The Metaphorical Lesbian in Chopin’s The Awakening In “The Metaphorical Lesbian: Edna Pontellier in The Awakening” Elizabeth LeBlanc asserts that the character Edna Pontellier is an example of what Bonnie Zimmerman calls the “metaphorical lesbian.” It’s important to distinguish between Zimmerman’s concept of the “metaphorical lesbian” and lesbianism. The “metaphorical lesbian” does not have to act on lesbian feelings or even become conscious of herself as a lesbian. Instead, the “metaphorical lesbian”
Edna as a Metaphorical Lesbian in Chopin’s The Awakening Elizabeth LeBlanc places The Awakening in an interesting context in her essay “The Metaphorical Lesbian,” as gender criticism must, for Chopin wrote the novel at the end of the 19th century, when homosexuality as an identity emerged culturally, at least in terms of the gay male identity, as proffered by Oscar Wilde across the Atlantic. Lesbianism, too, started to make its debut on the cultural stage, particularly in literature. However
this perspective, the reader/critic opens the doors of interpretation instead of narrowing their focus to any singular, exclusionary reading, and exposes the deconstruction at work within the text itself. Whether defined as feminist martyr, metaphorical lesbian, the triumphant image of social transcendence or a broken bird “beating the air above . . . circlin...
amniotic fluid, so in drowning the woman is immersed in feminine organic element. Drowning thus becomes the traditionally feminine literary death”. (Showalter 219) LeBlanc takes this idea even further. She tells us that “The sea is Edna’s metaphorical lesbian lover—her only source of fulfillment equal to her longing.” Edna “overcomes her fear of water and unites with her “lover” for the first time”. (LeBlanc 251) In these statements Showalter and LeBlanc guide us to a glimpse of why Edna chose
essay primarily focuses on the differences and similarities of sexuality between men, women, gays, and lesbians. It also focuses on time, because throughout time, human sexuality has changed. New scientific evidence has also helped give new insight to the human mind and their most basic needs. The first topic that was approached in this essay was sexual desire among men, women, gays, and lesbians. The research concluded that men have more sexual desire than women. Men not only have more sexual desire
best be described as nebulous. Although most know that a lesbian is a woman that loves other women, the public opinion surrounding lesbianism mainly consists of half-formed stereotypes and vague disapproval or begrudging acceptance. When considering the LGBT community, most people picture the gay male and neglect the rest of the acronym. There a multitude of reasons for this nebulous perception of the modern day lesbian, but in actuality, lesbian culture is a vast and solid connection between woman that
Treatments such as conversion therapy have been thoroughly debated by doctors, everyday civilians and even politicians. The question surrounding the topic asks whether or not the treatment is ethically and morally acceptable. Conversion therapy is an option of treatment catering to the LGBTQ community that claims to be able to change a person’s sexual behaviors such as orientation, preference and identity. The main controversies on the topic argue the physical and psychological side effects, treatment
Homosexuality - Michael Levin vs. Richard Mohr Homosexuality has been on debate for numerous years. It is mentioned in the Bible which is thousands of years old. But recently two philosophers have spoken how they feel about Homosexuality. Michael Levin and Richard Mohr's views on the subject are in conflict with one another. Levin argues that homosexuality is abnormal because it is a misuse of body parts that have evolved for use in heterosexual intercourse (Levin 354). Furthermore,
Converging the two shows, confessional culture is well represented in the media to show that it existed and still in existence. However, there is still personal struggle of disclosing a personal identity on the form of culture that one live. In this case, the producer of Ellen program, decided to show a single coming out episode without any form of personal journey presiding to relate it with coming out narratives. Considering the creator of the Bad Girls, based the story on Helen that concerned
It's illegal in 74 countries to be in a homosexual relationship, and punishable by death in 13 countries. Homosexuality should be legal everywhere because it's not a choice and they shouldn't be punished for walking down the street with their loved one. Homosexual couples help adopt kids because they can't create kids of their own. The amount of open homosexuals is growing and will outnumber the amount of heterosexuals, which would cause a decrease in population. Homosexuality should be legal because
