Abstract The paper compares and contrasts the feministelements within "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker and "Beloved" by Toni Morrison. The paper addresses the issues of female victimization, gender roles and feminist liberation. The paper shows how the crucial elements of feminism depict a greater sense of female identity in African-American literature.
From the Paper "Alice Walker reveals issue of feminist victimization through her characterization in The Color Purple. The evolution of mostly male perceptions of life through racism was the norm until women writers began to change this focus in African American literary forums. Nellie often takes on the part of victim to male aggression, since she has been raped repeatedly by her owner, and the other abusive males in her life. Walker's portrayal of Nellie is very similar to the way and manner in which Morrison depicts her female roles in Beloved, such Sethe. However, the major difference between these two women is the way that slavery has affected them, and how they had let it affect their lives."
Abstract This paper examines the women's movement which is divided on the problems of existing inequalities among women particularly those of social class, ethnicity and skin color. This paper discusses why radical feminists believe that the elements of women's culture are preferable to their male analogs in a dominant culture. This writer of this paper also probes how feminist and post structuralist theories have distanced themselves from the category of nature.
From the Paper "American women writers from the early nineteenth century to the present have rearticulated gendered ideologies of nature. A cultural studies approach enables me to reveal how women's texts transform the representations promoted by literary, popular, and political discourses. By analyzing environmental and feminist history I demonstrate how a diverse array of fiction transfigures the ideologies of nature for feminist, and sometimes environmentalist ends."
This paper analyzes three fictional works that have particular elements of similar writing. The three works are "How to Become a Writer" by Lorrie Moore, "Joy of Cooking" by Elaine Magarrell and "Will and Grace" by Kari Lizer.
Abstract The writer of this paper focuses on the common themes present in all three works of writing, which are comprised of the feminist perspective, the characters it creates and the resulting conflict. This paper analyzes the main female characters in all three novels, in which each possesses a distinct character that creates the mood for each piece. The writer also discusses the ensuing conflict among the characters. This paper delves into the practice of female authors who write female characters that often have a different perspective than their male counterparts. The writer contends and describes why these three works are decidedly female, decidedly different and all written with a noticeable attitude. The writer of this paper discusses the many layers that are needed to create fiction when writing and how those layers differ from story to poem to play and back again. This paper details the uniqueness of each character in all three works and the manner in which they deal with conflict. This paper also focuses on each of the authors' unique style of writing.
From the Paper "This is also a very common bond between all the characters. They are all such strong and unique personalities that they create conflict around them. They are not afraid to speak their minds and open up their hearts, and so, they are sometimes strident and sometimes controversial. They live their lives with passion, doing the things they love, and they sometimes irritate and clash with those around them. This young writer is not fulfilling her mother's dreams, she is fulfilling her own, and so, she has a long-term conflict with her mother. Even though the story never actually says so, it is clear the writer will have a conflict with her mother throughout her life, and so will the girl who wants to serve up her brother's heart on a plate."
Abstract This paper analyzes Charlotte Bronte's novel "Jane Eyre" from a feminist aspect, illustrating the reflection of Victorian society in the literature of the time. The author includes a detailed look at female independence, strength and determination in the main character.
From the Paper "The story of Jane Eyre is something of a fairy tale but for the outward appearance. The story's truth and harsh beauty and the devastation that it's characters face set it apart from the typical princess story. The complexity of the story line and the characterization are a phenomenal development of the time. Raised during the repressed Victorian period in Britain , Charlotte Bront? focused most of her energy on her education and her literary career. Being a woman, she was scarcely able to voice her passions and strong opinions except through her writing, Bront? expresses a great deal of her own frustrations and concerns in her works. Jane Eyre is one such novel that incorporates many themes. While the main character faces issues of class distinction, a search for her identity and place in life, and a struggle between spirituality and the intellect, (which are all Victorian literary focuses) the most striking theme in the story is women's fight for equality. Jane's character illustrates the emergence of feminism during the Victorian period through her interactions with the other characters, her choices, and her inner thoughts."
In this literary study the theme of feminist identity is presented in relation to the public identity of women and that of how they are represented within classical Greek drama.
900 words (approx. 3.6 pages), 3 sources, 2006, $ 35.95
Abstract This paper explains that the basis of feminist identity in Sophocles' "Oedipus the King" and "Antigone" is directly related to class status and the power that women wield in the royal courts. Virginia Woolf observes the power differential between the powerful women of Sophocles, and the reality of women being subjected to the patriarchal values of British society. In many ways, Jocasta and Antigone represent the rare and powerful voices of women from the royal family who were allowed to speak their minds.
