How does Susan Hill present the Woman In Black as a figure of mystery and fear? Susan Hill achieved making the character "the Woman in Black" appear mysterious, dangerous and fearsome figure by many different techniques such as using cliff hangers, making the narrator appear confused meaning that the reader(s) will not know either. Jennett Humphrey's, known as the Woman In Black, actions seemed, by some people, justified as she had suffered in her previous life as a kind loving mother until the tragedy of the loss of her son in a quicksand. Although she had lived pain and still is roaming around seeking revenge, would it really be just to avenge her son on innocent, lively children? Is she really a villain or a loving mother?
So, it would be interesting to explore how Walker uses this blackness to her advantage. Even the very title of Walker’s essay “Zora Neale Hurston: A Cautionary Tale and Partisan View,” intimates that she goes beyond being a mere Hurston enthusiast, she’s a fervent supporter. The word partisan indicates more. For example, it can also be taken to mean Walker is aligning herself to Hurston in terms of being female, a writer, but also, a sister in blackness. Hurston had this to say in Their Eyes Were Watching God: A Casebook: I dislike insincerity, and most particularly when it vaunts itself to cover up cowardice.
As the story transpires, Jane's unknown figure becomes all that is known to her; however, because of what is expected of her as a woman it is difficult for her to acknowledge her own self as she is afraid of her own monstrosity. Her repression is what initiates her transgression of becoming this unknown figure, and through excessive behaviour and desire she is able to recognize her situation as everything she is initially told is meant to keep her in the dark. Living in the nineteenth century, Jane has an extensive amount of pressure to be the perfect housewife and comply to her domestic expectations. Women have little rights and respect, and they must pursue their roles as women and tend to their husband and children's needs without complaint. Jane is very aware of these pressures placed upon her, as she is constantly describing how she must make John happy, and get well for John and the baby.
This enforces the idea that unlike Lennie, she is a complex character in the novel. Steinbeck mentioned that Curley’s wife’s voice had a “nasal, brittle quality” which is a clear sign of her flirtatious behaviour. Although her intentions were flirty, the fact that it was described as ‘nasal’ by the author made it obvious that it was unpleasant to the ears. The reaction from George made it clear to the reader that she was an attractive woman, however he was being apprehensive as he “looked away from her and then back”. This contrasts with Lennies reaction as his “eyes moved down over her body” blatantly checking her out.
This representation of the woman as powerful differs from the original expectation in a gothic novel, as the woman would usually be portrayed as weak, and in need of saving. Despite this, it is seemingly the man who is the victim here, as he enters the house. She claims she will be ‘very gentle’ while killing the man, so this is the indication that he is the one in trouble. By creating this role reversal, Carter projects the possibility of a powerful female, or even a female villain within Gothic novel. Now some could say that she is in need of being saved from her vampire personality, but in a physical sense of things she is completely self-sufficient.
She fears the dark, meaning she is afraid of evil and what has become of it. Lady Macbeth was plagued with guilt and this eventually led to her taking her own life. By deceiving Macbeth into killing Duncan, Lady Macbeth created her own
The short story “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Perkins Gilman is a look into the mental decline, and enlightenment of an anonymous lady. The narrator of this story is an odd character, both losing touch with reality and at the same time gaining greater self-understanding. This paradox is important to understanding the suffering of our narrator. All throughout the story she faces objects, or people, or situations that seam normal at first but that turn out extremely strange. This shows us that the main problem the narrator is faced with is how oppressive her situation is on her personality.
Kate Chopin in The Awakening shows significance of Edna’s suicide by having her death location at the same place as her awakening. Chopin writes the ending so ambiguous to highlight the fact that Edna drowns herself. Edna’s suicide results are attempts of her trying to choose the type of female that she wants to be in the society that she is in, which this leads to her defeat of her life to the sea. I feel that Edna finally surrenders herself to the sea. This would have been out of her frustration and pathetic state of her being.
Miss Strangeworth is an extremely censorious individual. She is judgemental of peoples actions in her town and believes that she needs to keep everyone in line, especially if they are acting a different way then Miss Strangeworth believes is correct. “ Didn’t you see an idiot child before? Some people just shouldn't have children, should they?”(Sightline 252). Miss Strangeworth wrote this letter to Helen and Dan Crane because she didn't agree with their parenting skills, so to Miss Strangeworth they were wrong.
Women in Gilead are not only forbidden to vote, they are forbidden to read or write, dress codes are used as a way to subjugate them; ordinary colours become symbolic of their social status while masking individuality, which is discouraged in the regime. Offred, the novel’s protagonist represents these women as a handmaid. She is not a hero. Offred's internal conflict was part of the grinding process, and this message was manifested through Offred when she decided to fight back. At times she wanted to give up and accept the will of the regime, but her memories and her humanity wouldn't let her.