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= Before Sunrise (play) = Before Sunrise is a suffragette play written by English actress, playwright, journalist and feminist Bessie Hatton. Although it is unknown when Before Sunrise was written, it was first performed at the Royal Albert Hall on December 11th, 1909. The play tells the story of the Sewell family and their daughter Caroline who is slated to be married against her own will. The play has a very political nature and though it is short, it covers a clear struggle that many women faced at the time.

Characters

 * Mr. William Sewell - 60 years of age. The head of the Sewell household. Husband to Bertha and father to Caroline. Conservative in his views.
 * Originally portrayed by Harvey Braban.
 * Mrs. Bertha Sewell - 58 years of age. William's wife and Caroline's mother. A very faint woman. Her views are heavily influenced by those of her husband.
 * Originally portrayed by Mrs. Theodore Wright.
 * Caroline - 24 years of age. Inclined to liberal thinking, Caroline would rather go to school than be married to a man she doesn't love. She is shy and awkward around men.
 * Originally portrayed by Miss Phylis Relph.
 * Mary Swayne - 35 years of age. A blue stocking. A mannish woman. Writes books under a pseudonym. Very liberal minded.
 * Originally portrayed by Henrietta Watson.
 * Jane - The Sewell's maid.
 * Originally portrayed by Miss Ursula Keene.
 * Tom Bullock - 28 years of age. Very wealthy. Caroline's suitor.
 * Originally portrayed by Nigel Playfair.

Synopsis
The play opens in 1867 in the breakfast room of Mr. William Sewell's Kensington home. Mr. and Mrs. Sewell are discussing and amendment to the Representation of the People bill proposed by John Stuart Mill. The amendment was to change the word "man" to "person" in the bill and the vote was shot down by 202 votes. Caroline is then overheard playing the piano and her parents bring up Mr. Tom Bullock, her very wealthy gentleman caller who is stopping by the house today to propose marriage to her. Mrs. Sewell then broaches the subject of Caroline wanting to go to finishing school because she feels she is insufficiently educated. Mr. Sewell quickly shuts down the idea because women have no need for education and rather opts for his younger son to go to school because men need all the opportunities the world can provide. Mrs. Sewell nearly faints because she is afraid she has upset her husband by bringing up the subject.

When Caroline comes into scene, she very quickly says that she does not want to marry Tom Bullock. She says that he is plain and she is not interested in his riches. Her mother then chides her about her figure, saying that she should not let Tom see her with such a large waist because he will not want to marry her. Caroline then begs her mother not to make her marry Tom Bullock because she does not love him. Mary Swayne then enters the home and she and Mrs. Sewell have a few unpleasant exchanges before Mary sees that Caroline is upset and asks her what is wrong. Before Caroline explains, she first asks Mary if her new book has been accepted. Mary reveals that it has been accepted under the male pseudonym "John Cheviot". Caroline comments "awful mistake being a woman" and Mary agrees but reminds her that "the sun will rise someday". Mary speaks again of John Stuart Mill as a champion in Parliament for women and claims that their daughters will be free women. Caroline then says that she doesn't want to marry Tom Bullock and Mary agrees that she cannot marry him. Caroline says that she has never felt love for a man but that even life with Tom must be better than life with her family. Mary tells her that she musn't marry for freedom and offers for Caroline to join her in Paris and stay as a governess there teaching English.

Mrs. Sewell reenters and sends Caroline away to physically prepare herself for Mr. Bullock's arrival. Mrs. Sewell very quickly shuts down Mary's proposal of marriage claiming it ridiculous that her daughter should go out and earn money. Mary appeases Mrs. Sewell by dropping the subject but then tries to convince her that Caroline's marriage to Tom is a bad idea by telling Mrs. Sewell of his past of profligacy. Mrs. Sewell nearly faints at the talk of such promiscuous ideas and tells Caroline there is no way she would let her daughter live alone with another single woman. Mary says she must leaves but before she goes she tells Caroline to write should she ever need anything.

Caroline weeps as Mary leaves and tells her father how miserable she is. Mr. Sewell makes a very heartfelt argument for her to marry Tom because she will never go without being taken care of should she marry him. Tom enters and he and Caroline are left alone together. He says that he will always help her to be happy with his youth and money if only she will say yes to his proposal. Mrs. Sewell enters and Caroline begins weeping at her mother's mention of congratulating her son and daughter. Mrs. Sewell motions for Tom to exit and reprimands Caroline for ruining the best chance she will ever have. After a short argument Caroline asks her mother "must I marry him?" and Mrs. Sewell responds "yes, you must". Mrs. Sewell then places a weeping Caroline into Tom's arms and the play ends.

Themes
The most prevalent theme in the play is the suppression of women in the home. Caroline makes it very clear that she wants more than marriage and being a wife for the rest of her life. She strives for a more fulfilling life, a life full of love and adventure and education. However she is at the mercy of her parents who prefer to live by society's standards of what makes a good woman. They are against the freedom and education of women and make claims about why women should not be equal to men. When she tries to break free of the typical societal demands of women, she is forced into a marriage and literally handed away to a man weeping.

The play begins with a very political conversation about women's rights being denied and this theme carries throughout the play.

== Political Relevance in 1909 == Even thought the play was first performed in 1909, it is set in 1867, a time where women had even less rights before the turn of the century. The amendment proposed by John Stuart Mill was a very important piece in the fight for women's suffrage and Bessie Hatton knew this which is likely why she wrote Mary's speech about Mr. Mill being a champion in Parliament for them. By 1868, the Manchester Society for Women's Suffrage holds their first public meeting. In 1870 married women are given the right to own their own properties and have rights to their own money. Women' suffrage rights begin being granted slowly but surely. By 1894 women are granted the right to vote in county and borough council elections. Other suffrage organizations are created such as The National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies and The Women's Social and Political Union. These organizations go in and out of favor and eventually many women leave them to join the Women's Freedom League. In 1908 some suffragette efforts become violent which leads to the creation of the Women's National Anti-Suffrage League.

In 1909 this play hold relevant because it serves as a reminder of how little things had changed since 1867. While the fight for women's rights and suffrage was going strong there was still work to be done before full suffrage would eventually be granted in 1928.