We can read Angela Carter as both entertaining and a critique of constructions and presentations of power, gender, sexuality and construction of gendered identities. First we will consider the oppressive and destructive power of patriarchy which is the social system in which men are regarded as the authority within the family and society. Afterwards in the next chapter we will investigate how Carter's heroines succeed in constructing their femininity and their gendered identities. Let us look at a typical piece of Carter' s writing The Magic Toyshop and its specific focus on critiquing the oppressive power of patriarchy that is represented through the oppressive character of Uncle Phillip. The novel narrates the story of Melanie and her two siblings who are moved after the sudden death of their parents to the strange domain of the puppet maker's house, Uncle Phillip, where their freedom is snuffed out by his tyrannical presence. The Victorian domineering Uncle Philip is citied throughout the text .All the readers know of him his brutality and his queer puppet shows. It is apparent from the first glance that he pulls the strings creating a tyrannical hold over the household .He aims to turn his hapless extended family into puppets, and control Melanie's sexuality when he sent Finn to rape her and also when he tries to represent her as a puppet through Leda and Swan rape scene. In this sense, Melanie is forced to be a human puppet to Uncle Philip's fantasy of power which belongs to her magical realism technique with combining both real and magic. Uncle Philip's perversion is pointed out at the moment when he inspects Melanie's looks before the performan... ... middle of paper ... ... up, much of Carter's work scrutinizes ways in which masculinity is presented through archetypal patriarchs, critiquing constructions of man's power over women and the reductive power of reductionism. Carter in her above writings flies in the face of patriarchy, or oppressive male power. Primary Sources Carter, Angela. The Magic Toyshop. London: Virago Press, 1981. -------------. Nights at the Circus. London: Vintag, 1984. -------------. Wise Children . London: Vintag, 1992 . Secondary Sources: A-Books Alexander, Flora. Contemporary Women Novelists. London :Advision of Hodder & Stoughton, 1989. Bowers, Maggie Ann. Magical Realism. London and New York: Routledge, 2004 . Haffenden, John. Novelists in Interview. USA: Methuen & Co. Ltd, 1985. Gamble, Sara. Angela Carter.Notes from the Front Line. Britain: Edinburgh, 1997.
Power relationships in Craig Silvey’s Jasper Jones have been represented in various ways in the text’s and my own context. Through the representation of the Lus and Jasper Jones, racial power has been reflected in the context of the text being the 1960s. In the contemporary context, sexual power has been further reinforced through the point of view of Charlie and the death of Laura Wishart in the plot. Political power has been challenged in my current context as well as in the text’s context through the characterisation of Pete Wishart and the Sarge. Together with the changing society, power relationships are also changing and thus, over time there certainly will be changes to who hold the power in these relationships.
This makes other women feel uncomfortable as they don’t know whom to show support despite secretly supporting Lady Hoggins (formerly Glenmire). Confused society needs an urgent solution to this problem. And appears Peter Jenkyns to bring a solution to this. He is Miss Matty’s long time ago lost-brother. He was beaten by his father when he made a joke which the society took very seriously (Peter likes joking, but society is humorless) and left Cranford. He went to India and wasn’t seen again. When he comes back to Cranford, he wants to cheer his sister –Miss Matty- up and takes her responsibility. To cheer her, first he must find a solution to the tension between Jamiesons and Hoggins. So he plays tricks on Mrs Jamieson to make her think he loves her, so that he charms her thus becoming irresistable. He accomplishes his mission, by telling her his stories, complimenting her, he woos Mrs Jamieson. At the end he brings her and Hoggins together, and problem is solved. Even Miss Jamieson, who is very class conscious women, is defeated against her feelings and welcomes change. While she is supposed to reject Peter due to his disrespectful approach to gentility rules, and his wealth earnt with working, she still accepts him into society. So, gentility gives way to intelligence, kindness and love . On encountering those values, Cranford society revises its views on gentility and strict, illogical rules yields to
