Equality is perhaps one of the most controversial concepts that has plagued human society and communities as well as nations, since Earth’s earliest days. The idea that all are deserving of an equal amount of respect and acceptance, however appealing it may be, is quite impossible. There will always be factors (ie. economic situations, former methods of servitude, personality, etc.) that will affect the way in which humans treat one another, no matter the circumstance. It is a ridiculous idea to even attempt to comprehend that one’s feelings and thoughts and history as a person could ever be the equivalent to another’s. As a result, we are able to achieve a sense of individualism within ourselves and are able to clearly notice the differences …show more content…
While Lyddie is provided a tour of the factory by overseer, Mr. Marsden, Lyddie finds the “murky air” (62)—which is quite a difference from the fine, clean country air she is accustomed to—hard to breathe in. It is the polluted air and the fact that many of the girls work in such cramped spaces, and most often board together with others, that sickness is able to spread rapidly, over short periods of time. Prudence, one of Lyddie’s roommates, is among the first to fall victim to one of the variety of sicknesses lingering in the factory. Lyddie describes Prudence’s illness as one paired with symptoms of “coughing…dry, painful, [coughing]” (89). Following Prudence, is a great number of girls to become ill. At one point, Lyddie discusses the severity of the lingering illnesses with Diana, a friend and coworker, and Diana remarks, “A lot of girls have been out with this fever…There’ve been many deaths in the Acre.” (133) It is clear throughout the book that the sicknesses that sweep over the factory girl population are no closer to mild than winter is to summer. Lyddie herself becomes far too weak to remain immune to the highly contagious illness, and, after weeks and weeks of overworking herself, her limited health is forced to succumb to the ailment. “…She was so hot, so exhausted…Her whole body was …show more content…
Marsden. Mr. Marsden plays the role of overseer to the hundreds of factory girls, a job which only requires that he ensure that the girls complete their tasks while also caring for their safety. However, his behavior as described by Lyddie only expresses that he cares a bit too much. At one point within the book, Mr. Marsden attempts to take advantage of the fact that Lyddie is ill and weak from a severe fever, “[stopping] her and [making] her wait until everyone was gone…bringing his strange little mouth closer and closer to her fiery face…” (129) Luckily, Lyddie is able to escape his attempt to molest her by physically attacking him and taking off. Nonetheless, Mr. Marsden is apparently not one to give up so easily, as proven when Lyddie witnesses yet another molestation attempt made by him towards Brigid during her way back to her room, at the end of the day. She “saw through the shadows Brigid, eyes white with fear, and Mr. Marsden’s back. His hands were clamped on Brigid’s arms.” (160) Brigid, frightened and in panic, cried out, pleading with the overseer to release her from his tight grasp. Again, Mr. Marsden’s attempt was unsuccessful, as Lyddie was able to interfere with the situation and save Brigid. Clearly, Mr. Marsden does not have much of a limit on his “desires” when it comes to the factory girls. Thus, Mr. Marsden’s constant presence during the factory girls’ work hours
...he shows us her character, not by how she gives herself respect, but by the continued respect that she gives to others: even her tormenters. Her secret shame was kept inside, and it was an impossible burden to bear. She was brave.
In a year that remains undefined beneath a small city lit only by candles, a young man is working. He works without the council to guide him and without his brothers beside him. He works for his own purposes, for his own desires, for the dreams that were born in his own steady heart and bright mind. In his society, this is the greatest transgression. To stand alone is to stand groping in the dark, and to act alone is to be shamed by one’s own selfishness. The elegantly simple society that Ayn Rand has created in the novel Anthem has erased all segregation and discrimination by making every man one and the same with those around him; only Equality 7-2521 defies the norm with his ruthless
Many other motifs of equality can be found in Bronte’s Jane Eyre. I have learned through this book that in the Victorian Era, there was a major line between the rich, and those in poverty. We learn this through just the few quotes that I have written. Jane was once poor, but threw her uncle’s death she became rich. Life once as a beggar, now able to give to those that beg. When Jane was poor, she was treated like dirt, but because she became rich she was treated with more respect. Thusly, there as much segregation in standings, in the book Jane Eyre.
...l human character. Writers of American literature have many different opinions on the society. In order for readers to understand an author’s view on the society, they must look at many different aspects including the writer’s life and the time period in which the work was written. Though writers have different theories about the society, they express their philosophies into their work. The town who seem horribly uncivilized, where a son stones his mother, yet they can easily be compared to today's society.
An example of this can be found in Native Son, while Bigger is portrayed as a hyper masculine character the author emphasizes the differences of the two genders by giving the women in the novel . weaker personas and characters that are less subject to change and development. The woman whose character development is most prominent is the mother´ s when she transfers from having a sharp and tough demeanor at the beginning of the novel, ¨´Bigger, sometimes I wonder why I birthed you...We wouldn't have to live in this garbage dump if you had any manhood in you,” (Wright 8). This is also seen in the way that people in power, such as police officers, treat women differently than men. In Native Son, Bigger overhears two men discussing Bessie, “‘Say you see that brown gal in there… Boy, she was a peach wasn't she?’ ‘Yeah; I wonder what on earth a nigger wants to kill a white woman for when he has such a good looking woman in his own race….’” (Wright 260). In the society of 1940’s America, society focused on typical gender roles and enforced them by ingraining into life itself, teach children the importance of earning their place. The form of oppression differs between races, but still emphasizes elevating men above all
In all of these pieces of literature, the behavioral norms that are considered appropriate for men and women are tested. In The Yellow Wallpaper, a wife is pushed to insanity, in A Doll’s House, a housewife goes against expectation, in The Great Gatsby, male dominance is pushed to the extreme. Gender roles dictate men and women’s lives. The concept that you must live up to society’s expectations controls men and women’s thoughts and actions, and it must come to an end. All these authors captured a vital lesson to be learned: Men and woman should be treated equally.
