A time when the banner of patriarchy flew over the bonnets of subjugated females. A time when you could choose either to conform, or face social rejection. Some women preferred to rebel in their own graceful ways, but most exacerbated their oppression with frivolous attitudes and behaviors. Beginning with the witty opening phrase, “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife” (Austen, 3), the author perpetuates a note on the status of the one track mind held by the female gender of this time. As exemplified in Pride and Prejudice with characters like Mrs. Bennet and her child, Lydia, many ladies put money above love when it came to the subject of marriage.
She is the strong feminist in the play, and believes in women’s rights and the fact that women are physically no different to men. While reading the play, it becomes clear that Shakespeare included two female characters, each embracing an extremely different bias about women from the other. However, society in general during the Elizabethan times seemed to put women “in their place” (smartenglish.com). The men in that society treated women as though they were possessions that they could treat however they please. They also believed that they were superior to women and that women should remain obedient and oppressed, and not question their husbands or fathers.
Hester does not fall after convicted of a sin, but becomes a strong woman seeking equality between men and women and the letter she is branded “was a symbol of her calling” (Hawthorne 150). The letter allows her to live without the Puritans hypocrisy and the hardship women face and carves her into being an essential feminist character throughout the novel. An individual may need to understand the difference between the feminism in the women of the Puritan society and Hester Prynne. According to the tradition culture, there are two types of female images: the first type is the discriminated female image. For a long time, men are considered having superior intelligence and having a
It is often heard of females complaining how they want to find a true gentleman. What they don't realize, is that gentlemen are not attracted to women, but ladies. Women get men, while ladies get the highly sought after gentlemen. In part, this is due to the fact that ladies automatically acquire the classier lives with gentlemen, simply because they tend to take better care of themselves than a typical everyday woman. Career wise, a lady often seeks out indoor jobs which they know they will enjoy and not feel
She blames men for giving them the place in society but also puts it on women’s shoulders by saying, “Only in recent years has woman's position as the gentler and weaker half of the human family been emphatically and generally questioned. Men assumed that this was woman's place; woman herself accepted it”4. She does begin to display some energy for what could change minds of women that accepted their submissive role in society. “Since they were given the role, women have still rallied and protested to rights of men. Despite the winning of voting, property and working rights, they have accomplished nothing relative to their vital factors of their existence”.5 Her belief is that they are there to lead the movements of bettering society by voluntarily bringing in only those who are fit to undo the wrong that they have allowed to come about.
The portrayal of women in the three stories mark the submissive role expected from women in literature and society as a whole. Further, any differences from what is idealized were portrayed in the stories as an extreme, with women depicted as deceiving and possessing undesirable behavior. By idealizing women in literature as being honest, faithful and loyal sets a positive example to all readers. Yet, it leaves a negative impression of strong and independent women, which, in essence, discourages confidence in females. The three women in the stories share the characteristic of being submissive and having their lives revolve around men.
Feminists are often stereotyped as angry, man-hating, unattractive women who scream absurdly about their political views. These stereotypes make women feel embarrassed to call themselves feminists (Stereotypes about Feminism). It is essential that all women consider themselves feminists simply because women are still being oppressed today and there is a need for equality. To begin, women should not be ashamed to call themselves feminists because women are still being oppressed today. Our culture believes women should be dependent on men and this forms a belief that women need men to survive.
When Shug is introduced in this story, she thinks she is better than everyone else; she treats Celie almost as though she is her servant. She doesn’t even care that she has intercourse with Mr.____ knowing that Celie is his wife. Shug’s personality is like this because of the glamorous lifestyle she leads as a singer. Towards the middle of the story Shug becomes a lot more understanding. She realizes that Mr._____ has been beating Celie.
The repression of women and the suspicions of a patriarchal society lead to rebellion and hysteria. Suppression prevents female character developing. Miller portrays women as weak, it seems that he uses his own view of women and presents it in the crucible. Hale shows authority over Abigail: ‘You can not evade me Abigail’ here he expresses his control and power, Hale puts pressure onto Abigail to tell the truth; is she lies he knows that she will be believe over him because of his male dominance. The use of ‘evade’ tells Abigail that he cannot be overcome and therefore she cannot overcome god like she has taken control of the Girls.
The society expects her to be submissive to her husband. Men are dominating and women are not supposed to question their dominance. Desdemona and Emilia thus become stereotypical characters. There is also a criticism of objectification of women in the third act. They are not supposed to participate in intellectual activities and men regard them as possessions.