Insidiously, violently, they have led them to hate women, to be their own enemies, to mobilize their immense strength against themselves, to be the executants of their virile needs. They have made for women an anti-narcissism! A narcissism which loves itself only to be loved for what women haven’t got! They have constructed the infamous logic of anti-love.” I think this paragraph is stating that men have made women despise and doubt themselves when it comes to expressing their knowledge in any form, particularly in literature. And what is a greater crime than making women hate themselves for reasons that they cannot change?
William Shakespeare’s famous play, Hamlet, offers detailed and often callous insights into the role of women, and men, in the Renaissance period in which the playwright lived in. Throughout this time, traditional women were often constantly criticised and treated as inferior to male counterparts. As such, Shakespeare has constructed his female characters to fulfil these traditional roles; however by taking a feminist approach these female characters appear marginalised and degraded. Ultimately, through the playwright’s representation of women, they can be see as worthless, sexual objects , both weak and inconsiderate in nature. Through a modern perception on the playwright’s female characters, women can be seen as worthless, sexually corrupt indiviudals.
In Sophocles’ and Anouilh’s versions of Antigone, the playwrights have very strict guidelines when portraying their female characters. This portrayal is supported through the reversal of gender roles, as well as stereotypical appearances of women. Through the breaking of gender stereotypes and the failure to abide by gender law, the characters in both versions of Antigone succumb to the temptation of suicide. By examining the characters in each play, it is clear that those who follow gender laws and have pleasing appearances are given choice over their fate, and those that do not must die, their death allowing them to achieve the concept of true beauty. Those that break assigned gender laws will have no choice but to submit to an inevitable death.
The final line “Who could not say, ‘Tis pity she’s a whore?” can be seen as directed towards her and so she is blamed for everything that has occurred. Throughout the play she is seen as quite powerful and headstrong by refusing many marriage proposals and being quite stubborn in doing so. However, she is reduced to a weak being however upon dying which is a culmination of her passions. It is perceived that women are a danger to men and to society as a whole and so Giovanni’s actions are to be blamed not on himself, but on Annabella because of the beauty she possesses. Giovanni states that Annabella’s “lips would tempt a saint” thus showing the corruption her presence inflicts upon even the supposed innocent of men.
And if a woman succumbs to acts adultery, this is seen as a great threat for the Oikos as the women can no longer be seen as honourable or chase, casting doubt on children’s legitimacy. It suggests that women tend to be seen as weaker and therefore potentially victims in need of protection through the law. Athenian men such as Ischomachus thought women were physically weak to an extent, believing ‘work.. indoors are women’s tasks’ and the ‘outdoors are the mans’. However, he justifies this indoor role he has given to his wife by different characteristics the gods have given to the sexes including women’s physical weakness however through the bee analogy he stresses the requirement for women to be assertive and strong in management in the internal roles of the oikos which makes her distinct from other women through her superior expertise she gains from managing the oikos. This suggests that Athenian men thought women were weak because of what they believe or what they’ve been taught to believe rather than see what women might be able to do.
Armaan Mahmood 13T Discuss Atwood’s presentation of female characters in the Handmaid’s tale Atwood presents female characters as being oppressed slaves who are subject to sexual abuse and violation from the various male individuals. They are portrayed as characters who have an extremely scarce amount of freedom within a dystopian future. Due to this lack of freedom the novel consists of recurring themes such as an attempt to regain freedom and a constant power struggle. The idea of dehumanisation is another theme which is vividly portrayed by Atwood in terms of how her female characters are made to reproduce in order to stand a chance of surviving. Atwood presents the female characters as being both oppressed and dehumanised through how their freedom being stripped from them.
In my opinion I feel that the counseling did not help Ludo because he still had embedded in his believe that he is a female. I disagree with Ludo’s mother’s behavior towards his gender confusion. I feel that she condoned his behavior and actually helped to let him believe that he is a female. I agree that Ludo was trying to find his identity, which is a normal phase that all children experience, however I think that it is the role of parents to help children find themselves by explaining to them their gender and what is the role that a person of that gender is suppose to follow. If it turns out that that child becomes transgender, at least that parent has done their job as a parent by educating that child what his/her role entails.
They are driven by instincts which are not within their control” (R86). Woolf elucidates that the character of men is to take power and act more aggressively than women, and this has given them an advantage in their excursion to becoming the privileged sex. Betty Friedman addresses the reality that fulfilling their traditional maternal roles of raising the children and tending to the household doesn’t satisfy some women, however, they are ashamed of this personal problem, lacking the confidence to enter the male territory where these women feel they may find something more meaningful. Women are limited by the inferiority put upon them by society as well as themselves. Women are kept from growing and learning, “education for women has become so suspect that more drop out of high school and college to marry and have babies…women so insistently confine themselves to one role”(R89).
Women are placed as central characters in these plays,however they face oppression and, like in 'Othello', often end up as victims due to men determining what they decide is right as they hold superiority over their women. On the other hand, the sole female character in 'The Tempest',Miranda, faces a different eventuality although occasionally encountering with disadvantages of social organisation. Despite the social strengths male characters hold, it is interesting to explore the petty behavior they display to their audience,proving them,in fact,weaker than those they oppress. Feminist audiences and critics may agree that the male character's strengths in society are heavily outweighed by their emotions and lack of control over them therefore making female characters seemingly more stable in these plays. Whereas an audience in Shakespeare's London may criticize the female characters and blame them for the male characters' downfall rather than seeing that the weaknesses lie with them themselves.
Amal Kassir in 'This is For the Ladies' speaks about the perceived concept of feminism that is prevalent in the 21st century and expresses her disapproval of it. Feminism basically advocates equality of men and women.However,today the notion of feminism is perceived different.To be a feminist/empowered woman is to bare your skin,dress well,talk well,and most importantly,be flirty,according to Amal Kassir. Amal Kassir through her poem expresses her abject disapproval over how the idea of feminism is painted which according to her is only degrading the females. She further questions the patriarchal society that under the guise of supporting women empowerment is suppressing and oppressing the women and makes a stand stating thatshe is 'not drowning in any man's drool'. She belive that by succumbing to the 'idealised' image of a woman that in reality does not give women the liberty of having a mind of their own,the women are being disrespectful to themselves.