After he uncovers Teddy’s paper world, the uncle reacts in a manner of ignorance and derision, mocking him for his decision to occupy himself with paper dolls. The uncle dubs Teddy as a “great big lummox … playing with paper dolls”, insulting Teddy for his hobbies with a tone of amusement and hysteria. In spite of Teddy’s agitation, the uncle prefers to make a mockery out of Teddy rather than accepting his unique hobbies, suggesting the uncle’s belief that Teddy’s activities are unfitting of someone of his age. In addition, Teddy’s uncle further aggravates Teddy by continuously ridiculing him, leading him to eventually destroy his treasured paper world. Despite Teddy’s attempts at validating the reality of his paper dolls, the uncle “burst into laughter, his cheeks the colour of a tomato.” Teddy’s uncle persistence in mocking Teddy implies his disapproval of Teddy’s world, believing that his world is ludicrous and absurd for someone of his age to be occupied with. The sustained laughter of Teddy’s uncle is explicit and deliberate, intended to warn Teddy against his immature hobby, an evident symbol of society’s expectation of
The main characters of the novel are travelling into Canada. The non-established landscape was full of wild animals, Aboriginal people, and whiskey posts. This story of conflict is entwined tightly to the story of love. Three brothers known for different qualities, an intellect, ex-military officer, and an idealist all form different relationships with their father, Henry Gaunt, an English gentleman. Therefore the theme of the story has men with money and power come to Canada with a purpose which also stays true to the historical facts because men have a commanding influence in this times social arrangement and the treatment of women gets explained in this book as a less powerful position.
...o influence her more valuable core beliefs, Dorothy is a clearer thinker and is more courageous than her fellow Puritans. Hawthorne points out that even Tobias, her husband who is clearly sporting “his military rank” is extremely hesitant and does not separate himself from the crowd. Hawthorne effectively uses the contrasting characters of Catharine and Dorothy to show how Ilbrahim flourishes in an environment in which the excessive attachment to religion is not encouraged. If my essay has not made it clear enough, I would also like to provide you with a new and revised book jacket for you to consider. In the powerful short story, “The Gentle Boy”, Nathaniel Hawthorne analyzes the importance of religion in one’s life and contrasts the mothers Catharine and Dorothy to emphasize that religious doctrine should never trump love, independent thought, and human relations.
Society continually places restrictive standards on the female gender not only fifty years ago, but in today’s society as well. While many women have overcome many unfair prejudices and oppressions in the last fifty or so years, late nineteenth and early twentieth century women were forced to deal with a less understanding culture. In its various formulations, patriarchy posits men's traits and/or intentions as the cause of women's oppression. This way of thinking diverts attention from theorizing the social relations that place women in a disadvantageous position in every sphere of life and channels it towards men as the cause of women's oppression (Gimenez). Different people had many ways of voicing their opinions concerning gender inequalities amound women, including expressing their voices and opinions through their literature. By writing stories such as Daisy Miller and The Yellow Wallpaper, Charlotte Perkins Gilman and Henry James let readers understand and develop their own ideas on such a serious topic that took a major toll in American History. In this essay, I am going to compare Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” to James’ “Daisy Miller” as portraits of American women in peril and also the men that had a great influence.
Pip's miserable childhood is established within the first few chapters of the play. First, the reader is introduced to a young and innocent Pip standing next to his parent's tombstones and second, Pip is raised by a loud and abusive woman, who is actually his sister. Apart from his sister, Pip also has an uncle, Mr. Pumblechook, who is equally as unkind. These two characters make the young boy's life dreadful and yet, they play an important role in Pip's growth as a character. Mrs. Joe's hate towards Pip is expressed throughout stage one of the n...
