Three aspects of the notions of what we know as typical conventional family values or norms can be seen challenged in novels such as “Purple Rain”, “Buried Child”, and “The Little Girl Who Was Found of Matches”. In all three novels themes, such as abuse, murder, and incest, along with other taboo related or unacceptable behaviour displayed by characters show us how the authors of the book have chosen to portray family life in their particular works. In each book, we are given an outlook into the darker aspects of what we may know of occurring in society, but not in the graphic and detailed manner that is presented in the three novels by writers Sam Shepard, Gaétan Soucy, and Alice Wallace. It can be said that these dark elements of family life …show more content…
Leading characters, such as the parents Halie and Dodge, have long forgot the concept of marriage and overtime have become people who are attached to one another over the perceptions of what something is, but not entirely it being exactly that. Halie’s infidelity has lead to a child between her and her son Tildon, being an act that is categorized in society as taboo, while also Halie herself engaging in relations with Father Dewis which challenges both the concepts of marriage and religion displayed by Father Dewis’ hypocrisy. The act of incest is not apart of neither society norms nor notions of what we know to be the “American Family” and while it may not be ideal to what we know, however, these actions are not things that do not happen in society, but more so are things that are never spoken of or critically highlighted in our knowledge of what we know. …show more content…
In Alice Wallace’s novel characters, such as Celie, Nettie, or Sofia, along with others deal with phycological, physical, and emotional abuse in their marriage lives or lives in general contributing to their negative or aloof outlook of life. For example, Celie’s accustomed reaction to abuse leads her to suggest to Harpo that he should beat Nettie, however, this from of behaviour is condemned in society and can lead to legality issues. The societal general consensus view of domestic abuse in marriage is condemned yet Alice Wallace challenges our notions of this form of behaviour by reflecting its occurrence in peoples’ lives in her novel. The constant occurrence of abuse in characters lives in “The Colour Purple” goes against our concept of marriage life, however, is important to understand that it occurs more so then taboo or criminal activity and is an existing issue that people may deal with commonly today.
In the play “Poof” by Lynn Nottage , the author creates an overall message on how abuse in marriages are often overlooked. In the play the two main charters are loureen and Florence , they are both in abusive relationships with their husbands until loureen gets out her relationship by her husband just poofing in thin air.
The scholar, Lizzie Skurnick, states that the author of The Darkest Child, Delores Phillips, has a great plot, but it is an unoriginal story because it contains a story that has been told too many ti...
The response to abuse has metamorphosed drastically from Janie’s time to present day. During the days of the early 20th century in which the novel was set, spousal abuse was accepted and even promoted in some cases. Astonishingly, when Tea talks with the men about beating Janie the men respect Tea Cake and admire the way Janie stays quiet during the ordeal saying, “wouldn’t Ah love tuh whip a tender woman lak Janie” (Hurston 148). They ignore the fact that Tea Cake beats her just to show other people that he is in charge; he beats her because of his own insecurities. In Alice Walker’s novel The Color Purple it is shown that the men as well as the women encouraged spousal abuse. When Harpo seeks advice on how to deal with Sophia it is Celie, another woman, who advises him to beat her. Although spousal abuse still occurs in many households today, it occurs in secrecy because there are laws that have been erected to protect against this type of abuse, and the punishment for this crime is harsh. Today, if a man hits a woman he is less of a man and a disgrace, not praised and admired as in the past.
(Hurston, 31). Janie earns her equality in the relationship by refusing work that Logan is attempting to force on her.... ... middle of paper ... ... Works Cited "Domestic Violence and Abuse" Signs of Abuse and Abusive Relationships.
In Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s bodies of work, Gilman highlights scenarios exploring traditional interrelations between man and woman while subtexting the necessity for a reevaluation of the paradigms governing these relations. In both of Gilman’s short stories, “The Yellow Wallpaper” and “Turned”, women are victimized, subjected and mistreated. Men controlled and enslaved their wives because they saw them as their property. A marriage was male-dominated and women’s lives were dedicated to welfare of home and family in perseverance of social stability. Women are expected to always be cheerful and good-humored. Respectively, the narrator and Mrs. Marroner are subjugated by their husbands in a society in which a relationship dominated by the male is expected.
One of the key components of literature is the usage of elements, these elements of literature provides readers underlying themes that authors put into their story. Without these elements of literature, the author would have no way to convey their true messages into their works. In Zora Neale Hurston’s story “Sweat”, Hurston uses many elements of literature to convey the seriousness and true relationship of couples that have a history of domestic violence. However, a specific element of literature that Hurston uses are symbols which give readers a clearer understanding of domestic abuse and most importantly, the characteristics of the victim and perpetrator of an abusive relationship. The symbols that Hurston uses in her story are what fortifies her plot and characters in “Sweat”. The symbols that Hurston uses are necessary because it destroys the typical gender role stereotypes between men and women. This is necessary because there is such a difference between the portrayal of men and women, men often being superior to women. Hurston uses through her symbol to show some equality between men and women or at points women can also be superior against men.
