A place where there is absolute belief in religion and reproduction and where women are forced to cover themselves but at the same time are committing sinful sexual acts such as adultery sounds like a society which is inexplicable. The Handmaid’s Tale portrays a Biblical society named Gilead. The element allusion is used in the Handmaid’s Tale to show how higher officials can pervert the religion to their own benefit. Also the ceremony that takes place between the Commander, Offred and Serena Joy has another Biblical allusion. A part during the ceremony is where the commander sheepishly only reads parts of the Bible, and those parts only emphasize reproduction and childbearing – “It the usual story the usual stories.
Faulkner addresses the issue of religion through the characters of Cora and Whitfield, and their hypocritical characteristics give a representation of Faulkner's views on Religion. To iterate, Cora frequently spouts ridiculous religious axiom's that often times contradict her actual way of life as in her first chapter when she states "the lord can see into the heart. It is his will that some folks has different ideas of honesty,"(Faulkner 9.) Following this exclamation she criticizes Addie and her raising of a "tom-boy girl", contradicting her own statement of tolerance and demonstrating the notion that religious people are infatuated with hypocrisy (Faulkner 9.) In addition to Cora's hypocrisy, Faulkner's decision to make the religious figure Whitfield a conniving adulterous further displays the idea that religion, especially organized religion, is filled with ignorant hypocrites.
While In court with Mary Warren, Abigail and the girls say, “Why do you come, yellow bird?” (106). They claim that Mary Warren is sending the devil upon them. They all establish lie in order to be heard over Mary Warren. The girls and Abigail feel as though since they lack power in the community that lying is the only way they can gain that power and feel as though they impact the community. Through all of history women have struggled to have a voice.
Smith drew many coincidences between Hutchinson’s role during the Antinomian controversy (the view that God's grace has freed the Christian from the need to observe established moral precepts) and powerful modern women today. The author defends her argument by vividly describing that no matter what Anne Hutchinson stated that she would be reprimanded not by what she said, but because of her gender. After reading this article one would conclude that her act of speaking were more of a crime than the words uttered. No matter how many times she would attempt to defend herself, she would not be heard unless she stated what the judges wanted her to say. During the period of the Protestant Reformation man were allowed to have a direct relationship with God and women could not.
However one could also argue that Larkin seems to justify violence against women by suggesting that access to women is something men have been unfairly deprived of. This becomes evident in the first stanza where Larkin presents the girl in ‘white satin’ suggesting her purity and virginity. One could disagree with this statement and interpret the de-feminizing of women differently. It could be suggested that Larkin combines masculinity and femininity together, ‘moustached lips’, to show his view that men and women should be viewed more equally in society. However I disagree with this alternative interpretation as I feel Larkin tries to portray the attacks ‘snaggle-toothed’ and boss-eyed’ are sadistic and grotesque but he does not disagree with
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)
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
Moreover, when Reverend Parris confronts Abigail about being fired by Elizabeth Proctor, Abigail denies any wrongdoings. She accuses Elizabeth as “a lying, cold, sniveling women” who spreads rumor about to degrade her social status. Abigail’s motivation in the witchcraft is thus revealed, which is jealousy towards Elizabeth. As Abigail successfully frames other people for being responsible about the witchcraft, she further imposes her domination over the other girls. Her domination is demonstrated physically and verbally.
In the novel, both Hester and Pearl were shunned by the community because of Hester's adultery. Hester was publicly humiliated at the start of the book, when she was forced to walk though town with an infant Pearl after being released from prison. She was also forced to wear a large scarlet A on her chest. The A is said to be a badge of shame. This shows how Hawthorne displayed Puritan tolerance for
She believes that feminists and feminism attacks marriage and women who believe in marriage and simply being a good mother and wife. An example O’Beirne uses to express these attacks is an excerpt from a book call “The Future of Marriage” by Jessie Bernard. In the excerpt Bernard says that marriage simply holds women back: “Being a housewife makes women sick.” “To be happy in a relationship which imposes so many impediments on her, as traditional marriage does, women must be slightly mentally ill.” O’Beirne says that the feminist movement did nothing but confuse gender roles and weaken the family structure that was established. I personally am not quite sure which side to take so I’m sitting on the fence. I believe that feminists and their movement did do a great deal of good for our society as a whole.