It is the first time that Lizabeth hears a man cry. She could not believe herself because her father is “a strong man who could whisk a child upon his shoulders and go singing through the house.” As the centre of the family and a hero in her heart, Lizabeth’s dad is “sobbing like the tiniest child”She discovers that her parents are not as powerful or stable as she thought they were. The feeling of powerlessness and fear surges within her as she loses the perfect relying on her dad. She says, “the world had lost its boundary lines.” the “smoldering emotions” and “fear unleashed by my father’s tears” had “combined in one great impulse toward
Mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, aunts, uncles, grandparents, pimps, prostitutes, straight people, gay people, lesbian people, Europeans, Asians, Indians, and Africans all have once thing in common: they are products of sexuality. Sexuality is the most common activity in the world, yet is considered taboo and “out of the norm” in modern society. Throughout history, people have been harassed, discriminated against, and shunned for their “sexuality”. One person who knows this all too well is activist and author, Angela Davis. From her experiences, Davis has analyzed the weakness of global society in order to propose intellectual theories on how to change the perspective of sexuality. This research paper will explore the discussions of Angela Davis to prove her determination to combat inequality in gender roles, sexuality, and sexual identity through feminism. I will give a brief biography of Davis in order for the readers to better understand her background, but the primary focus of this paper is the prison industry and its effect on female sexuality.
The most prominent male relationship Sybylla encounters is with her lover, Harold Beecham. Sybylla's relationship with Harold as described in Chapter 20 illustrates the influences of her parents and literature. In Chapter 20, Sybylla hits Harold across the face with a riding whip, when he tries to kiss her. Yet Harold Beecham appears to be the perfect figure and the perfect man and indeed, Sybylla loves him, although she does not like to admit this. For example, her "train of thought was interrupted by our host, who appeared in the doorway, clad from sole to neck in white" (Franklin 137). He is her knight in shining amour, but even so she strikes him. To Sybylla, Harold always appears somewhat 'forbidden'. Perhaps subconsciously, he is the materialised embodiment of her father, Richard Melvyn. In her e...
Aunt Polly- Tom’s guardian. She has trouble balancing her love for Tom, and her responsibility to discipline him.
Angela Carter portrays the notion that women may become dominant in a humourous manner. This witty manner allows her to explore the concept in a socially acceptable manner, thus encouraging female liberation and denouncing the male entitlement to women without encountering severe repercussions.
Mother and Brother vs. Sister. In life, facing external conflicts is difficult, especially when one is unable to find a solution to such conflicts; for example, after reading the play, the readers are able to visualize in their minds Tom and his mother, Amanda arguing on a daily basis. Mothers have the tendency to ask their children a series of questions, especially as they get older—I can attest to this. A mother’s heart is like no other. Which is why often times, mothers tend to prevent their children from living their life freely: “AMANDA: I think you've been doing things that you're ashamed of. That's why you act like this. I don't believe that you go every night to the movies.” (The Glass Menagerie). Amanda needs to realize that Tom “goes to the movies every night,” mainly because gives him a little freedom. Such freedom gives Tom hope that one day he will be able to live his life freely; nonetheless, the readers can claim that Tom’s nightly trips will eventually force him to run away, freedom is calling him. As one reads The Glass Menagerie, one learns that a Brother vs. Sister external conflict exists; for example, Laura Wingfield is portrayed as a weak-minded young woman who does not the capacity to live life her own—she requires special assistance. Readers can claim that Tom Wingfield cares about his sister. Tom wants the best for his sister; therefore, the readers can conclude that this Brother vs. Sister external conflict is preventing Tom from living his life freely. Laura Wingfield lives in a fictional world. In Laura’s world, reality does not exist; therefore, the readers can claim that Laura has the physical features of a young woman. Her mind is not fully developed—it is a fictitious mind. External conflicts can affect one’s life greatly—I can attest to this. Over the last couple of weeks, I have decided to create a fictional world myself. A world
The films message to viewers about gender and power is that women are meant to take care of the home and play the supportive role, while men go out to their jobs and provide. Men are strong and burly and women are naïve and domesticated. Women need men and men always come to the rescue to save women and give them a happy ending. Power is portrayed in the film both visually and through the film’s script and dialogue. The common idea that women are inferior to men is placed subtly in this movie throughout the plot and how these charac...
The novel explores gender roles through the characters of Mrs. Ramsay, Mr. Ramsay, and Lily. Each of these characters embodies different views in regards to gender roles. The readers are taken into their minds and thoughts and are allowed to see what each character views is the role of his/her gender.