“Like a river flows so surely to the sea darling, so it goes some things are meant to be.” In literature there have been a copious amount of works that can be attributed to the theme of love and marriage. These works convey the thoughts and actions in which we as people handle every day, and are meant to depict how both love and marriage can effect one’s life. This theme is evident in both “The Storm” by Kate Chopin and “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Gilman; both stories have the underlying theme of love and marriage, but are interpreted in different ways. Both in “The Storm” and in “The Yellow Wallpaper,” the women are the main focus of the story. In “The Storm” you have Calixta, a seemingly happy married woman who cheats on her husband with an “old-time infatuation” during a storm, and then proceeds to go about the rest of her day as if nothing has happened when her husband and son return. Then you have “The Yellow Wallpaper” where the narrator—who remains nameless—is basically kept prisoner in her own house by her husband and eventually is driven to the point of insanity.
Taylor and Lou Ann demonstrate a symbiotic relationship between the roles and characteristics in a family. Edna Poppy and Virgie Mae replaces the missing physical and emotional traits in a stable household. The examples tie into the fact that not all families in this book match “the norms” and expectations, but are equally valued, blood or
In analyzing Charlotte's "strategic" and almost desperate marriage to Mr. Collins, one can see how little freedom women in this society have. Marriage is not an option; it is a necessity. Women are expected to marry while still in their late teens or early twenties to a man, preferably wealthy, and of good standing in society. If that type of marriage is not attainable, then the girl is doomed to a life of poverty and despair. Reputation and wealth are two forces that drive the Bennett family.
It’s not easy to build an ideal family. In the article “The American Family” by Stephanie Coontz, she argued that during this century families succeed more when they discuss problems openly, and when social institutions are flexible in meeting families’ needs. When women have more choices to make their own decisions. She also argued that to have an ideal family women can expect a lot from men especially when it comes to his involvement in the house. Raymond Carver, the author of “Where He Was: Memories of My Father”, argued how his upbringing and lack of social institutions prevented him from building an ideal family. He showed the readers that his mother hide all the problems instead of solving them. She also didn’t have any choice but to stay with his drunk father, who was barely involved in the house. Carvers’ memoir is relevant to Coontz argument about what is needed to have an ideal family.
Back in the old days, women were practically enslaved in marriages. Meaning they really did not have any rights and their masters were their own husbands. Kate Chopin, author of many different short stories, wrote a few stories where the female character shows signs of her being in an enslaved marriage. Kate Chopin stories have a common theme of, women suffering from being enslaved in a marriage and denial of any type of freedom. To prove this, in Kate Chopin stories it shows, one woman cheating and dishonoring her current husband with one of her old lover is “The Storm”.
Marriage can be seen as a subtle form of oppression, like many things which are dictated by social expectations. In Kate Chopin’s The Story of An Hour, Louise Mallard finds herself in distress due to the event of her husband’s death that makes her question who she is as a person. The author cleverly uses this event to create the right atmosphere for Mrs. Mallard to fight against her own mind. As the short story progresses, we see that Mrs. Mallard moves forward with her new life and finds peace in her decision to live for herself. This shows that marriage too is another chain that holds oneself back. Not wanting to admit this to herself, Louise
Patriarchal silencing can be enforced in three different ways: physical abuse, emotional abuse, and social demands and/or expectations. Although both books have opposite cultural and racial factors that influence the way in which the women in the books are treated, we can still see that these three ways of silencing women are present. In Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple”, the form of patriarchal silencing that is most prominent is the violent physical and emotional abuse.... ... middle of paper ... ...
While it has traditionally been men who have attached the "ball and chain" philosophy to marriage, Kate Chopin gave readers a woman’s view of how repressive and confining marriage can be for a woman, both spiritually and sexually. While many of her works incorporated the notion of women as repressed beings ready to erupt into a sexual a hurricane, none were as tempestuous as The Storm.
In today’s advanced societies, many laws require men and women to be treated equally. However, in many aspects of life they are still in a subordinated position. Women often do not have equal wages as the men in the same areas; they are still referred to as the “more vulnerable” sex and are highly influenced by men. Choosing my Extended Essay topic I wanted to investigate novels that depict stories in which we can see how exposed women are to the will of men surrounding them. I believe that as being woman I can learn from the way these characters overcome their limitations and become independent, fully liberated from their barriers. When I first saw the movie “Precious” (based on Sapphire’s “Push”) I was shocked at how unprotected the heroine, Precious, is towards society. She is an African-American teenage girl who struggles with accepting herself and her past, but the cruel “unwritten laws” of her time constantly prevent her rise until she becomes the part of a community that will empower her to triumph over her barriers. “The Color Purple” is a Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Alice Walker which tells the story of a black woman’s, Celie’s, striving for emancipation. (Whitted, 2004) These novels share a similar focus, the self-actualization of a multi-disadvantaged character who with the help of her surrounding will be able to triumph over her original status. In both “The Color Purple” and “Push”, the main characters are exposed to the desire of the men surrounding them, and are doubly vulnerable in society because not only are they women but they also belong to the African-American race, which embodies another barrier for them to emancipate in a world where the white race is still superior to, and more desired as theirs.