From the Paper "The heroine in the works of Sophocles represent the upper class strata of Grecian society, explaining the reasons why women have more power on the stage. Contrary to the "common woman" on differing levels of society, one can realize that feminist identity is greatly subdued according to wealth and class. In essence, the feminist identity in Oedipus the King and Antigone by Sophocles represent women of power in the upper classes, while woman from different classes are treated differently due to their lesser power and wealth in British society."
Abstract This paper contrasts the protagonists, Anna Morgan in Jean Rhys' "Voyage in the Dark" and Firdaus in Nawal El Saadawi's "Woman at Point Zero". The author relates that Voyage in the Dark, written in 1934, is narrated in first person by the then nineteen-year-old Anna who, in 1912, is exiled from her small Caribbean Island of Dominica and travels to England. Although written generations later in 1975 by Arab-nationalist and feminist Nawal El Saadawi, "Woman at Point Zero" addresses similar themes of a male dominated and controlled, class hierarchal society. The paper describes the plot of each book explaining that both heroes have to confront the barriers that exist against women; however, in the end, the two women take opposite directions.
From the Paper "The difficulty for both Anna and Firdau is that they do not want to be with men who mistreat them. However, in their societies, they have no choice but to turn to such arrogant and violent men for survival. "A virtuous women was not supposed to complain about her husband. Her duty was perfect obedience". It is a horrible, no-win situation. For example, Firdaus' uncle promises her for marriage to a sixty-year-old man who has a facial deformity that is filled with pus. He leaps on her "like a mad dog"."
This literature essay compares two stories written by Caribbean women authors, and discusses these in relation to women's oral histories and traditions in Caribbean cultural contexts
2,650 words (approx. 10.6 pages), 8 sources, 2002, $ 97.95
Abstract This literature essay compares two stories written by Caribbean women authors, and discusses these in relation to women's oral histories and traditions in Caribbean cultural contexts. Referring to the post-colonial and feminist theory, the author of this paper analyzes women's writing as a reflection of traditions with story-telling, women's "voice," and histories that are particular to women and Caribbean culture.
Abstract The author of this paper examines several literary works from the 19th and 20th centuries and looks at how these works depict women who were unhappy and bored because of the rigid standards and roles society imposed on women of their time. The paper compares these roles to women's roles in contemporary society and looks at how the women in the literature would have fared much better in today's society because of the greater choices for women and the fewer restrictions placed on them.
From the Paper "It is my opinion that in the 21st century, though it is still widely believed and expected by many that women will marry and have children, it is no longer assumed (as it was in the 19th century, and even arguably in most of the 20th century) that marriage and motherhood will be women's dominant (or only) sources of fulfillment. Instead, women today are encouraged (and in many cases expected) to have careers (or at least to work) outside the home, often while still tending to their households, being supportive of husbands, and raising families. Women nowadays, however, also have far more choice s of what roles to fulfill. Some women still fulfill traditional roles; some fulfill some, but not all, traditional roles, and others fulfill no traditional roles at all. A key difference between women's roles yesterday and today is that today's women are freer to choose their roles, with less stigma attached to unusual or "non-conforming" roles, such as police work, firefighting, or construction work, or not marrying and/or having children. Therefore, there are far fewer guidelines now for women to follow than in the past in choosing to either accept or reject traditional feminine roles; today, more than ever, it is up to the individual woman to decide what sort of life she wishes to live."
Abstract In this article, the writer reviews the importance of certain literary elements in various works of fiction. The writer discusses "Bartelby the Scrivener" by Melville, in which character is reviewed. The writer looks at "Soldier's Home" by Hemingway and studies the aspect of setting. Further the writer analyzes "Roselily" by Walker, "Battle Royal" by Ellison, "The Bridge Comes to Yellow Sky" by Crane and "Popular Mechanics" by Carver. The writer concludes that the strength of all these works is that their creators skillfully take advantage of various literary elements to produce powerful works of literature.
From the Paper "The following brief paper will review the importance of certain literary elements in works of fiction. Specifically, as time permits, the paper will review character in Melville's "Bartelby the Scrivener", consider setting in Hemingway's "Soldier's Home" as well as point of view in Walker's "Roselily", contemplate symbolism in Ellison's "Battle Royal", theme in Crane's "The Bridge Comes to Yellow Sky" and tone/irony in Carver's "Popular Mechanics" and how several of these elements are combined in David Updike's "Summer"."