Character (Mosser, 2013). Applying this theory into women 's equality can provide explanations for gender stereotyping and
Even though racial discrimination may not be as prevalent in the present day society, many African American men and women believe that they do not experience the same opportunities as the white race. Media in general plays such an active role in bringing more information about racial discrimination and how it is still occurring today. But media can also bring negative effects to the struggle in living up to social standards to today’s society “norms”. Anna Mae was very brave in lying about her identity to become someone she really wanted to be. But, I feel she should have never had to have done that. He story just goes to show how the power of society can change you as a human being. It can make you believe that you must change your identity in order to “fit in” which I find to be very sad. I think that more people in this world need to stand up to theses stereotypes of being the “perfect American” and say that no one is perfect in this world and everyone is created by the most perfect human God. Overall, racial discrimination is a part of our everyday lives and "By the Way, Meet Vera Stark" can still speak to us today, even with the play set in a time 80 years
Societies standards are what everyone wants to fit into it is the norms that are used as a guide to living life. The grandmother and the misfit in O’Connor’s “A Good Man is Hard to Find” follow the way of social values, thoughts, and way society sees one another closely in 1953. Both the grandmother and the misfit are different in many ways, but have one common value of society’s views are important to them. The way society views and judges people causes both the misfit and the grandmother to act differently but subtly makes them more alike than either of them could tell. The shared value of society’s point of view on a human being can explain both characters views, behaviors, and actions because of how heavily it weighed on the grandma and
Society continually places specific and often restrictive standards on the female gender. While modern women have overcome many unfair prejudices, late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century women were forced to deal with a less than understanding culture. Different people had various ways of voicing their opinions concerning gender inequalities, including expressing themselves through literature. By writing a fictional story, authors like Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Henry James were given the opportunity to let readers understand and develop their own ideas on such a serious topic.
Women have been treated unequally since the beginning of time. Just recently have things began to change for the better for women and the future of our society. The increase in women’s equality rights will take time, but some day women and men will be treated equally. This cannot happen until each of us is able to look at a person and just see another individual, not a male or a female, white or black, rich or poor… a person as just a person.
Overall discrimination is an awful thing. It is like a STD, it can be passed from parent to child, or someone can become infected if you don’t watch out. Discrimination is also like the plague. It sweeps over a large amount of people, infecting most, and most don’t survive. Though today much of the discrimination is gone, just like the plague, but it is still there. Unfortunately for some people, they have to deal with people discrimination from others. Whether it be discrimination of one’s race, age, disability, or gender. Discrimination has numerous damaging effects to someone’s life. In Of Mice and Men the unlucky victims of discrimination also suffer from the same effects. They allow for people to have control of them and walk all over them. Discrimination is like a fire... It hurts.
In the analysis of the issue in question, I have considered Mary Wollstonecraft’s Text, Vindication of the Rights of Woman. As an equivocal for liberties for humanity, Wollstonecraft was a feminist who championed for women rights of her time. Having witnessed devastating results or men’s improvidence, Wollstonecraft embraced an independent life, educated herself, and ultimately earned a living as a writer, teacher, and governess. In her book, “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman,” she created a scandal perhaps to her unconventional lifestyle. The book is a manifesto of women rights arguing passionately for educating women. Sensualist and tyrants appear right in their endeavor to hold women in darkness to serve as slaves and their plaything. Anyone with a keen interest in women rights movement will surely welcome her inexpensive edition, a landmark documen...
Jane Austin, author of Pride and Prejudice, is critical of the gender injustices and portrays that through her character. The women in Pride and Prejudice are dependent on men for social status and financial security. The women either needed to be born into the social high class or they have to get married to have social status and wealth. Men vi...
As previously mentioned, inferiority perceptions and obstacles for women remain prevalent in the twenty-first century. Although substantial progress has been made with regards to the educational opportunities for women, as well as educating both men and women to view women with equal regard, we have yet to achieve parity among genders. In particular, “Contemporary feminists, such as Catherine MacKinnon, argue that the law and society’s political institutions are based on male assumptions, such that women can never achieve equality within them” (Tannenbaum, 2012, p. 220). Additionally, the recent focus on gender socialization directly relates to Wollstonecraft’s writings. In fact, she may be one of the first philosophers to establish the foundation for studying gender socialization through her assertions from two hundred years ago, “the character of women was artificial, and a consequence of the roles society defines for them” (p. 213a). Tannenbaum’s summary of Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Women, reads as though it’s from a current Sociology course in gender equality and diversity. “Women are fond of dress and gossip; are helpless, emotional, weak; and act like children, not because it is there nature, but because they are educated or trained this way” (p. 213b). Wollstonecraft’s assertions were revolutionary when taking into account the historical context of her vision. Hence, both genders can benefit from studying her feminist perspective, then contemplating how her vision has evolved over time in society, as well as advocating for its continued