Where Marie de France comes from, many people disagree with women having power through literature. They disagree with women having much power at all. Because of this, Marie de France feels the urge to protect herself from those people. She argues that credit and respect should be bestowed upon anyone who earns it, regardless of their gender. Before her story even begins, Marie de France contests the idea of female inferiority.
The mirror reflected the woman’s face as she applied her mask. Foundation, powder, eye shadow, liner, mascara, blush, and lipstick are all applied as she satisfies her need to appear beautiful. In Susan Sontag’s passage, Women’s Beauty: Put Down or Power Source?, she explains the definition of beauty and the plight of contemporary women with respect to beauty. Women are overly concerned with superficial appearances and they do not express who and what they really are. Although beauty was once considered a virtue and can be considered a form of power, it is really a form of oppression that leaves women objectified and constantly working to be attractive.
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
Annabella’s claim to be a part of ‘a wretched, woeful woman’s tragedy’ offers no solace to the other women in the play as she bought her punishment on herself. To what extent does the play as a whole appear to criticise or endorse the misogynistic attitudes shown by so many of the characters? T’is Pity she’s a Whore is undoubtedly a play that can be characterised by the sexism present in it, particularly in terms of the negativity associated with female sexuality. Ford presents misogyny through women and love, women and sex and the male advancement, but what is unclear is whether or not he endorses such an attitude or criticises it. This is best encapsulated in the debate as to whether Annabella can claim to be part of a “wretched, woeful woman’s tragedy” if her mistreatment was indeed her own fault.
Her claim was to argue the problems of how women are supposed to be seen as thin, long hair, and busty. She dismisses that argument as she focuses on her past problems that end up coming out as anger and just nagging. Also, reveals her own problems with her own race. Her bias is revealed as she called the man a “redneck” and called herself a “nigga,” as she stoops down to her offenders’ level. Her unsupportive argument is not to prove the misconceptions of what makes a woman a woman, really her arguments about her own anger and aggression towards her past.
She shows how women can only be categorised as either an angel or a whore. It shows the way that women can only be judged at the time. She also frequently alludes to the “bad” women in literature to show how women could only be categorised in those binary opposites like Lady Macbeth or Eve. She uses rhetorical devices to explain how bad women are needed to disrupt the static order which is Patriarchy. Atwood also shows her opposition to the extreme feminism that existed in her time where feminism was influencing the creation of literature at the time.
The Role of Women in Lanval By: Nikole Smith 5/2/2012 Prof. Howard Canaan. In the story Lanval the author Marie de France’s describes the roles of women to be very stereotypical. These gender stereotypes are actually considered to be harmful, as well as degrading; some example of these gender stereotypes would include: “The fairy appearance in court, the old temptress queen, and Lanval’s lover. According to carlavangrove.com” Women is described as “sexy objects and beautiful maidens in distress, as well as obedient to men and their bodies are their best feature.” (http://carlavangrove.wordpress.com) Some example of this quote would be: “Their clothes were in expensive taste, close-fitting tunics, tightly laced, made up in deep-dyed purple wool.” (Norton P.143) Another example is “My lady, sir Lanval who is so free, beautiful, wise, and praise worthy ordered us to come for you. For she herself has come here too.
the laws of man cry out against it. the voice of God cries out against it- and so do I.”(284) This humorous approach of satire to pointing out society's general misconception of females is again present when Howe discusses a woman's viable options to get what they want and how to achieve there desires. She goes on to say “Women, we don't need vote in order to get our own way”(288), but rather cry ,“crying always brings them around. get what you want.”288) “Make a scene.”(288) “That is so much more dignified and refined than walking up to a ballot and dropping in a piece of paper.”(288)
She is to turn her attention to lady-like hobbies. Women are merely objects of display and necessary utilization. Scout is treated as a “girl” not only by society but also by her brother because that is his opinion of females. “I was not so sure, but Jem told me I was being a girl, that girls always imagined things, that is. Why other people hated them so, and if I started behaving like one I could go off and find someone to play with” (Lee, 119).
He depicts women as completely sexual creatures and also devalues women in the eyes of men. The way we have viewed women from the 1600’s to now has changed dramatically. In the 1600’s, the approximate time period Shakespeare had written Hamlet, women where viewed as helpless, dependent and had no place in society. Women today are looked upon with respect and dignity because they have earned self respect, value and a place in society as hard working, knowledgeable and yet compassionate. I believe Gertrude from Hamlet, is a depthless individual who only thinks about her body and external pleasures.