There are certain concepts besides Sex that both authors use to articulate what they believe is required for an ontological shift including “the Other”, women as pleasing objects, men as subjects, subordination, objectification, and freedom. Although both Mackinnon and Beauvoir discuss these concepts in terms of dialectical relationships, only Beauvoir goes as far as connecting happiness to women’s inability to attain freedom. By comparing each author’s vision of liberation from patriarchy, this paper will explore the notion of women’s “freedom”, how to obtain it, and the ontological shifts that are required for women’s liberation from male supremacy. Before delving deeper into the complexities of the relationship between women’s freedom and gender-based oppression, we must first understand what the ontological status of women and men is, why they are different, and the role that they play in ... ... middle of paper ... ... maintain sex difference, we will not be able to obtain equality. Women’s freedom and liberation from a male supremacy is conceivable but it will only succeed with the support and cooperation from the women of the world, which is extremely improbable.
Although all these men bring up excellent points on their definitions on love, it is a woman that makes the best definition be known. I will concentrate on the difference between the theory of Common and Heavenly love brought up by Pausanias and the important role that Diotima plays in the symposium. Pausanias brings up an excellent way to think about Love. He explains that love can be broken down into two types, that of Common and Heavenly love. The common love is that when a man and a woman join merely to satisfy their sexual desires.
Penelope along with other characters like Nausicaa and Arete that fall under this category represents ideals for marriage. Penelope's role in the poem is the reward and prize to Odysseus' suffering but it is her virtue, which make the sufferings worthwhile. The one important role of Penelope that makes her a desirable wife aside from her beauty and faithfulness is that she anchors the kingship of Ithaka. The suitors saw that the one who married Pene... ... middle of paper ... ...e, women are the weaker of the two sexes. Women are slaves and spoils of war, if they are valued for sex they are used for sex.
“Links.” Writing Material: Readings from Plato to theDigital Age. Tribble, Evelyn B. and Anne Trubek, Eds. New York: Longman, 2003. 195-213. Ong, Walter.
It is a divided issue whether D. H. Lawrence is to be considered a friend or a foe to the feminist movement. On one hand, he advocates an egalitarian man-woman relationship, on the other, his notion of equality seems rather subject to qualification. His reference to the ideal monogamous partnership as "phallic marriage" (Spilka 7) is certainly a cue that must be taken up. Why is marriage "phallic" unless the phallus is privileged in the expression of sexuality? (de Beauvoir 205) The idealisation of gender relationships leads to an essentialisation of gender, which is itself at the source of patriarchal domination.
Albeit the position of sexual power is normally held by the man both in literature and in reality, she takes control of her sexual pleasure, and boldly assumes charge of her desires. Aphra Behn uses imagery to give the reader a vivid depiction of the forbidden scene playing out betwee... ... middle of paper ... ...r scene, and then coyly asks, “Ah who can guess the rest?” (25). Aphra is very successful in allowing the reader to make a correct conjecture on the events that will follow. “The Willing Mistress” is one of Ahpra Behn’s poems which display the thwarts the stereotypical traditional roles of women. A woman has the power to be sexually liberated to engage with her lover on an equal or greater level.
New York: Longman, 2003. 418-442. Tribble, Evelyn B. and Trubek, A. Writing Material: Readings from Plato to the Digital Age. Ed.
Philosophy: History and Readings, New York: Mc Graw Hill, 2008. Schwarz, Catherine. Chambers Concise Dictionary: Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap, 1998.
7) Robinson D and Groves J (2000) Introducing Plato. Icon books UK, Totem books USA. 8) Scott-Kakure D, Castagnetto S, Benson H, Taschek W and Hurley P. (1993) History of philosophy. Harper Perennial. 9) Solomon R C and Higgins K M. (1996) A Short history of Philosophy.
It is acceptable when “the ... ... middle of paper ... ...otional) need of a lover. Sappho, who represents female homoeroticism, and Plato, who’s Symposium addresses many aspects of male homoerotic love, share some fundamental aspects of love, but their views and objectives are largely different. The latter’s goal is essentially intellectual satisfaction, while the former’s is more directly linked with physical beauty and desire for physical closeness, not characterized by grand moral and intellectual ideals. This is not to say that the love between Sappho and her lovers, was solely based on sexual desire. It is certainly wrong to assume that, in light of the Symposium’s perspective, they were mindless, sex-driven lesbians.