Biopolitics in Strindberg’s The Father

Abstract

: The Father, written by Strindberg is a play about the
Captain and Laura (husband and wife), both of whom are engaged in
political maneuvering. Through these two, Strindberg has portrayed
politics at a domestic level. If Foucalt’s concept of biopower is kept in
mind, namely what measures a government takes for its survival and the
reasons given for its existence, we can see how biopolitics work with
reference to the power struggle between Laura and her husband.
Strindberg delineates how the governance of the house incorporates
alliances, coercion, wordplay, even the child, Bertha, is used as a pawn
in this battle for domination. Both the Captain and Laura use the
authoritarian style of governance; the Captain reigns as a monarch
whereas Laura is more of a benevolent dictator. Since Laura is more
adept at manipulation she is the one who reigns supreme at the end of
the play.