Abstract This paper examines the economic plight of Catherine who represents the women of nineteenth century America. It shows how Catherine, a young woman lives with her father, a doctor, and is dependent on him for her livelihood. The writer discusses how Catherine's choices are limited first by social standing and economic realities, and second by decisions made by the paternal figure watching over her before she is betrothed.
From the Paper "More than this, though, Townsend sees women as no more than objects to be used for his own needs, both sexual and financial. He seeks out women who can provide him with the funds he needs to live in the manner he prefers. Marriage for him is a means to acquire a dowry or an inheritance. He is not concerned for how this might affect Catherine, and he is only concerned about her feelings to the extent that he needs them to be favorable to him if he is to succeed."
Tags: nineteenth, century, marriage, women, dependency
Abstract This paper examines how Henry James' short novel, "Washington Square", presents the story of Catherine, a young woman who lives with her father, a doctor and who is dependent on him for her livelihood. It analyzes how her story represents the plight of women in the nineteenth century, dependent on men and able to escape from one situation only if they find another man to take care of them. It looks at how her choices were limited first by social standing and economic realities and second by decisions made by the paternal figure watching over her before she was betrothed. It evaluates how the novel addresses gender issues James saw in his own time and suggests that women should be given greater freedom. Catherine becomes stronger in the course of the novel and though she remains alone, she has made a choice that is entirely her own, asserting her right to decide how she will live her own life.
From the Paper "The man who courts her is an opportunist, but he is also representative of his time, a man who takes a view of women that was prevalent in the nineteenth century. The role of women in nineteenth-century society was largely subordinate to the male and was also limited to the household to a very great degree. Middle- and upper-class women had an ideal for women, and the perfect woman was one who was devoted to the care and attention of her husband and children. For the unmarried woman, such devotion was to be directed toward a good cause serving the community. Some women were paid for work and had to work to make ends meet, but generally it was considered improper for women of a certain class to earn a living. Women could not vote, involve themselves in politics, or argue with their husbands, and they had no legal rights to possessions or their own children in case of divorce (Bartley and Loxton 29). "
Abstract This paper relates that epic poem, "The Tale of Kieu," which dates from the 17th century and is a classic in Vietnamese literature, is the story of Thuy Kieu, a Vietnamese middle-class teenager, both gifted and beautiful, whose life is turned upside-down when she is forced to break a vow to marry her betrothed and turns to a life of prostitution to save her impoverished father. The author points out that this work explores the conflicting virtues imposed on women by an authoritative and male-dominated Confucian society and the way these constraints adversely affected Kieu's life over the years. The paper concludes that this poem is a framework for understanding how people from another culture view many of the same issues, despite the vast distances and differences in culture, when women must turn to prostitution in order to earn a living.
Table of Contents
Review and Discussion
Summary
Theme
Strengths
Weaknesses
Conclusion
From the Paper "During her 15-year employment in this immoral capacity, Kieu manages to meet one "client" with whom she is able to establish something of a rapport and pleasure, despite the fact that she recognizes that this man is most likely married and consequently unavailable to her. Kieu says of the relationship, "But if the lady lords over you, I shall be tossed to her, your lioness" (71). After 15 years of this ordeal, Kieu is finally reunited with her original fiance, when "the waning moon shines more than at its full" (161); however, her former betrothed, Kim, has already married Kieu's younger sister. "But I believe/ that to her man a bride should bring the scent of a close bud, and the shape of a full moon./ Its priceless chastity by nuptial torch, / am I to blush for what I'll offer you?" (lines 3092-3096)."
Abstract This paper discusses, summarizes and analyzes one of the more famous works by Greek playwright Euripides, "Medea". The paper explains why some see the character of Medea as the villainess while others see her as a victim as much as a victimizer and that this later perspective suggests that the lesson to be learned from "Medea" is to stand up for what one believes in, and overthrow those who oppress and suppress.
From the Paper "Euripides, one of the great Greek playwrights of yesteryears, even today, remains a constant favorite among readers, more so than Sophocles or Aeschylus could ever become. The reason for this phenomenon is that Euripides more often than not, believed in sacrificing or sidelining propriety and correctness in favor of metaphorical and rhetorical displays of verse, and this may be what made him better known than most of his contemporaries of the middle Ages, when the Classical Greek tragedies came into their own. Euripides's treatment of the genre referred to as the 'tragi-comedy', therefore, is well known for being tame at times, and completely rhetorical at others and the reader often gets a feeling that he is reading the speeches of a great orator than the work of a poet. Euripides was a trained athlete, and was also a famed painter; however, it was his poetry that won him great acclaim and wealth during his lifetime. (Euripides and his Tragedies)"
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses the short story "A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner. The writer argues that Miss Emily was a perennial prisoner in her own home, due to her controlling father and her inability to tolerate her rejection by her betrothed, Homer Barron.
From the Paper "Roses are a perennial, that is they remain dormant for a period of time before coming back to life. Yet, in William Faulkner's short story 'A Rose for Emily', the main character, Miss Emily Grierson is a perennial prisoner in her own home. William Faulkner maintained that the significance of the story's title relates to this concept, the poor woman had no life at all. Her father kept her more or less locked up. In essence, Miss Emily becomes a prisoner locked within the confines ... "
Abstract This paper discusses the various aspects involved in an ancient Athenian wedding. The union was primarily seen as taking place between families, and was an important communal event. The author describes the betrothal, the pre-wedding preparations, which included sacrifice to the gods, the nuptial baths and their significance, the elements of the wedding procession and the consummation. Citing texts from ancient Greek writers, the author explains the many steps and rituals in detail, showing their underlying sexual undertones. The types of songs and hymns sung at various stages and their functions are also described.
From the Paper "The very first step in the wedding process was of course to pick the bride. The process of picking and choosing a wife was almost never based on feelings of love or even physical attraction. Authors Johnson and Ryan comment on those "desirable qualities" by breaking them down into several different categories, such as age, virginity, and trainability. Age is commented on through several pieces of work in Greek antiquity. Hesiod comments on this in his Works and Days by saying that the bride should "have been an adolescent for four years, and married to you <the prospective husband> in the fifth," Honestus also mentions in his Greek Anthology the importance of age in selecting a wife."
