their voices for any action but they are still dependent on their husbands for it. This also shows that women are not empowered enough to take action & frangr transcend the boundary of their societal limitation.
The whole violence upon which the whole play revolves around is the rape that takes place in the building near. As it is said, that the incident was real and people did not take any action against it, as it is portrayed in the play. Rape is a crime. But, the more shocking fact is the inaction of the society against the heinous crime. Leela and Naina could not tolerate the heinous activity but they are helpless due to their subjugated position.
Frieda’s Silence as a Form of Protest| Social Apathy and Moral Failure
Frieda’s, the maid of the home, is important for her actions. Her silence is also an act of speaking on the crime committed. She remains silence throughout the play. Maybe, she is familiar with the crime but she does not raise her voice. Her silence signifies the silence of all women folk who are ripped of their right to speech in a patriarchal society.
Message of the Play| Conclusion
In the play Lights Out, Manjula Padmanabhan not only exposes growing apathy amongst the so called civilized people but also wants to make audience distinguish its evil consequences. The play makes the reader understand the hidden purpose of sensitizing them towards this unconcern. In the world of growing technology when distances gradually shrink and modern means of communication have tapering the distances amongst the people, on thing is disheartening that people are drifting away from one another at the level of humanity.