A Double Life, Rank and Money, and Marriage
Several Russian authors employed a genre of literature called the society tale in order to critique traditions and expectations of Russian high society such as the concept of marriage. These society tales were very popular in Russia in the 1830s and included a mix of formats and styles. These tales examined different aspects of high society, such as power and money, and lead many authors to question the role of women in society. Authors such as Karolina Pavlova and Evdokia Rostopchina explored the role of marriage in society and the consequences of marriage as a whole. The concept of marriage in Russian society is discussed and judged in both A Double Life and Rank and Money. Whether a character marries
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Diana Greene, in her article, “Gender and Genre in Pavlova 's a Double Life”, comments that it is the “duty of all mothers to make sure their daughters are marriageable” (Greene 572). Vera is very involved in Cecily’s life and is ultimately responsible for the ‘proper’ upbringing. Vera, throughout the beginning of the novel wants Cecily to marry Price Victor, a man she deems a ‘good match’ based on his wealth and title. Madam Valitsky has to trick Vera into saying yes to Dimitrii’s proposal to Cecily because Vera is “looking for a brilliant match [Dimitrii] is not wealthy” (Pavlova 100). Until she is tricked, Vera completely dismisses Dimitrii as an option for Cecily. When Cecily is finally allowed to marry Dimitrii, both her and her soon to be husband are changed by the impending …show more content…
Like in A Double Life, our main characters are brought together based on love for one another. This story being with Vadim’s letter to his sister in which he contends that “it is evident...that [she hasn’t] loved’ like he has (Rostopchina 50). Throughout the story, Vadim uses a lot of descriptive language when talking about Vera which helps the reader believe his love for this woman. Unlike A Double Life, however, Vadim is stopped from marrying his love. Because of his lack of wealth or a title Vera’s “mother was completely opposed to the idea of giving Vera in marriage to [Vadim]” (Rostopchina 64). Like Dimitri, Vadim is not a desirable candidate for marriage because of his lower status. This obsession with marrying for money, like we briefly saw in A Double Life, is very important to high society Russian citizens. When Vadim returns after a year to marry Vera, he discovers she was persuaded by her family into marrying an old wealthy general. Instead of waiting for her love, Vera secured her future through a strategic marriage and both she and Vadim will pay the
In today’s society, gender issues are often discussed as a hot topic. In literature, feminist views are used to criticise “societal norms” in books and stories. Two popular pieces by authors Kolbenschlag and Hurston paint two very different views on women. One common assumption in the use of a feminist critical perspective is that gender issues are central. Kolbenschlag who wrote the literary criticism “Cinderella, the Legend” would most likely disagree with this statement, she feels that women bare greater burdens in society and are more largely affected by social norms.
During Russia’s transition to communism in the early 20th century, conflict and unease permeated every part of life. Nothing was stable and very little of what the Bolsheviks had fought for had come to fruition by the time the USSR disbanded in 1991. The “classless society”, which was to work together for the prosperity of everyone, never became a reality. In the end, the majority of Russia’s 20th century was an utter failure on a grand scale. However, there were many amazing products of the system do to the great importance of education in Russian culture. Priceless novels were written, timeless movies were made, and great scientific endeavors were realized despite the rigid control placed upon Russian persons by the government. In fact, some of the most memorable written works of the time were written protests to the creativity-stifling situation many writers found themselves in. Because of the danger to their lives should the wrong people be upset by their writings, Yevgeny Zamyatin and Mikhail Bulgakov wrote their most popular, Soviet-life condemning novels under the guise of satire. Even though they’re satirizing the same subject, in both We and The Master and Margarita respectively, they take very different paths to do so.
Countess Olenska had to face many difficulties in her life. After having problems with her husband, Count Olenski, she left her home in Europe and lived with her grandmother, Mrs. Mingott. When she came to New York, Newland Archer was the only one who was there for her and listened to her problems. Furthermore, when she wanted to get a divorce Newland Archer, being a lawyer, talked to her about it and made her change her mind. He fell in love with her, knowing he was engaged to her cousin, and supported her. If he wanted, he could have forced her into getting a divorce and get married to her with...
... destroy and reinstate the bonds of family and Russian nationalism. Turgenev explores hoe this generational divide interacts with the division among classes and how the powers of the aristocracy affects the younger generation and feminine identity. Throught these interactions the power of love as redemption is seen in the relationship between Arkady and Katya as well as Anna and Bazarov. The women in Fathers and Sons symbolize the diversity found within the same class and generational margins these women challenge the men they encounter and cease power over their relationships. The struggle for power, between the sexes is dependent upon the roles and social standings of the perspective character. The female characters whether aristocratic or dependent, “mothers” or “daughters” find power in their gender and utilize their womanly intellect to find eventual resolve.
...traordinary and is able to love Sonia (Ivants). The two are aware that their love will take years of endurance to finally be fulfilled when Raskolnikov is freed; however, they are also aware of the extremity of the case and are truly grateful for Raskolnikov's rebirth.
Russian realistic literature thrived in the second half of the nineteenth century under the political and social problems that shadowed the country. In the early nineteenth century, Czars had unconditional power and paid no attention to the needs of the people, especially the serfs who were defined and treated as slaves. Revolts began to spread, however, and the serfs were eventually emancipated in 1861. This reform gave the Serfs equal rights and opportunities as free citizens, including the right to marry and own property. With exception to house serfs, all others received a small plot of land from the government. Most were unable to pay the unfair taxes that they were subject to and most ended up renting land from landlords that had once contacted serfs. This issue and many others during the time sparked an arrival of literary works that chronicled the era and emphasized new ideas concerning the meaning of life and happiness. Anton Chekhov, who was the grandson of a serf, and Leo Tolstoy who descended from aristocrats, came from completely opposite backgrounds in Russian society, but expressed similar beliefs in their literary works. “The Bet” and “How Much Land Does A Man Need?” both use character, irony, and symbolism to demonstrate the overall theme of human stupidity.
