A Feminist Critique of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby” (June 2009) “Even if they disagree about other issues, all feminists believe patriarchal ideology works to keep men and women confined to traditional gender roles so male dominance may be maintained. Utilizing the precepts of Feminist criticism, it could be argued “The Great Gatsby” promotes a thinly veiled patriarchal agenda. Through Fitzgerald’s treatment of the three women in “Gatsby”, as well as masking the
Human Sexuality in Bram Stokers “Dracula” July 27, 2009 Human Sexuality in Bram Stoker’s Dracula In the novel Dracula by Bram Stoker, we experience the traditional ways of the nineteenth century. There are strict gender roles for the Victorian man and woman. Through the acts of romanticism, sexuality, and seduction, Stoker introduces the idea of the ‘New Woman’ and its effects on men by lessening their ability to control their craving of forthcoming women and he portrays a man who yearns for the pure love that only a wife can give. Thus, it is important to consider the notion of the ‘New Woman’ and its effect on the Victorian man. The roles of women during Victorian times were considered to be constricted.
The Marquis’ description is particularly animalistic; Carter uses phrases like “(his) dark mane” to describe his hair. These animalistic images connote brutality and dominance which Carter associates with the male antagonist in order to convey her feminist message within the narrative. By creating an animalistic character that was the lead male influence in the narrative, Carter conveys the idea that men rely heavily on their base instincts and are naturally powerful, cruel and dominant yet the end of the story sees this strong male overthrown by a stronger female; this idea is part of the feminist allegory Angela Carter is attempting to create through the narrative. To foreshadow the idea of the mother’s heavy influence and strong overhaul of the male characters within the story Carter attributes some animalistic features to the mother within the story. She is described as “eagle featured” and with the connotations of an eagle being majestic, graceful and powerful and having no predators she is hint at the idea that the mother will overhaul this dominant male within the story.
Immortal Strength Within a Mortal Body A woman’s reputation influences a man’s judgment. In Victorian society, women were constricted to very narrow gender roles. Essentially there are two paths, she can either be pure and virginal (or a mother/wife) otherwise she was regarded as a whore, and expendable in any circumstance. This model is represented through two of Dracula’s main characters, Mina and Lucy. Both of these women are mysteriously feminine, pure, naïve and almost dependant on their husbands, but each with one exception.
Morgan le Fay, Lady Bertilak, and the Virgin Mary, help develop the overall themes of the work by forcing the Gawain to question his ideals. Morgan le Fay and Lady Bertilak, the magical old woman and the beauty, are characterized as the male hero’s opponents. They manipulate but rely on his final choice, and are protected by their social status in Bertilak’s court. Both Morgan and Lady Bertilak are condemned in Gawain’s angry speech for stepping outside what he expected and for challenging his conflicting ideals. Gawain’s lady love, Mary, on the other hand, is the constant guide and source of comfort to which he may always turn.
Daniel Le Gothic in Literature Mrs. Briggs 3/3/12 Frankensten as a Conservative Book on Sexuality. “United we stand, divided we fall,” declares small-town sheriff Rick Grimes in the post apocalyptic horror television series, Walking Dead. Here, he offers a lesson for the audience about teamwork and building trust. According to Judith Halberstam, Gothic novels are often moral fables that teach readers about what is considered right in society. Similarly, Mary Shelly’s novel, Frankenstein, can be viewed as a moral fable that offers readers the conservative view on gender roles.
What are the principal themes in Beauty and the Beast? Beauty and the Beast has a few distinct themes. One being judging someone for whom they are inside instead of outside and another is to get to know someone before you make judgments on them. In the story, this is seen from the very beginning when the prince (the beast) turns away the old woman because of her appearance. She ends up cursing him for make rash judgments.
It is evident that these differing values in Elizabethan and modern society are reflected in the character's relationships within each text. Inequality among genders is a theme that is conveyed in Shakespeare's play, ' The Taming of the Shrew.' In the play, the characters portray a comedic battle of the sexes where the tradition of marriage serves as the battleground. The men strive for marital harmony where the wife must conform to society's ideals of female obedience under male authority to achieve peace and love. This notion is best exemplified through Petruchio's 'taming' of Katherina.
Her poise is an illusion set up to shield herself from reality, yet she still attempts to make herself attractive to new male suitors. Themes: Violence and cruelty appear as a theme in this play. Violence is often fraught with sexual passion. For instance, Stella explains her love for Stanley despite his brutality to Blanche. There is the unnerving suggestion that violence is more willingly accepted by women in a marriage than one would like to believe.
"The Yellow Wallpaper" motivated the female mind of creativity and mental strength through a patriarchal order of created gender roles and male power during the nineteenth century and into the 20th century. While John represented characteristics of a typical male of his time, the yellow wallpaper represented a controlling patriarchal society; a sin of inequality that a righteous traitor needed to challenge and win. As the wallpaper deteriorates, so does the suppressing affect that male hierarchy imposed on women. Male belief in their own hierarchy was not deteriorating. Females began to think out of line, be aware of their suppression, and fight patriarchal rule.