However, when they discover that they are both engaged to Ernest, they go back and forth insulting each other and claiming that “Ernest” has changed his mind about the other women, all the while in a polite manner. They exchange their anger through pompous statements and cake. The fickle attitude of girls, their constant refined state of manners, and their loyalty to their man, not to each other, is made fun of in this scene. Later, however, when they discover the true identities of Jack and Algernon, they try to protect one another by grabbing each other’s waist and lamenting their sorrows. Their short, fickle friendship is once again made fun of.
Beatrice is the representation of a modern woman who breaks free from the social norms, which preferred quiet and subdued women, only to be seen and not to be heard, like her cousin Hero. Beatrice is a strong character, she is witty, sometimes scornful, bold, sarcastic and amidst all this- emotional. She professes a stubborn malignity towards the opposite sex but also posseses a lurking fascination for her ‘enemy – Benedick. When we are introduced to Beatrice, we see her as the great lady, bright, brilliant, beautiful, enforcing admiration as she moves among fine ladies and accomplished gallants of her circle. She has a quick eye to see what is weak or ridiculous in man or woman.
A working class citizen is no less respectable than a gentleman in Biddy’s eyes, it is the character of the person that truly matters. Estella, however, mocks Pip and scoffs at his “coarse hands” and “thick boots”, referring to him as a “common labouring-boy” Raised with the immense fortune of Miss Havisham, Estella has become pretentious, believing Pip to be a worse person because of his social standing. When you have everything given to you in life, you lose appreciation for those around you, becoming detached and cold, Estella tells Pip that in her heart there is “no softness there, no--sympathy--sentiment--nonsense” (238). This contrasts sharply with Biddy’s tender care and help of Pip, through her advice to him and her assistance in his educating himself. Magwitch came into a large fortune through hard work and perseverance, but instead of joining the elite upper echelon of society, he bestows the fortune of Pip,
In the play ‘Educating Rita’ cruelty and cynicism feature a great deal. One of the main characters, Frank, is cynical. Frank’s personality portrays him as a miserable old man who cannot see the good in anybody, including Rita. For example, Frank thinks that Rita is only trying to change herself because it will look good to others when they meet her rather than seeing that she is really trying to change her life for the better, not for selfish reasons. When Frank is on the phone to Julia he refers to Rita as “some silly woman” and this portrays him to be cynical because even though he has never met Rita he is already making assumptions about her in a negative manner.
Mr and Mrs Bennet are the parents of Elizabeth, Jane, Lydia, Kitty and Mary and have a significant role in raising their five daughters to supposedly be well mannered and to eventually marry a wealthy man who will look after them. Their financial position is not extravagant but they lead comfortable lives. Both of whom are from the upper middle class but admire superior rank to themselves, especially Mrs Bennet, who hopes that one day her daughters will all marry rich bachelors. Their characters are completely different and Austen makes this clear in the novel. Mrs Bennet is a ‘woman of mean understanding, little information and uncertain temper’ compared to her husband who is ‘a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve and caprice’, which could be argued that they are not a good match for each other.
How Does Carol Ann Duffy Present Women in Mrs Aesop and Litany? In both Mrs Aesop and Litany Duffy presents women at quite different angles. In Mrs Aesop Duffy makes reference to women as blunt and constantly criticising, a trait that is very unusual for a feminist. Because of her jealousy she makes fun of his masculinity and insults him the sex was diabolical. Showing a stronger side to Mrs Aesop, but also a rather childish one.
This is a contradiction because one of the inspectors involved was really stupid and showed it in the way that he got angry when Jamal used big words or said something he didn’t understand. So, not all upper class people are smarter. Latika had it worse because she was poor and female. In most third world, or less developed countries, women are seen as inferior and permanently unintelligent. The gangsters in the film all believed this about Latika and all made choices and decisions for her without her consent because she was “weak” and an
Rita’s stereotype is of the working class wife – brash, honest and upfront about herself and her identity as implied when she says “I was dead surprised when they accepted me… I suppose anyone can get in can’t they? D’y’ think they must be desperate?” showing her insecurity and acknowledgement of her low level of academic intellect as often stereotyped of her class. She stands strikingly in comparison to the upper-middle class Frank who comes across as a jaded alcoholic, very sheltered and closed – an intellect who despite this has little knowledge or understanding of any lifestyle other than his own as suggested on page 3 where he says “(fascinated as much as he is fazed by her) Erm… Probably… “ when Rita asks whether he feels the painting on his wall is ‘sexually stimulating’ Stereotyping is also carried throughout the rest of act one, however Russell interestingly begins to develop his characters as more than their face-value and more than their stereotypes and begins to challenge the audiences’ idea of what would be expected of Frank and Rita’s behaviour. In a sense, despite in many ways following the stereotype of a young Liverpudlian woman, Rita is already different from what most people of
Charlotte's acceptance of Mr. Collins’ proposal is a prime example; “marriage had always been her object; it was the only honourable provision for well-educated young women of small fortune, and however uncertain of giving happiness, must be their pleasantest preservative from want” (p105)1. Austen makes use of Charlotte's character to illustrate the social norms for women of the time. Charlotte's reaction to Collins' proposal is cleverly juxtaposed with Elizabeth's own values and more romantic views on marriage, as she is offered his proposal first; “You could not make me happy, and I am convinced that I am the last woman in the world that could make you so”(p92)2. Elizabeth's concerns are predominately her overall happiness and mental wellbeing, as opposed to her anxieties about her future financial security. These oppositions of values offer the reader a chance to balance their own views on the sanctity of marriage.
Ashley was so confused that the only thing she could think of to say was yes, when she should have said no! Ashley became their friend but she never got why they wanted to be her friend. The mean girls were totally the antithesis of her; they were really preppy and wore expensive name brand clothing, and Ashley was not preppy and did not have much money. Everyday Ashley wished she could just ascend to a higher stage in her life but she couldn’t. Both of Ashley’s parents were normally austere.