The Relatability of Julie Jordan in the Carousel

902 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Women's role in society over the centuries

Julie Jordan is the main women focused on in the musical Carousel. With that said she is the only character in the show that is not unlike her real world counterpart. Julie fits a stereotypical mold of women of the time but not character women of the time. Her character is intrinsically an antithesis to all other characters surrounding her. Small choices and actions set her unlike those of made by women in the world of the play allow her to become instantly relatable to the women of 1945.
In Carousel one follows the journey of Julie Jordan and she discovers men, family, and her place in the world. Around Julie one is introduced to characters such as Carrie Pipperidge, Billy Bigelow, Enoch Snow and many more. Each other these characters follow a theatrical stereotype accepted by the public. Carrie is a naive, direct and normal young woman of the period. Her goal is life is no further than domestic bliss with a man. Enoch Lastly, Billy is an anti-hero that is perceived as a typical ladies' man that also rely more on his status as a man then actually talent, very similar to those men of the time period. He is a deeply troubled character ultimately redeemed by the love he could not communicate to his wife and unborn child. In contrast to these theatrical characters one see Julie as a stand out in the show because she so closely resembles the women of the time period. She needs to be able to flirt with Billy without seeming like a vamp, she needs to be able to portray a vast reserve of strength and calm, but also be able to be genuinely afraid and destitute. Julie has depth to her that real women in the 1940s would also have and be able to relate too. With the other characters we see people who have been created in shows prior to this...

... middle of paper ...

...lie does not give off the idea that she is also suppressed by the man and relationships in her life but allows for women to see that she is subtly disagreeing with the movements towards feminism but also those that keep her in a powerless position in a relationship. These smalls choices set Julies character up to be successful in the world of the play while also obtaining a new sense of independence and self not before seen in theatre.
Overall Julie Jordan’s character is the only character in the show that reflects the ideals of women of the time period and not outdated stereotypes of women of the time. She fights against the new ways of feminism pushing for women to be independent but also fights for power of women in a relationship. Small choices and actions set her apart from characters in the show allowing her to become instantly relatable to the women of 1945.

Show More
Related

  • Brilliant Lies the Play

    904 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the play, 'Brilliant Lies', David Williamson uses a number of techniques to expand on the concepts introduced in the title. He uses characters and their back stories to build a supporting argument to compliment the text's overall theme that everyone lies to protect themselves. Susy's sexual harassment claim contains the most evident form of lies throughout the text, however Vince and Gary's relationship, Susy's family history, and even Marion's favouritism with clients all help to identify the main themes to the reader.

    Read More

  • ROSIE THE RIVETER AND HER CONTRIBUTION TO WWII

    1836 Words  | 4 Pages

    The role of women in American history has evolved a great deal over the past few centuries. In less than a hundred years, the role of women has moved from housewife to highly paid corporate executive to political leader. As events in history have shaped the present world, one can find hidden in such moments, pivotal points that catapult destiny into an unforeseen direction. This paper will examine one such pivotal moment, fashioned from the fictitious character known as ‘Rosie the Riveter’ who represented the powerful working class women during World War II and how her personification has helped shape the future lives of women.

    Read More

  • Slavery and Christian Values in Uncle Tom´s Cavin by Harriet Beecher Stowe

    1364 Words  | 3 Pages

    These strong people have help not only with the growth of the Broadway musical, but also with the beginning of the modernization of musical theater during this period. Particularly the growth and change in the types of characters being used in Broadway musicals. Such as the Cinderella type characters are in the rag to riches stories, where they are struggling in the beginning of the act, yet at the final curtain they have a happy ending. Women and men during this period are beginning to show more personality in their acting and their struggles on stage. This was also the period where talking pictures, started to become a growing industry, it was no longer about just the Jazz period of the 1920’s. However, all good things must come to an end; it was the crash of the stock market during this period that brought an end to the feverish pitch of Broadway.

    Read More

  • Daisy Buchanan and Myrtle Wilson of The Great Gatsby

    1358 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...vie, the actresses that played them actually fit the role. Women usually do not have impacts on things, but in this novel, major things happened as a result of these women. These things include dishonest marriages, love affairs, wealth, power, and jealousy. This goes to show that women are not always the innocent ones in novels, or any other type of literature.

    Read More

  • Women's Roles in Antigone and A Doll's House

    902 Words  | 2 Pages

    ...n he tried to intimidate her earlier and that she would be so bold to his face. The criticism faced by the characters in the plays demonstrate the idea that women are inferior to men and should not speak out for themselves.

    Read More

  • The Theme of Dishonestly in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman

    986 Words  | 2 Pages

    Lies play a central part in the play as the story is based around lies

    Read More

  • Hairspray Gender Roles

    974 Words  | 2 Pages

    Hairspray, a John Waters’ musical, demonstrates progressive messages about the expansion of race-based civil rights in the 1960s . Although this is typically the lens through which Hairspray is viewed, this is not the only significant societal shift portrayed in the film. The stories of Edna Turnblad and Velma Von Tussle illustrate the progressive shift of women from “old” gender roles such as being excluded from the workplace to “new” gender roles where women begin taking managerial positions.