The period is the early 19th century; those involved and discussed in this essay are for the most part Russian gentry. Increasingly relaxed social mores in the “developed” world, including the greater freedom to choose to whom one gets married to as well as increased women’s sexual rights, were much more uncommon during the time that War and Peace takes place. Tolstoy, an outspoken critic of arranged marriages, uses the characters in his novel as a way of exploring the various types of love, and in general the interactions between men and women of the time. This essay will attempt to focus on these relationships in an effort to get a better idea of Tolstoy’s views on the proper roles that men and women should play as friends, lovers, or spouses. By exploring the male/female relationships among the noble families, a detailed picture of both the expectations and realms of acceptable behavior will be established.
In “The Yellow Wall-paper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, the unnamed female protagonist is going through a rough time in her life. (For now on, this paper will refer to this unnamed character as the “the narrator in ‘Wall-paper,’” short for “The Yellow Wall-paper. The narrator is confined to room to a room with strange wall-paper. This odd wall-paper seems to symbolize the complexity and confusion in her life. In “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin, the protagonist, Mrs. Mallard must also deal with conflict as she must deal with the death of her spouse. At first there is grief, but then there is the recognition that she will be free. The institute of marriage ties the two heroines of these two short stories together. Like typical young women of the late 19th century, they were married, and during the course of their lives, they were expected to stay married. Unlike today where divorce is commonplace, marriage was a very holy bond and divorce was taboo. This tight bond of marriage caused tension in these two characters.
After being overcome by sadness after learning about her husband’s passing, Mrs. Mallard soon felt happiness as she discovered the freedom she would soon receive. It is through this desired freedom that we can learn about the author’s supposed views on marriage. Kate Chopin used several literary devices as a way to truly help the reader to understand Mrs. Mallard’s feelings and emotions following the news of her husband’s death. The story’s interesting and paradoxical ending of Mrs. Mallard’s death is assumed to be caused by happiness, but instead must have been caused by something much more complex. By the end of this story, the reader will have a better idea of the author’s views on marriage, and on the importance of challenging gender stereotypes to seek personal
Ivan Ilych is living during the industrial revolution, a time of technological advancement, that mainly advances the upper class, which he is apart of. Ivan’s number one priority in life is to be comfortable and to do the correct thing at all times. Every decision he makes, including who he chooses to marry, is with the intent that it does not damage his “easy, agreeable, and always decorous character of his life,” (Tolstoy 213). Ivan is convinced that the best way to have an easy and agreeable life is to be wealthy, marry a woman from his own class, and live in a house full of modern conveniences and luxury. Ironically, it...
Marriage is a powerful union between two people who vow under oath to love each other for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health. This sacred bond is a complicated union; one that can culminate in absolute joy or in utter disarray. One factor that can differentiate between a journey of harmony or calamity is one’s motives. Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is a novel of manners, where Elizabeth Bennet and her aristocratic suitor Mr. Darcy’s love unfolds as her prejudice and his pride abate. Anton Chekhov’s “Anna on the Neck” explores class distinction, as an impecunious young woman marries a wealthy man. Both Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and Anton Chekhov’s “Anna on the Neck” utilize
“There is no perfect relationship. The idea that there is gets us into so much trouble.”-Maggie Reyes. Kate Chopin reacts to this certain idea that relationships in a marriage during the late 1800’s were a prison for women. Through the main protagonist of her story, Mrs. Mallard, the audience clearly exemplifies with what feelings she had during the process of her husbands assumed death. Chopin demonstrates in “The Story of an Hour” the oppression that women faced in marriage through the understandings of: forbidden joy of independence, the inherent burdens of marriage between men and women and how these two points help the audience to further understand the norms of this time.
... story but it also reflects Russian society. This, however, isn’t why many Russians still continue to hold this piece of literature as central to their culture. Although, it tells of their heritage and society, it is the simple genius of the structure of the novel of –14-line stanza form-and his lyrics, which are complex and meticulous but are written with such ease that they appear effortless, simple, and natural.
Dostoevsky’s noteworthy literary works each contain similarities in theme, character development, and purpose when analyzed beyond face value. Dostoevsky’s early life and ideals, intertwined with life-changing events that shifted his ideologies, and critiques of fellow Russian writers during his time period lay the groundwork for Dostoevsky’s recurring arguments for the way which Russian society would be best-off, as well as ways in which the people of Russia would be suited to live the most fulfilling, non-corrupt lives.
Marriage a la Mode, by John Dryden, is an ode to the concept of marriage and love within the period of Restoration England. Dryden, presumably, presents two pairs of couples, Rhodophil and Doralice, as well as Melantha and Palamede, in a way that expresses an imperative tone towards marital relations. Throughout the playwright, he uses these couples and their mistresses to allocate the issue of broken, miserable, thorny marriages. Although marriage was common, there was a strong presence of moral emancipation, which Dryden presents through these relationships. These themes of dissatisfaction and obligation towards the concept of marriage are noted throughout the playwright, as Dryden uncovers how each character feels.