As an example two influential short stories will be discussed in depth in order to shed light into the lives of the two authors and their stories. The short stories by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860–1935) and Angela Carter (1940–1992) both sideway the same idea; the confinement of women in particular roles and positions in both personal and professional lives, posed on them by patriarchal figures. Toril Moi quotes in her examination of feministic criticism, Sexual/Textual Politics (2002), Elaine Showalter’s idea that “women writers should not be studied as a distinct group on the assumption that they write alike, or even display stylistic resemblances distinctively feminine” (Moi, 2002: 49), which comes across when reading the two stories which are stylistically already very different. It might be so that a feminist reader of both times (there’s some 80 years difference between the two stories) did not only want to see her own experiences mirrored in fiction, but strived to identify with strong, impressive female characters (Moi, 2002: 46), and looked for role-models that would instil positive sense of feminine identity by portraying women as self-actualising strong identities who were not dependent on men (Moi, 2002, 46). The two stories bring out two female characters, very different by position and character; the other a new mother, scared and confused of her own role, and the other a young newly-wed girl, still a child, being fouled by a much older man, mainly as a mark of his authority over women in general.
This reversal of gender stereotypes and gothic conventions is used often in Carter’s work. In the Bloody chamber, it seems that although she has adapted gothic conventions into a modern way, presenting females as the more powerful characters than men, she also retains some of these typical roles in some of her stories. The lady of the house of love would be an immediate example of how Carter creates a role reversal that differs from the typically valued places in gender. Carter creates the role of the ‘Femme Fatal’, with this dangerous woman that lives in the castle. 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.
After reading select parts of The Odyssey, I found that there is really no way to generalize the women in Homer’s Odyssey because they all have their own distinct traits that make each of them great, strong, and powerful women. A very powerful woman is Arete. She is as powerful as the king, Alcinous. Her daughter Nausicaa displays great intelligence in handling Odysseus despite being so young. These women I speak of above are great women in a good sort of way but there are also some very bad women that still have some amazing qualities.
Powerful and Submissive Women in Literature Female behavior may vary depending on the role they play within their families, jobs or lives. Since the inception of several feminist movements, women behavior has changed and evolved over the years and we see today many women of power exuding confidence and independence. In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, and Dashiell Hammet The Maltese Falcon, ideal women are perceived to be passive, obedient and dependent on men. Elizabeth, The Intended and Effie are, respectively, examples of idealized women in the literature written by the above authors. The portrayal of women in the three stories mark the submissive role expected from women in literature and society as a whole.
Despite being written during patriarchal Jacobean society, the protagonist is a female, which is was highly unusual in those days. Of course this protagonist is Lady Macbeth. Throughout the play, through Lady Macbeth's actions we are forced to believe that she is evil. In contrast, the novel John Steinbeck tells a story of dreams, hopes and loneliness. We are introduced to a majorly significant and complex character, named Curley’s wife.
In fact, women’s power can be unstoppable. It might be the result of centuries of ignorance and indifference towards women’s capacities, as it might be an inborn nature. However, the woman revolution is starting to break the wall of racism and discrimination, proving that a woman can be equal to a man in all domains: politics, society affairs, business, medicine, legal affairs and others. Few years ago, in the occidental
Lady Macbeth is the only female lead character in The Tragedy of Macbeth. At first looks her personality seems cruel and uncaring. But after the second act we can see that is not the case. She is a dynamic character that changes throughout the play and shows many different sides to her personality. The theme of appearance helps to reveal Lady Macbeth’s character through her transformation from a cold-hearted, ambitious wife to a demented, insomniatic queen.
Then the quote continues and states: “You will find them, [women] a set of harpies, absurd, treacherous, and deceitful—regardless of strong obligations, and mindful of slight injuries…” (86). The bluntness of this statement about women would not have come from a man seeking a wife during this time. The female villain of the novel, Mrs. Hammond exemplified these awful characteristics throughout the story. The author, Rebecca Rush was probably surrounded by women, during this time, willing to stop at nothing to secure their future. As the quote continues, “and when your integrity has been
But the biggest difference with her is that achieving her looks may be highly unlikely. What is accepted to society has gone from being beautiful as a woman, to being a beautiful woman. Being proud of natural attributes and capabilities have gone to wanting to be tall, skinny, and powerful within one's
I believe that she has a bad influence on Macbeth being that she led Macbeth in to a bad situation. lady Macbeth is always trying to over take Macbeth on the great chain of being .women in Shakespearean times where considered to have to work under men and where not allowed to take part in manly activities also lady Macbeth wished to be famous so when the news of Macbeth being told by the witches that he shall be king al her dreams flashed before her eyes being that she was expecting Macbeth to overhaul king Duncan in the great chain of being she then wished to overhaul men and the royalty as well, she saw her self as stronger and more powerful then Macbeth and she used love to guide him in to the grasps of the witches and the