In the novel Great Expectations, Charles Dickens makes many of the main characters suffer by alienation, with each character suffering differently. Pip, the protagonist, seeks to marry Estella, the fair but cruel daughter of Mrs. Havisham, a crazy old lady who had locked herself in a room for twenty years. Pip, feeling that he is of a lower class than Estella, jumps at the opportunity to become a gentleman, and becomes so devoted to becoming a gentleman that although those that he wishes to fit in with look down upon him, he disowns the “lowly” people who truly want to accept him. Estella has been brought up Mrs. Havisham to bring about the doom of all mankind, and she does so by breaking every man’s heart she can get her hands on. However, in doing this she has lost all emotion, and is alienated from other people by her inability to relate to other people.
Curley’s wife lived not only through the sexiest society which rejected her but her husband did not love her at all making her become “… a tart… with the eye,”(Steinbeck14). That is the image that the men have of Curley’s wife because they are ignorant and do not understand that all she is searching for is to have someone to talk to. Curley’s wife’s loneliness led her to have a bad image with the men on the ranch but also made her seek for attention in anybody she did not matter who. For example she would talk to Candy, and old lifeless man, Crooks who is a Negro that is physically disabled, and Lennie who is a huge man that is mentally retarded. She became mean too since she was lonely and the men rejected her.
The townspeople’s curiosity is typical of what might be found in most small towns, their interests and entertainment lie within the personal lives of others. Emily just happened to be the only occupant of the town with status; it is obvious that she would become the object of everyone’s ridicule. It is like they were obsessed with her; “when she got to be thirty and still single, we were not pleased exactly, but vindicated,” (Faulkner). The Griersons, so rich and powerful, thought very highly of themselves, as a result, their daughter suffered, no man was good enough for Emily. Their “patriarchal chauvinism [and need for purity in] womanhood, [became a] conflict between community and [the] individual,” (Fang).
Of Mice and Men Essay November 3rd, 2011 Sexism vs. Society Throughout the book Of Mice and Men, John Steinbeck displays sexism in a negative way in the early 1930’s. The character in the novel that people are sexist towards is known only as Curley’s Wife. Since Curley’s wife is the only girl on the ranch, all the men always hit on her because they see her as an object and not just as a person. Sexism was common during that time period, many women were treated very poorly. This novel is set in the time period of the Great Depression and many people were not given equal rights.
These attributes are shown her doorstep, in the parlor of her home, and her secret upstairs room. When the ladies come to give their condolences to Emily for her father’s death Emily wants nothing more for them to go away and get off of her doorstep. She uses denial to deter the ladies into asking more questions of further investigate her father’s death. She holds onto her father’s body for three days after he passes. If not for force via the doctors and ministers Emily doesn’t only have a lack of adjustment to life, she out right refuses to accept change in her life.
She states, “She had a fine person, many brilliant attainments; but her mind was poor, her heart barren by nature” (Brontë 1.239). She describes Miss Ingram as beautiful but a shallow person with no depth. Along with Jane, Mr. Rochester seems to see this and her true aspiration of only marrying him for his money. On the other hand, Jane’s wittiness and sharp responses to Mr. Rochester confusing comments enraptures Mr. Rochester. Mrs. Reed and her children had always treated Jane with disrespect; but when Mrs. Reed is dying Jane forgets her harsh treatment and stays with her until she died.
Her mother seems to be constantly taking up for her sister, Stella-Rondo. Stella –Rondo is always antagonizing Sister and lying on her to cause problems within the family. Also, Uncle Rondo seems to be the family drunk. Last but not least, Papa-Daddy seems to be an old and cranky gentleman. Her dealing with these individuals has caused her to become very resentful, bitter and jealous.
Her father was the one that kept her sheltered most of her life. She never really came out the house for anything, besides her servant, Tobe. Towards the middle of the story Miss Emily’s funeral was referred to a symbol as the “fallen monument” (209), which could have meant that it was once a beautiful and wealthy home, but as time passed it grew very old and deprived. Also, Miss Emily’s hair is one of the symbols, after her father’s death she decided to cut her long hair. Her hair could symbolize her being free of her father controlling her life.
It is evident that as time passes, the people of Jefferson as well as her dying father become forceful (needs to be a different word) towards her. Faulkner makes it obvious to the reader in the story’s opening scene that her and her father have always been old fashioned. Her father always scared away potential suitors for his daughter, because they didn’t meet his expectations. While the story is never given an exact date, the narrator makes it clear to the reader that the characteristics and customs were long outdated, even for the deep south. Emily is a character, along with her family and possessions are all antiques from a time since gone, the very embodiment of the old south.
Emily is the protagonist of the literary because the whole story revolves around her. The towns people are considered the antagonist which means that they were opposed to or struggled against Emily. Like the time when she was around town with Homer Barron and then some of the ladies of the town thought that is was a disgrace to the town and a bad example to the young people. The ladies of the town gossiped and speculated upon Ms. Grierson’s actions. Emily also suffered from a mental illness that would confuse her about date and time.