How do Friel and Frayn present the role of women? In the novel 'Spies' and the play 'Making History' the authors Michael Frayn and Brian Friel portray the roles of women in different ways throughout each of the texts. They do this because they are trying to present both of these women in the stereotypical role of women but then also showing that they’re different. In the novel 'Spies' the women are presented as women who are dependent on men but they can also do a lot for themselves and they do have a bit of independence. Whereas in 'Making History' the women are a lot more dependent, although they do have to marry a man while they are quite young to fill the stereotypical purpose which was to be a housewife, so they would just cook, clean and have children.
Carol Nguyen English Literature Q: Explore Carol Ann Duffy's reversal of traditional gender roles in her collection of 'The World's Wife' with a particular focus on the poems 'Little Red Cap', 'Mrs Beast' and 'The Kray Sisters'. Carol Ann Duffy challenges traditional gender roles through the satirical subversion of classical myths in her collection 'The World's Wife.' Duffy employs a critical feminist tone in order to place emphasis upon the female perspective and undermine societal perceptions of women within literature as 'cute but essentially hopeless.' She aims to invert the stereotypical gender roles by reinterpreting the archetypal 'female' through empowering the voices of the female character whom would usually be overshadowed by males. Although, it has been disputed that Duffy's poetry is misandrist due to her dismissive persona towards men.
________________________________________________________________________ Pride and Prejudice, written by Jane Austen, depicts a love story between protagonist and antagonist - Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. As the main characters of the novel, Elizabeth and Darcy assume intricately developed and complex personalities; as opposed to other characters who, in comparison, are shallow and lead simple lives. Austen designs complexity in her main characters to provide a sense of reality, linking to emotional attachment; and creates stereotypical characters of various personas, so that we are able to interpret and predict their actions and speech. Interwoven into an elaborate storyline, readers can compare and contrast between the dimensions of these characters and discover for themselves: what defines an individual, and what makes us real. Throughout the novel Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen uses characterisation methods to expose us to reality, and to demonstrate how individuality is discovered, not defined.
Women over time have been the subject of judgment, critic, and ridicule, having women’s bodies parts portrayed as objects and being objectified through advertisements creates the fight for equality for women that Jean Kilbourne has devoted most of her life trying to achieve. Kilbourne a feminist herself preaches the issue of objectification of women through her writings of Killing Us Softly. Killing us softly reflects the issue at hand by raising the awareness of objectification of women through certain advertisements. Advertisements Kilbourne refers to in her essay are the ones that don’t portray women in the correct way or show the proper equality women have in present day. Women being inferior to males, having their mouths covered, or being mistreated within an add is something that should be stopped or at least being acknowledged that it is a negative message toward women.
Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s literature is based on women’s issues. She wrote fiction mainly depicting her social ideas. In her works, she portrays women struggling to achieve personal autonomy, adapting to independence, and challenging accepted images of women. In her novel Women and Economics, Gilman argues that women need to change their identities in society in order to be equal to men and become part of the world’s evolution. In addition, her novel Herland depicts women at their true, full potential in roles equal to men.
I think Chaucer was trying to voice his opinion about feministic ways through a female speaker, hence Alisoun (the Wife), though contradicted his ideas in both the Prologue and Tale. In my opinion this lead to both feminist and anti-feminist thing about the text. Some essayist also address the anti-feminist views present in” The Canterbury Tales” and that maybe Chaucer’s use of the character Alisoun was meant to overthrow these views or possibly reinforce them (Trudeau). Chaucer begins the Prologue with Alisoun, the Wife of Bath, described as bawdy, lusty, strong-willed and one of the most fully developmentally discussed women in medieval literature (Trudeau). Viewed as an early precursor of feminist thought, some scholars argue that the majority of her Prologue can be seem as anti-feminist rhetoric (Trudeau).
Jane Eyre voices strong opinions on; women’s rights, class and property, religious sincerity, love and justice. Brontë’s scrutiny of these topics relates flaws in each, despite the appearances of some. The novel is subtly humiliating towards males, displaying them a insincere. These flaws are demonstrated through…; consistent character action, The narration from a woman’s point of view establishes a strong voice for women rights, or lack thereof. At the commencement of the novel, Jane’s character is “… a picture of passion!” (pg7, Jane Eyre), when she rebels against harsh treatment at the hands of her cousin John.
A Rendition of Othello through Cixous and Irigaray It is needless to say that the status of women in literature has been subject to much discussion over the centuries. Women’s body, sexuality, position in patriarchal society have been the point of dialogue in numerous works of literature and amongst that, perhaps Shakespeare’s works have been one of the most significant. Shakespeare’s portrayal of women in his works has been assorted in every sense. He has depicted strong characters such as Macbeth, Cleopatra and Viola while at the same time, women of feeble nature such as Ophelia and Hero who wane under the oppression of the patriarchal expectations in their settings. Shakespeare presents three female characters in Othello –Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca each of which represents the diverse view on women.
In the film “American Beauty” Lester is imprisoned within his marriage and job. The director shows his entrapment clearly by camera shots, dialogue and character actions. At the beginning in the opening scene Lester states “In less than a year I will be dead, of course I don’t know that yet, and in a way I am dead already”. This quote clearly shows Lester’s entrapment right from the beginning of the film. Lester shows his entrapment which was partly caused by his fantasy a young girl “Angela”, his daughters friend which inspires him to quit his job, blackmail his boss, buy a new car, smoke pot and exercise.
Woolf interprets the contrast between the women in fiction and the real women of the period as evidence that the famous characters are nothing but impossibilities imagined upon by men. She argues that only a female writer could have created characters endowed with women’s hindered possibilities. But perhaps the women portrayed in Elizabethan fiction weren’t just men being conveniently portrayed as women like Woolf claims. Perhaps Shakespeare and other authors created these strong characters as symbols of what women could’ve been, barring the legal and social injustices they faced. Lady Macbeth is undoubtedly Shakespeare’s most vicious and cunning female character.