The Wessex Tales
Explore Hardy’s portrayal of women in three of the stories studied.
The Wessex tales was set in the nineteenth century; Thomas Hardy decided to write his stories and novels in the past, during the nineteenth century before he was born. Hardy got some of his ideas from his grand parents; he used to spend long evening next to the fire listening to his grand parents telling stories form the past.
Thomas Hardy invented his own places
He is highlighting the point that women around that time do not have a say in any thing.
The expectations of women were that they had a lower profile
At this time people lived in small communities so every one knew each other, so gossip got around the community. If any one did any thing wrong then they became a victim of there own community, and would become isolated.
Thomas Hardy portrays Rhoda s being a social victim for having a child out of wedlock, although she is isolated it is ironic that Farmer Lodge is not, but he is still accepted as part of the community. This shows women are lower than men women are inferior to men. Farmer lodge does not acknowledge the fact that he has a son
‘Just the same as usual’
‘ Took no notice of you’
‘None’
Rhoda son is use to his dad ignoring him. All that Farmer Lodge has given Rhoda is a job, Rhoda works away from the rest of the workers because she has been discarded. Hardy describes Rhoda as ‘Fading women of thirty’She looks older than she actually is; it also...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that thomas hardy decided to write his stories and novels in the past, during the nineteenth century before he was born.
- Opines that he is highlighting the point that women around that time do not have a say in anything.
- Explains that rhoda was convinced that this was not a dream, there is evidence to show this. there are other beliefs around like conjuror trendle; some people believed that he had some sort of magical powers
- Analyzes how thomas hardy portrays rhoda's being a social victim, although she is isolated, it is ironic that farmer lodge is not accepted as part of the community.
- Analyzes how rhoda's son is used to his dad ignoring him. she works away from the rest of the workers because she has been discarded. hardy describes her as 'fading women of thirty'
- Analyzes how rhoda is insecure about her self and compares herself to gertrude to see if she is worth more than her.
Related
- analytical
- argumentative
- Social Structures In Victorian Society, By Thomas Hardyanalytical essayIt is certainly not an exaggeration to say that Hardy owes his reputation as a novelist to the publication of Far from the Madding Crowd in 1874. The novel was the first of his Wessex novels. As he says in the Preface of this novel, the fictional country of Wessex is partly real and partly dream country. In this novel Hardy paints a colourful picture of English rural life in the nineteenth century with all its joys, suffering and injustice. Lois Bethe Schoenfeld neatly sums up by pointing out how Hardy has dealt with the realities of his day. His fiction can, in fact, be read as History. “Hardy’s fiction is a
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how thomas hardy's novels deal with various social institutions and address social problems within the confines of his art.
- Explains that hardy owes his reputation as a novelist to the publication of far from the madding crowd in 1874.
- Analyzes how hardy portrayed bathsheba as an independent and strong-willed woman who gained control of a farm. the patriarchal english society believed that women were weak by nature.
- Analyzes how hardy rejects the traditional concept of marriage in far from the madding crowd.
1207 wordsRead More - The Feminist Criticism Of Michael Henchard By Thomas Hardyanalytical essayIrvin Howe, like other male critics of Hardy, easily fails to notice about the novel is that Michael Henchard sells not only his wife but his child, a child who can only be female. Patriarchal and male dominated societies do not willingly and gladly sell their sons, but their daughters are all for sale be it soon or late. Thomas Hardy desires to make the sale of the daughter emphatic, vigorous, essential and innermost as it is worth notifying that in beginning of the novel Michael Henchard has two daughters but he sells only one.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how hardy, like other male critics, fails to notice that michael henchard sells not only his wife but his child, a child who can only be female.
- Analyzes how thomas hardy wants to make it clear that michael henchard is representatively selling his whole share in the world of women. he has disengaged his bonds and ties with the female community of love and loyalty.
- Explains that feminist critique is male-orientated and focuses on the exploitation, misuse, and manipulation of female audiences and spectators.
- Explains that elaine showalter invented the term gynocriticism in her 1979 essay "towards a feminist poetics."
