Sophie Treadwell

Sophie Treadwell was an American playwright, journalist, and actress. She is best known for her play 'Machinal,' which is considered a landmark in American drama for its expressionist style and its focus on the challenges faced by women in the early 20th century. Treadwell had a diverse and prolific career, writing dozens of plays that often explored issues of gender, identity, and society.

Books

This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

  1. 1. Machinal

    The play is a powerful expressionist work that follows the life of a young woman who feels trapped and dehumanized by the societal expectations and mechanical nature of the early 20th-century urban environment. She is suffocated by her mundane job, an oppressive marriage to her boss, and the overall constraints of a patriarchal society. Her desperate longing for freedom and individuality leads her down a dark path that culminates in a shocking and tragic act, ultimately resulting in her entanglement with the justice system. The narrative is a critique of the industrial age and its impact on the human spirit, exploring themes of autonomy, alienation, and the crushing force of societal norms.

    The 3210th Greatest Book of All Time