Throughout Bronte’s “Jane Eyre,” the superstitious presence surrounding Jane represents her transformation from an insecure young girl to a strong, independent woman. Bronte showed us her development in each stage of her life through her use of superstition displayed in the locations where she lived. Although Jane lives most of her life in the adventurous, unknown world, she is given the choice to do what is expected and live a life of honor and plainness; however, she eventually realized that she could not live a life so plain because she couldn’t live without the adventure. At the beginning of the novel, the superstitious presence in the red room shows Jane’s insecurity about herself; the room itself gives a description of her personality through the room’s appearance. As she looks around the room, she recalls that “it was in this chamber he,” her uncle, “breathed his last” (19).
Mrs. Roosevelt overcame an emotionally absent childhood and dictatorial mother-in-law to become an advocate for civil rights, women’s privileges, and the poor. Each of her life experiences made her stronger and fostered her growth into the women she became. Martha Graham was an artistic leader and developed a unique and American art form through her dance. While her contributions centered around respecting and protecting the art form she created, she also indirectly aided the advancement of civil and women’s rights. Lastly, Dorothy Day utilized her emotionally crippling childhood as well as her early experiences as a radical demonstrator to become the person she ultimately wanted to be.
“The Awakening” Essay In “The Awakening,” a book with great literary merit, by Kate Chopin, a respectable woman named Edna breaks the societal barrier that was placed on most women back in the 1800s. She seeks a new identity, one that includes freedom from her family and the ability to act on impulse and not have to abide by the commands of many. By the end of the story Edna goes through many changes in her life and ultimately achieves her goal of independence. But this newfound freedom only leads to trouble and eventually death. The idea of solitude as the consequence of independence is shown many times throughout the story and sums up Edna’s life.
Dorothea L. Dix PSY 310 December 19th, 2010 Dorothea L. Dix Dorothea L. Dix was a woman of many splendors. She was not one who wanted credit for her accomplishments for she acted simply in a matter that would best help people. She was driven by the purest desire to help individuals obtain a better life. “There are few cases in history where a social movement of such proportions can be attributed to the work of a single individual” (Gardner & Kovach, 1972). Dorothea accomplished extreme reform for the treatment of the mentally ill.
Kate Chopin’s The Awakening revolves around Edna Pontellier, a woman of her late twenties who goes through a series of sexual, intellectual, and emotional awakenings after spending the summer away. Described as a woman with strong physical and emotional characteristics, Edna is desperate to find herself. As she grows into an independent woman, Edna also becomes aware of many of her passions for art, love, and music, which, during her time, were not things women had many opportunities for. At first, Chopin describes Edna as a piece of property belonging to her husband, Mr. Pontellier. Described as a woman with “strong shapely hands”, Edna’s strong characteristics show early on that she is a woman capable of independency.
“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 only thing accepted in orthodox societies are traditional beliefs. Even if a great idea is introduced to that society, it won't be acknowledged or accepted just because it is new and different. Abigail was a very creative character herself. She went through several transformations in the story . She pretty much lead the other girls in their “fits” related to bewitching, pretends to see things like the bird (which was not actually there), “Why-?...Why do you come yellow bird?” (Miller 106) It's not that she is lying to avoid punishment and to assert power over her community; her stories and her claims are pretty inventive.
The Awakening What is the true meaning of “awakening” and does Edna truly find herself? Throughout the book, there are plenty examples of different kinds of awakenings, from her awakening when she tries to paint, Edna waking up to the realization that she can appreciate music, and to the fact that her life has been unfulfilling up until a certain point. Before Edna starts to discover herself, she is caught between longing to explore herself, than that of the women at Grande Isle at the beginning of the book there is a stereotype of the perfect mother, and how Edna is significantly different from that stereotype. In the quote “They were women who idolized their husbands, and esteemed it a holy, privilege to efface themselves as individuals and grow wings as ministering angels.” For Edna this isn’t a fulfilling role and she does seem to love her children but she finds peace and comfort outside of the home within her
Lastly, along with her mental and physical strength there is a much more deeper strength in Rosalind does not reveal to anyone And this strength in her is capable to hide her emotional part of her life inside herself and keep moving forward. In Chapter 13, David explains, “. . . watched her construct a character so thoroughly and wear it so constantly that for spells she almost deceived herself” (149).
In this essay it will describe Kirby and how she changed, also why she had to change. Kirby goes through a huge amount of change throughout her time staying with he relations. Even thou Kirby was not committed to god, by her own choice she still used the power of prayer for comfort, “Please God, keep her safe. I stopped. That was a prayer… Me, who didn’t believe in God”.