In their book The Lessons of History, historians Will and Ariel Durant caution that, "No man, however brilliant or well-informed, can come in one lifetime to such fullness of understanding as to safely judge and dismiss the customs or institutions of his society, for these are the wisdom of generations after centuries of experiment in the laboratory of history. A youth boiling with hormones will wonder why he should not give full freedom to his sexual desires; and if he is unchecked
I Love My Gay Friends I've grown up around gays and lesbians, and some of my best friends are gay, so I support them. One day I was on my way downtown after school and saw a crowd. I figured it was another peace march since it was only a week after September 11th, but it wasn't. My friend and I were sitting on the wall in front of Jimmy Johns and talking when our friend, Mary, ran up to us. "You guys should come and help us out. They're protesting against gay people and saying God doesn't
I am bisexual. Are you paying attention now? Bisexuality holds an interesting position when it comes to sexual minorities. On one hand, it's seen as the ultimate liberation: "They'll do it with anyone...how hot!". But when it comes to seeking mainstream social acceptance, we can be seen as the worst in sexual perversion: "They'll do it with anyone...how shameful!". There are many theories and opinions on bisexuals, some I agree with, others do not fit my definition of being bisexual. The important
men. Truth be told, feminism can mean a whole deal of things. It can mean women fighting for jobs that were mainly held by men with equal pay. It can mean women fighting for equal education in a so called male dominant world. Feminism can give lesbian women the chance to adopt and have children. These are just a few definitions of feminism. Audre Lorde gives her opinion about the meaning of feminism throughout her essays and books that she writes. She consistently challenged a number of things
Do you remember your first love? How you felt at night, unable to sleep because of the lopsided ratio of infatuation-induced adrenaline to blood? The feeling of the pedal shuddering against the bottom of your toes as you start your clunky first car? The years between thirteen and nineteen are filled with acne, first loves, tough crowds at school, and first tastes of freedom. The concerns and passions during this period of life are well expressed through tones, perspectives, and a myriad of literary
In the early 1990s, as a literary activist Marita Golden and fourteen other novelist, poets, and journalist created a collection of essays that articulate various experiences of love, sexuality, relationships, and men. Wild Women Don’t Wear No Blues works as a collection to give voice to women who are often silenced when it comes to sex, love, and men. Golden seeks that collection does not serve as a reaction to oppressive influences that African American women face, but rather this work serves
resolved in the chapter. Before I start engaging in any of these arguments, I would just like to express my concern in talking about these issues from a straight person’s point of view. I had a very difficult time imagining the different types of gay/lesbian/queer responses described in the text as I was reading through it, especially after so many in-class discussions on what value an outsider’s point of view brings. Nevertheless, I will try to offer
general contempt for the world, a verbal stoning of anything different. Most of the audience on this radio shows were white and male. Most of the callers have spent their lives walling themselves off from any real experience with blacks, feminists, lesbians or gays. Rush Limbaugh tell his audience “what you believe inside, you can talk about it in the marketplace.” Unfortunately what’s inside is then mistaken for what’s outside, treated empirical and political reality. Most of the talks on the radio
Social and Legal Obstacles of Gay and Lesbian Parenting In the last decade there has been a rise in the number of lesbians and gay men forming their own families. Many do this through adoption, foster care, artificial insemination, and other means. Today, researchers have estimated that the number of children living with one gay or lesbian parent is six to fourteen million. Some have described this current period as a lesbian and gay “baby boom”. However, lesbian and gay parents face many social and
are str8 and most people think that being gay or lesbian is wrong and it is not right to show it off and be proud of it. Another point why this topic is very controversial is when gay people marry each other. Many people believe and many religions believe it is very wrong to marry the same sex person. For example in the Roman Catholic followings. The church is totally against gay and lesbian relationships, because it if you do follow the gay and lesbian side its considered a big sin because in the teachings