"Mrs. Doubtfire": a queer analysis

Abstract

This paper analyses the film Mrs. Doubtfire and reflects on the representation of social categories provided by the film. The protagonist, an American male, convincingly performs the identity of a much older English woman in everyday life for weeks. Even if the success of his performance has the potential to show the performative nature of social identities, the subversive power of his actions is invalidated by other elements of the film. This article begins examining why Euphegenia Doubtfire’s identity is believed to be genuine by the other characters and following which criteria it is created; then, it takes into consideration the role played by the protagonist’s job as an actor and the implications of his decision of using his professional abilities in everyday life; lastly, it examines other devices through which his successful performance is made less dangerous to social order and the protagonist is discredited.