- Argues that gynocriticism consciously avoids the inevitability and predictability of male models and theories and seeks a solely female model.
- Explains that elaine showalter has reconstructed and recreated the past and history of literary history by dividing the three stages of women writers. gynocriticism is an interpretation made on women in history, culture,
- Explains the main purpose of gynocriticism is to construct and build a female frame work for the analysis of women's literature. it doesn't support the thought of adopting male models and theories.
- Explains that gynocriticism is different from feminist critique as it is more self-contained and experimental. it builds a female framework for the analysis, study, and interpretation of women's literature.
655 wordsRead More - Canterbury Talesanalytical essayCanterbury Tales as a whole was very interesting. It has introduced us to a way of life that we never knew existed. It also introduced us to a type of crude humor that we have never been exposed to. It has shown us a true side of life during the Middle Ages. We have learned many things already from our World History teachers, but to experience it first hand is a different story. To experience the jokes, the merriment, and culture opens the gates to a new world. I think that these tales have been very entertaining, and enriching. I liked all the tales that I have read. I think that Geoffrey Chaucer was right to record culture the way it is, and not have toned it down to fit the needs of religion. The culture is the way it is, and no one can change it, only to record it. Chaucer recorded like he saw it, with no bias or impure intentions. He was just an author trying to write a book, for people to read and enjoy.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that chaucer was right to record culture like he saw it, with no bias or impure intentions.
- Analyzes how the miller's tale showed the crude humor that people in the middle ages liked to read about. the plot describes the two lovers trying to make love, yet her husband must be distracted.
- Analyzes how chaucer wrote the prioress's tale in the way he felt that best expressed the times.
- Analyzes how the pardoner's tale discusses different types of sins, and tells a tale of boys' sin. however, the religious aspects of the tale were too much.
- Analyzes how chaucer discusses the virtues of cheating, or infidelity, in the wife of bath's tale, which mocks christian morals.
596 wordsRead More - The Canterbury Talesanalytical essayThe Canterbury Tales “The Prologue to The Canterbury Tales” were told during a pilgrimage journey from London to the shrine of the martyr St. Thomas a Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. This was approximately 70 miles to the southeast. These Tales were told by a group of 29 pilgrims, and a Host who met up with them at the Tabard Inn. They left the Inn on the morning of April, 11. The Nun’s Priest Tale was the first story actually told, this was determined by whoever drew the shortest straw.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the canterbury tales were told during a pilgrimage journey from london to the shrine of the martyr st. thomasa becket at canterbury cathedral.
- Explains that geoffrey chaucer, the greatest english poet of the middle ages, wrote "the canterbury tales" in 1387 and had never finished.
- Introduces the miller, who was one of the 29 pilgrims on the religiousjourney. they will learn about his physical traits, his personality, and his professional trades.
- Analyzes how the millers' beard was red, and his nose had a wart on the end, with red hairs protruding out ofit.
- Explains that the millers' personality was distinct, it matched his physical traits almost exactly. the miller was veryboastful in his ways.
- Explains that the miller was greedy and greedily — he would steal from the poor without even thinking twice. he also had a filthy mouth and told tavern stories.
- Explains the greediness, dishonesty, and boastful nature of the miller and his professional trades.
- Analyzes how the miller was skilled in cheating the scale, but overall he was good at his job, even though cheating his customers.
- Describes the miller's boastful personality, his beard wasred, and his wart on the end of his nose. he was also a very dishonest and immoral person.
533 wordsRead More - Canterbury Talesanalytical essayIn the poem, The Canterbury Tales, there were two characters that were completely from each other. The two characters were two parts of a whole which is a dichotomy, for example there were a ying and a yang. The parson was the light side, which is the ying and the friar represents the yang.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that in the canterbury tales, there were two characters that were completely from each other. the parson was the light side and the friar represented the yang.
- Analyzes how the parson is a good man who is poor, but he is rich in holy thoughts and works. chaucer does this to show the good side of the church.
