His sisters, First Corinthians and Lena, whom author Toni Morrison keeps in the background of the novel’s main events, are suddenly transformed into deep, complex characters. The two sisters, who have spent their lives in Dr. Foster’s parlor making fake roses, refuse to be aristocratic sweatshop workers any longer. The fact Corinthians works as a maid even though she has acquired a college degree does not make her feel inferior but rather it liberates her socially. Furthermore, the fact that she finds true love outside of her upper class social status shows that Morrison is making an attack on class consciousness. Lena’s revolt comes out during her confrontation with Milkman.
Without the opposition being available the argument will lack meaning. Bosley presents her opposition effectively and strong. Throughout the article Cindy began to gain confidence towards winning the pageant. “I secretly believed that I stood a better chance … though she had the right name and the right body…” (Bosley 2). In contrast to Cindy’s new found self esteem, her mother seemed to uphold a strong lack of confidence in her daughter and in herself as well.
The step-mother was primarily concerned with ensuring that her own “daughters have a better life than she” (Schectman 602). The step-mother felt that Cinderella was “a mere distraction to her overall campaign” (Schectman 602), and that is why Cinderella was unable to form a functional relationship with
The Crucible, written by Arthur Miller, depicts women as weak persons, who are expected to submit to men, and whose only access to power is through dishonest means. None of the females in The Crucible possess extreme power, but the truthful, pure-hearted, and family oriented women seem to be even less powerful than the others. Elizabeth Proctor and Rebecca Nurse are two of the less powerful women in The Crucible. Both of their lives are led by an instinct to serve their families and communities . Elizabeth Proctor is convicted in participating in witchcraft even when it seems obvious to her loved ones and most others around her that she had never involved herself with demonic forces .
Now that’s growing up without a childhood. Jane Smiley seems like a great parent who cares about her children but to allow her daughters to put on makeup even entering their teenage years just isn’t right. Her girls where prematurely growing up, where behaving beyond their age, and with their only priority being beautiful at all times it seem to help them in the long run. As they burned off the “Barbie stage” and grew into more important things down their lives. Like for example Smiley talks about her older daughter, “Now she is planning to graduate school and law school and become an expert on woman’s health issues, perhaps adolescent health issues like anorexia and bulimia” (377).
d. Daisy is a wife and mother. She is a woman who is so highly set on the goals of having the best of everything, and being above everyone else. She is the love of Gatsby’s life whom he wishes she would drop it all and come back to him, but this is not the case. Daisy is to be a heart breaker to many. Daisy is swept up in her own little fantasy world in some situations.
Anne Elliot is an “unfortunate heroine” 1. “She had been forced into prudence in her youth, she learned romance as she grew older: the natural sequence of an unnatural beginning” (p29). ‘Prudence’ is what increases her susceptibility to being persuaded to follow a course of actions “through argument or belief” 2. Persuasion has been described as having a Cinderella-like theme – a vulnerable young woman is harshly treated by her family, and is rescued by her hero through good fortune and magic 1. However, Anne Elliot is not a passive heroine, and her fortune and misfortune are not brought about by fate.
The Awakening Society frowns upon women who are trying to be independent and have a free life. Many people tend to look down on women who lived their life in a “dream” and who have awakened from it and acted out this “dream”. During the 19th century any women who did not follow expected social behavior were often looked down on as a disappointment. In the tragic realistic novel, The Awakening, by Kate Chopin, a young American woman of the late nineteenth century seeks to realize her full potential as an independent human being. Adele Ratignolle and Mademoiselle Reisz are two women in which Edna’s options of life paths are exhibited, however, Edna finds both role models lacking.
Then there is Dee, the older sister, which is out spoken and thinks she is the best looking girl in the world. As for Maggie, she is ok with the way they live, however Dee does not understand why they still live the way they do. The older sister thinks she can take and do as she wishes, as Maggie lets everything go without a fight. If they could just get along, they could change a whole lot in each other’s lives and be allot more understanding of each other. If every person in this world would stop judging, and start listening to each other, there may not be as many wars and deaths.
Growing up, I thought my mother looked just like Cinderella and had the same pretty voice. I was excited to watch this movie again, with my daughter, because I thought it would bring me back to my childhood. I must admit that while watching it for absolutely different reasons, and taking notes, it was hard to enjoy it as much. Without immediately referring to the sheer passivity of the heroine, Cinderella, I’ve found that this story not only gender-stereotypes, but sets societal norms right out there on the table for you, and agrees and supports every one of them. Cinderella is not the role model I want for my daughter.