“The Awakening” is a story about a woman named Edna Pontellier who figures out her true identity. She fights an internal battle with society standards as well as finding her own independence. The title of this story actually gives out the true meaning of the story, and it was often hinted to the readers that she was having an “Awakening” within herself. There are also real life instances that can relate to the meaning of this story. Edna Pontellier often shows a rebellion in her throughout the story, and there are many reasons as to why she feels like she has to rebel.
The shattering of classifications and stereotypes, and the subversion of traditional gender roles, and the concept of sisterhood or unity among women are among the main tenets of feminist criticism. In the words of Catherine Besley, she mentioned that the cultural construction of subjectivity is one of the central issues for feminism (qtd. in Con Davis and Schleifer, 355). All women are feminists. However, it cannot be denied that women still experience the effects
Sylvia Plath was a poet and author who deeply and thoughtfully engaged with the period in which she lived, which was rapidly evolving and developing. This is clear in her poems “Morning Song” and “The Applicant” as well as her novel, The Bell Jar. Plath passionately challenged many social expectations, such as the expectations placed upon females as well as pressures on men – the expectations of “the perfect life”. She also challenged consumerism. Because of the way that she engaged with and challenged the changing reality of her period, her contribution to the literary world is valued most highly.
Bradstreet’s greatest inspiration came from her religion. Her poetry was primarily personal in terms of content devotional/spiritual and emotional reflections. Anne Bradstreet was very devoted to her family, and she often wrote verses to and about them. The themes in her poets were Puritanism, motherhood, nature, feminism, sickness and death. Bradstreet's tone could be described as personal, humble, modest and soft.
In the sonnet, Barrett Browning repeats “I love thee” over and over again rather than using different words for love. This is to enforce the already existing knowledge about the strength of her love, and that what she feels is love, nothing more and nothing less. This is also called anaphora, and with that being used within the Bible it makes seem like her poem is a prayer. This links to the religious language used within the sonnet itself, in Elizabeth’s eyes her love is like her religion, and
There are plenty of examples in the poem that portrays the struggles of the time for women, not to mention her struggling nationality that has been fighting for equal rights for over a century. Lucille Clifton
Hist1302 Responsibility Essay: The Solitude of Self Stanton’s “The Solitude of Self” is a true work of humanitarian and feminist. Reading this made feel as if I was hearing out my grandmother who spoke to me about my individualism and my responsibilities as a woman, and as a member of this society. Solitude of Self is in very simple words, is self-sovereignty, As Stanton herself claims. This is also the strongest reason why Stanton felt the voice of women in government is important. Stanton describes very logically, how an individual self is the head of establishment, an important part of a general society.
Maia Seguin ANNE BRADSTREET PURITAN POETRY ESSAY Setting sail to a new world of unknown dangers, the puritan colony was the first colony to part from the English church because of different opinions. In this grand adventure was a women by the name of Anne Bradstreet, the first published female poet. Some may say that she is one of the most important figures in literary history. Not only was enduring the hardships of this new world a great achievement but Anne faced the discrimination of others for being a women poet. Day after day she was forced to burden the cruel thoughts of others opinions of being inferior because she was a women and a women with her own thoughts at that.
The Life and Times of E.B.B. Elizabeth Barrett Browning (1806-1861) During the early nineteenth century, feminists were first coming out into the political forefront. Among them, Elizabeth Barrett Browning emerged as one the greatest woman writers of all time. She wrote of "social reform, for the rights of lower classes and women, and for the cause of Italian freedom (Lewis)." While many aspects and circumstances of life affected her work, she was also able to effect society in many ways.
Your husband was always right; your duties were to cleanse him of all his sins. Being a puritan wife was a lot to handle; you must be the perfect wife, even if you were not treated with the same respect. Puritans had strict religious discipline, and followed the rules of the England church. Puritans were very religious; the word of the bible was practically their lifestyle. God is what defined the roles of man and woman in the community.