Abstract The paper analyzes and compares the unusual social and human perspectives of these three works and particularly how they depart from typical, normally accepted artistic (and other) representations of humanity. In particular, it explores and analyzes the types of assumptions about humanity, about humanity within society, social mores and standards. The fore mentioned are what Kafka, Chekhov, and Lang, respectively, implicitly encourage one to reevaluate within each of these three works.
From the Paper "In Franz Kafka's short story "The Metamorphosis," we must first of all suspend our disbelief incredibly (which we, somehow, manage to do, a testament to Kafka's unique genius) in order to accept the idea that Gregor Samsa, a resigned and dutiful office worker, the supporter of his able-bodied yet indolent family, has turned into a big black beetle and can no longer work, or even get out of bed and dress for work. Certainly, this subverts, right away, our assumptions of what is likely and humanly possible. Later, Gregor's enraged father violently illustrates the old social maxim that appearances really do matter, by pelting his stubbornly-metamorphosed son with apples in a fury one day. Soon afterward, Gregor dies. In most cases, human beings are saddened when a son or brother dies, but in this case, the remaining Samsa family members, with the possible exception of little sister Grete, are actually relieved. Gregor's metamorphosis and subsequent death forces upon each of them a metamorphosis of his or her own: ironically, Gregor's physical metamorphosis forces each of them back into life, like butterflies finally emerging from especially stubborn cocoons."
Abstract The following paper examines the statements made in Betty Friedan's "The Problem That Has No Name" from "The Feminine Mystique" and in "A Black Feminist Statement" from 'All the Women are White, All the Blacks are Men, But Some of Us Are Brave' which reveal both differences and similarities in the problems faced by each group as well as how race, gender and generational perspectives influence each group's response. The writer concludes that both groups had different experiences in their fights for equality based on their race, social status, economic class, sexual orientation and the time period in which they fought.
From the Paper "Writing in 1963, Betty Friedan revealed the problems faced by white, middle-class housewives who were not content and fulfilled in their roles as wives and mothers. The account by The Combahee River Collective focuses on the experiences of black, socialist, lesbian women 1977. The desires, frustrations and proposed solutions of each group reflect their social status as well as their race and economic class."
Tags: african, american, black, collective, combahee, feminism, feminist, lesbian, river
Abstract In this article, the writer presents a discussion of the key assumptions inherent in contemporary feminist theory. The writer studies the applications of such theory in modern society. The historical framework of feminism is discussed in this paper. The writer makes the distinction between sex and gender.
From the Paper "Feminist theory crosses the boundaries of genre to influence sociology, philosophy, theology and everything in between. Historically, the main expressions of feminist activity were seen by the general public as extremist and radical. Today, though feminist principals underpin all areas of modern life in an appropriately measured way. Radical feminism was certainly the main impetus for the birth of the cultural revolution, which we now know as contemporary feminist theory. A historical framework of feminism was established by pioneers of the movement including Simone de ... "
Abstract This is a literary analysis between women and literature itself. It compares three different female characters from three different stories. The stories chosen for the paper are from Henrik Ibsen's text: "Hedda Gabler", the character is Hedda Gabler, the second story is "A doll house", and the character is Nora, and the last story is in the story "Medea" and the character is Medea herself.
Abstract This is a sociology paper on children's literature and gender roles. It includes comparing and contrasting two children's books about gender differences or observing girl and boys.
Abstract This paper consists of four summaries and analyses of several examples of world literature from the ancient era. The stories examined include the Biblical story of the flood mentioned in Genesis, "The Epic of Gilgamesh", Homer's "Odyssey", Euripides' "Medea", and Ovid's "Metamorphoses". Each story is briefly summarized and examined as to the relevance of characters and certain similarities between the stories.
From the Paper "The number of textual similarities between the flood described in Genesis and the one described in Gilgamesh suggests that the stories have a common origin. Perhaps that common origin is an original myth. Perhaps it was actually a great flood that swept through the Mesopotamian region. Whatever the case, it is doubtful that these two stories were independently created. In the Genesis flood, God brought the flood down on man because of their extreme wickedness (60). He actually regretted creating man in the first place. Nonetheless, God was willing to spare one man and his family, Noah, and advised Noah to build an ark of very particular proportions. After the flood passed away, God made a new covenant with man and promised never to destroy the world with water again (63). Many similar events occur in Gilgamesh."
