Medea is alienated by society because she is an intelligent, foreign, powerful woman. The first reason Medea is shunned is her gender. In the patriarchal society of Ancient Greece, femininity is a faux pas on its own. On top of being a woman, though, she is clever and intelligent; these qualities were not admirable in a woman of her time. King Creon states that “a sharp tempered woman, or for that matter a man, is easier to deal with than the clever type who hold her tongue.” Medea is, in fact, clever enough to hold her tongue and stay quiet.
King Creon’s attitude on gender ultimately leads to his downfall and his ruin. Antigone’s rebellion against King Creon’s decree challenges both gender influences at the time as well as a sense of hierarchy. The fact that Antigone is woman plays a profound role in the story. Creon admits that he needs to defeat her because of her gender. Antigone’s refusal to lay down and follow the king’s command shows an aggressive side of Antigone.
In this novel, Julia Alvarez manages to capture and express the true feelings of women which deconstructs the stereotypes through Yo. Feminism is defined as “a political movement that works to achieve equal rights for women and men” (Hirsch 113). For the past ages, women were seen in the society as inferior to men and were greatly excluded from education and the right to property ownership. A British feminist named Mary Wollstonecraft argues, “educational restrictions keep women in a state of ignorance and slavish dependence” (Blake 117). The shattering of classifications and stereotypes, and the subversion of traditional gender roles, and the concept of sisterhood or unity among women are among the main tenets of feminist criticism.
the laws of man cry out against it. the voice of God cries out against it- and so do I.”(284) This humorous approach of satire to pointing out society's general misconception of females is again present when Howe discusses a woman's viable options to get what they want and how to achieve there desires. She goes on to say “Women, we don't need vote in order to get our own way”(288), but rather cry ,“crying always brings them around. get what you want.”288) “Make a scene.”(288) “That is so much more dignified and refined than walking up to a ballot and dropping in a piece of paper.”(288)
Acceptance of the gods actions are mainly because of great fear the human civilization feels towards the imperious justice system laid upon them, also justice rules over humans by the realization of authority by power. The gods can behave however they want to because they know the mortals are afraid for their wellbeing. Even though the gods disagree and argue the final say of Zeus seems to over bear most of the situations throughout The Odyssey. Fear and acceptance are two major components to how justice in the odyssey permeates. Works Cited Lawall, Sarah, et alia.
This essay will argue that In both texts motherhood and marriage is shown to be a hindrance to both women’s careers and their female identity. The theme of marriage in The Bell Jar and Top Girls Is shown to demolish the female identity of the women. In The Bell Jar Plath uses Buddy as a symbolic figure to show how even the “clean” men of that time were only out for one
Then the quote continues and states: “You will find them, [women] a set of harpies, absurd, treacherous, and deceitful—regardless of strong obligations, and mindful of slight injuries…” (86). The bluntness of this statement about women would not have come from a man seeking a wife during this time. The female villain of the novel, Mrs. Hammond exemplified these awful characteristics throughout the story. The author, Rebecca Rush was probably surrounded by women, during this time, willing to stop at nothing to secure their future. As the quote continues, “and when your integrity has been
If we look at the dishonorable and deadly women in the story we have to examine: Kalypso, Kirce, Skylla and Kharybdis, and the Sirens. Here we receive that overwhelmingly western message of woman as femme fatale: that deadly mixture of lust and love, pleasure and danger, pleasure and pain, pleasure and death, pleasure and slavery. Women consume, women demean, and women destroy. Kirke's who beguiles and bewitches. Kalypso’s dominates and hold captive.
Prometheus’s compassion for lesser mortals is juxtaposed against the natural hierarchy of his society, due to the fact that “Titans, like gods, have hitherto been the object of human attention, models of human aspiration and resentment. Now the polarities of imitation apparently switch.” (Dennis). The question “What was thy pity’s recompense?”(5), sets up the contrast
Claudia does not want to believe that she is not beautiful the way she is while Pecola wants to become beautiful by becoming white. Claudia is mentally stronger than Pecola; however, even though Claudia is able to see the positive sides of life she is still harmed by society’s beauty standards. Pecola longs to be white and thus longs to be beautiful. The society in which the girls live is a huge reason for their self-loathing. “Popular culture can sometimes quicken this silent transformation, because the atmosphere it creates and racist messages are so prevalent that they are difficult to ignore.