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By Degrees, Audrey Minutolo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

By Degrees, a play in three acts that depicts a woman who slowly learns her life lessons over three time periods: the 1850s, the 1950s, and the 1610s. Although each era presents very different expectations for women, the character's journey toward independence occurs despite the limitations of the time period. The character becomes more conscious of her choices; each time she becomes slightly more aware of her power to choose, her limitations become freedoms, responsibilities become pleasure, discontent becomes fulfillment. As she progresses through the different time periods, she changes from Susannah to Suzanne to Lady Susan, and experiences different …