- Analyzes how chaucer was the best friar around because no one knew as much dalliance and sweet talk as he did. he believed that being seen with paupers was not good for a man in his position.
- Explains that friars were supposed to drive evil away from people, but they committed evil deeds themselves. chaucer's parishioner was the stereotype example of what priesthood should be like.
395 wordsRead More - The Canterbury Talesanalytical essayBy offering the reader the choice to read on or to find another tale, the narrator includes the reader in the narrative as someone who is either already disciplined, and so will choose another story, or included in the category of shame created for the Miller: “narrator and reader can choose to identify as subjects in process, performing at times contradictory public and private functions” (226). For Burger, this is a moment that reveals The Canterbury Tales’ work as the foundation of modern English:
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how murphy's comparison brings up an important connection between pedagogies of shakespearean and medieval texts.
- Argues that the social order institutionalized in "the neoliberal university" is a purposeful system from which real people, however few, do benefit.
- Analyzes how the discipline of english came into its own in an age of colonialism.
- Analyzes viswanathan's critique of the disciplinary practices that have produced english literary study.
- Analyzes how the narrator's interjection echoes the queer performativity of the miller and his tale by inserting the modernizing effects of textuality.
- Argues that the ideal relationship between teacher and student reflects the romanticism invested in modern understandings of the roles of authors.
- Analyzes the casualization and deskilling of academic workers by their unions and activists.
2603 wordsRead More - Canterbury Talesargumentative essayCanterbury Tales There is a great deal of useful information to be found on the Internet but sorting through it can often be a hassle. There are some sites that are useful and give a great deal of helpful information but there are also many sites that just don't meet up to those standards. Since anyone can put information on the web, it is often hard to tell a good site from a bad one. Today, I am going to go through a few sites relating to Geoffrey Chaucer and his book The Canterbury Tales and give examples of good and bad sites relating to them.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that there is a great deal of useful information on the internet, but there are also many sites that don't meet those standards.
- Recommends the litrix reading room at http://www.litrix.com, which gives free electronic distribution of books for readers.
- Explains that a very good site relating to geoffrey chaucer is http://www.luminarium.org/medlit/chaucer.html.
- Recommends http://www.media.wright.edu/studorgs/english20403/chaucer.html for people interested in chaucer's biography, chaucerian language, online reports, and medieval sites.
- Analyzes how one page about geoffrey chaucer shows what junk can be put on the net. this page has no detail and entails one paper and the paper isn't even good.
- Explains that there is a great deal of good information on the internet relating to geoffrey chaucer and his works, the only thing is finding the right location. the three sites i gave good ratings to are more than enough to suffice.
- Analyzes the squire as one of the thirty pilgrims travelling to the shrine of st. thomas a' becket in the canterbury tales.
- Explains that the squire was apprenticed to a knight before he could become one. he has ridden for sometime with the cavalry and places like flanders, artois, and picardy.
- Compares chaucer to the description of spring at the very beginning of the "general prologue". his clothes are embroidered like a meadow, "al ful of fresshe flowres, white and rede."
- Explains that the squire is a happy person and has many talents, such as making songs and words come together. since he is so young, his spirits and energy are high.
- Explains that the squire is a good character who one day will make his father proud. he is courteous, eager to serve, and perfect for his type.
- Cites abrams, m.h., and blakelock, jane. the norton anthology of english literature.
1021 wordsRead More - Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Talesanalytical essayGeoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales is a collection of stories in the
In this essay, the author
- Explains that geoffrey chaucer's canterbury tales is a collection of stories in the summary.
- Analyzes the framing of a pilgrimage of 30 or so pilgrims, ranging in status, as distorted microcosm of the 14th century english society.
- Describes the prioresse as one of the most fully described pilgrims in the general prologue, with gentle satire. she is guilty of vanity and worldly indulgences as well as the exploitation of sexuality and beauty.
- Analyzes chaucer's use of french words such as "pleasaunt" and "charitable and pitous" to emphasize the prioresses misdirected charity and kindness.
- Analyzes how the prioresse's corruption and worldliness is emphasized by the irregularity of the portrait itself.