    Read More

  • Sexism In Disney Movies

    1820 Words  | 4 Pages

    Disney movies have a very narrow view of what women should be like. Since the arrival of the first Disney movie, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in 1937, the idea of it has expanded, but rather marginally. There is a clear distinction of what a young women should be and what she shouldn’t be. Those who do not fit the mold of Disney’s expectations are cast aside to become villains, but those who do, end up becoming the damsel in distress. Ultimately, these stereotypes are what influences young girls who watch these films, and can have devastating effects on their self worth and change their idea of what it means to be a women. Films like Sleeping Beauty, The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,

    Read More

  • Feminism in The Things They Carried by Tim O´brien

    1301 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...as Mary Ann in the novel show that women can do so much more than sew and cook. Without women, all wars would have been a lot harder. Although men tend to keep a macho facade in order to calm others (such as the women in their lives), inside they may be like glass, easy to break. A society set on the ideal stoic, fearless warrior who acts ruthlessly and saves the damsel in distress (also showing that women are weak) obviously is one where doomed to sexism. Without the comfort and inspiration, men would have deteriorated in the face of death. All and all, women provided the needed comfort, nursing, “manpower”, and love that the soldiers of Vietnam need, something that helped them endure the havoc of war. O’Brien’s expert use of the feminist lens allows the reader to know that women indeed were a powerhouse in the Vietnam war, without whom, men would have perished.

    Read More

  • Gender Stereotyping In Grease

    1068 Words  | 3 Pages

    In today 's society, gender stereotyping of men and women has influenced the society’s actions and how it has reflected in recent years. Everyday stereotype is being used whether if it’s on movies, workplaces, playgrounds, homes, or even magazines. There is gender diversity in the movie Grease which took place in 1978. This movie focuses on several different types of stereotyping throughout the movie. Two specific characters in which we are able to use as an example of gender stereotyping are Sandy and Danny. There has always been a specific boundary between a male and a female gender. The femininity side that is shown in the movie Grease of how it is described by the character Sandy of how women were once portrayed back in the day has changed

    Read More

  • Feminism and Slavery

    2340 Words  | 5 Pages

    The idealized Woman that men and women alike propagated consists of four qualities. "The attributes of True Womanhood, by which a woman judged herself and was judged by her husband, her neighbors and society, could be divided into four cardinal virtues- piety, purity, submissiveness and domesticity."[1] Of all of the women that Jacobs' autobiographical character Linda Brent meets, not one ...

    Read More

  • The Great Gatsby Contextual Analysis

    1173 Words  | 3 Pages

    There are multiple portrayals of the changing roles of women throughout the text. The allowing of women to vote during the 1920’s allowed for a new, more self-sufficient role of women to be portrayed. Jordan Baker is an example of a new type of woman in the twenties. She shows herself to be harsh, self-motivated and very confident in the actions she takes. Jordan also looks down upon those who are less financial equipped then she, “lets get out…this is too much polite for”. This reveal Jordan to be blunt, revealing what every she has on her mind blurting out secrets and gossip of others. This is reinforced, as she is the first to reveal the Myrtle is Tom’s mistress. Myrtle also portrays a new identity of women during the time period. She reveals to the reader of the liberated woman of the 1920’s who challenged the traditional gender norms. She reveals that she only married George under the believe that he was rich, “I though he knew something…but he was not fit to lick my shoe”. She chooses to cheat on George, leaving him to have an affair with Tom, showing her shallow personality. She also reveals to have been attracted to Tom by his suit, “he had on a dress suit and patent leather shoes and I couldn’t keep my eyes of him” revealing that she in fact does not love Tom but instead wishes to have the money that he posses and reveals her materialistic values and her concern only to reach the higher parts of society. The readers understanding of the changing roles of women due to the new rights and liberties given to women during the

    Read More

  • Difficult Life for Woman in the Victorian Era in A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen

    636 Words  | 2 Pages

    A Doll House showed how women were treated unfairly and unequally. Nora, Anne Marie, and Ms. Linde were examples of women in the world during that time period. Nora was an example of what became the start of the women’s liberation period. Henrik Ibsen showed a lot of modern realism by bringing out the struggles of women using these three characters. Life in the Victorian Era was very difficult for women.

    Read More

  • Analysis of the Inspirational Film, Mona Lisa Smile

    2055 Words  | 5 Pages

    ...thing her mother told her, and took her beliefs very seriously. Giselle even talked about her parents splitting up after her father returned from the war. She explained that things just were not the same. Society was going through a tremendous change, and affecting the lives of everyone. “Mona Lisa Smile” is a great reminder of what it was like to live when a woman did not have a voice. However, if this movie were to take place on a campus today, society would not have played a factor in the movie. Both women and men would be equal on campus, and their educations would be held of equal value. In today’s society, it is very important for a female to educate herself and to have a career. We are a feminist society in that all people should be treated equally however, sometime we could all use a Katherine Watson in our lives, as a reminder that women do have a voice.

    Read More

  • Kate Copin's Feminist Theory

    1236 Words  | 3 Pages

    She is marginalize from society by her partner and she has to live in the shadows of him. She is unbelievably happy when she found out about the death of her husband. She expresses her feelings of freedom in her room where she realize she will live by herself. This illustrates that Louise has been living in an inner-deep life disconnected form the outside world where only on her room away from family and friends she discovers her feelings. It is important to mention that even though Louise has a sister, she does not feel the trust to communicate her sentiments towards her. We discover a marginalization from family members and more surprising from a women, Louise’s sister. The narrator strictly described Louise’s outside world but vividly reveals what is in her mind. At the same time she feels guilty of her emotional state by recognizing that she loved Brently mallard sometimes, her husband. Louise contradict herself but this demonstrates her emotional feelings about her husband disregarding her marriage. The situation of this woman represents the unhappiness and disgraceful life that women had to suffer from their

    Read More

More about The Relatability of Julie Jordan in the Carousel

Open Document