- Analyzes how dyvyne, senely, and fetishly create irregular rhythms that are appropriate for the elements of the prioresse, stressing her flaws as a nun, as well as her typical medieval romance heroine allusion with reference to her beauty.
- Analyzes how chaucer concludes the prioresse's portrait with her "fair forheed" and "eyen greye as glas". her simple and coyly smile and flirtation indicate that she conscious of her accomplishments and beauty and aware of the power play that it gives her.
- Analyzes how chaucer uses harsh satire in the description of the portrait of pardoner.
- Analyzes how the imagery used for the description of the pardoner is seen as grotesque and repelling.
- Analyzes chaucer's references to animals, including hares, hawks and mares when describing the pardoner. he is an amusing but repulsive character, where critics most often see him as a monster.
- Compares the corruption and abuse of power of the church in the 14th century to that of mccarthyism in america.
- Analyzes how arthur miller explores the nature of humanity and the individual in the face of fear.
- Analyzes how danforth's evilness is seen as corrupt and abusing the powers of the court and his position as a magistrate.
- Analyzes how mccarthyism represents the sheep mentality, when the individuals follow the mass. mary warren turns against proctor, under so much pressure.
- Analyzes how proctor's defiance to authority represents the individuals who stood up and against the mccarthy era.
856 wordsRead More - Scientific materialism showed the insignificance of the human individual in the scheme of the universe. Contrary to this doctrine is the Christian belief that every human soul is so precious in the eyes of God that he took the shape of man in the form of Christ to redeem mankind from its sins and sufferings. Hardy being an artist and not a scientist was placed in a very difficult position by the mechanistic conception of the universe. This dilemma gave Hardy the greatest cause of unhappiness and the same conflict is the central theme of all novels of Hardy. He became interested in two of the major problems of the time, one being the conflict between science and religion and the other the social and political rights of women and the injustice done to women under man-made laws. The development of science led England to the Industrial Revolution which started no doubt around 1760 but found its real climax only during the Victorian age. The greatest single fact of the age was that of change and adjustment. There was unprecedented rapid development in every walk of life.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how scientific materialism showed the insignificance of human individual in the scheme of the universe, while christian belief that every human soul is so precious in god's eyes.
- Analyzes how kettle's critique of mechanical materialism shifts the emphasis from the tragic fate of tess, the individual, to that of her class.
- Explains that hardy's novels were composed during the twenty years when there was rural collapse and agriculture degeneration. the main theme of his novels is agriculture and the clash between agricultural and urban modes of life.
- Analyzes how hardy's novels reflect the democratic spirit of the victorians, who were prudish about love, sex, and social taboos.
945 wordsRead More - Mr. Potter, by Jamaica Kincaidanalytical essayAfter illustrating the setting of Mr. Potter’s birth, Jamaica Kincaid characterizes the relationship between mother and child. “…his head next to her gently beating heart, her breathing so regular, so calm, so perfect, as if she had been made that way by God himself” (Kincaid 4.68). This perfection of Roderick Potter and Elfrida Robinson sleeping next to each other lasted a only a few days before “Elfrida…grew tired of him, lying next to her, feeding from her, and then sleeping next to her, and how she longed to be rid of him” (Kincaid 4.69). Once Elfrida saw Roderick as a burden, she abandoned him to the Shepherds and “walked into the sea.”
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how jamaica kincaid introduces the theme of a lovelessness when she describes how nathanial potter was never in mr. potter’s life and never wanted to be in him.
- Analyzes how the repetition of the phrase "see him" introduces each new description of this motherless boy who must bring a letter to the shepherds telling them that he is now to live with them since his mother walked into the sea.
- Analyzes how kincaid's inability to read and write inhibited his self-awareness and made him different from others around him.
- Analyzes how jamaica kincaid's mr. potter tells many different stories about a man who curses god, little girl asking her estranged father for money to buy school supplies, and many more.
- Analyzes how jamaica kincaid depicts mr. potter's life in contrast to the opening of the book.
1027 wordsRead More