Beloved by Toni Morrison, Parts Two and Three

Continuing through the novel, the women finally admit that they realize the girl present in their house is Beloved. Morrison goes through each women, Sethe, Denver, and Beloved giving them each a chapter to explain their thoughts and feelings about Beloved’s return. Though Sethe and Denver are happy, Beloved turns into a controlling person who tries to smother Sethe with guilt. Beloved seems to remain healthy and even pregnant while Sethe and Denver go hungry. Denver begins to feel ignored but realizes that she must become the caretaker and ventures out to find a job. The community then begins to help out the family by leaving food and Judy even helps Denver find a job. However, the community also realizes the dangers of Beloved. Behind the scenes of what is happening in 124, Morrison gives the audience a glance of how the men are doing, specifically Paul D. Through Paul D, the audience finally realizes what happened during the escape from Sweet Home and why Paul D has become the man he is. Trying to fix the problem of Beloved, the women conjugate in front of 124 and sing. This causes the women of 124 to come out and Sethe seem to start having a breakthrough. However when a white man appears to take Denver to her job, Sethe goes crazy and tries to kill him with a pick. It is during this time that the evil Beloved disappears, escaping from the community. The aftermath of Beloved and the happenings of 124 are forgetting Beloved and moving on. Though Denver moves on, finding a home, a job, and happiness she is still worried about her mother. The worries are also occurring for Paul D because he realizes how much Sethe means to him and how much he does love her. He goes to visit her and realizes she is trying to die, taking her place on Baby Sugg’s bed. However, he tells her that she is the best and promises to be there for her. The novel ends with the description of the community, Paul D, Denver, and Sethe forgetting Beloved.

                Looking at the novel and its stylistic attributes, Morrison creates a strong novel that portrays African American women in this time: haunted by their past, degraded by themselves and others, and putting their children above all else. I have previously discussed the aspects of flashbacks, figurative language, and symbolism. In parts two and three the elements that stand out to me are the structure, repetition, and shift in tone. In the second and third part of the novel the structure changes with each character, especially Beloved. With the chapter of Beloved, punctuation is absent and the structure seems to take that similar to a poem. This stylistic choice seems to show that Beloved has changed. Beloved instead of being the sweet girl trying to connect to Sethe turns into an inhuman figure because of the lack of punctuation (the poem-like structure adds a dramatic effect). Looking back at my last entry and seeing the symbolism Beloved holds, it’s interesting to see how the figure that is representing the past is suddenly becoming inhuman and in a way irrelevant. It shows that the characters are moving on. This sense of moving on and having the past haunt someone, degrade them, and shape them is also illustrated when the townspeople forget Beloved. Even those who were close to her, Paul D, Sethe, and Denver eventually forget her. It shows that they have grown. Continuing the analysis and looking at repetition, repetition plays a main role because it combines to create the shift seen in the tone. Morrison chooses to repeat certain elements such as the structure and language in order to create the dark feelings and controlling aspects that Beloved has created. The tone in part one is reflective but in parts two and three the tone shifts to cynical and gloomy. By having the tone shift, it emphasizes the realizations, the moving-on, and at times the downfalls of those in the novel. All these elements and much more help Morrison to create her style that embodies what she is trying to say about African American women. She is able to reveal the degrading personalities that these women have obtained due to themselves, others, and their pasts. She also illustrates how this past haunts them. They must learn from it but also forget in order to move on and find happiness as those in the community forgot Beloved.

Beloved by Toni Morrison Part One, Summary and Style Analysis

The novel is set up mostly in 124 Bluestone Road, the house of Sethe and her daughter Denver, which is haunted by Sethe’s baby. Throughout part one of the novel, it discusses the relations between Sethe, Denver, the baby, Paul D (a former slave from Sweet Home who moves in and has relations with Sethe), Halle (Sethe’s lost husband), and Beloved (mysterious girl who seems to know a lot about Sethe’s past who is taken in at 124). Sethe begins to face her past, taking steps forward with Paul D as she learns of what happened with Halle. Paul D also begins to grow as he seems to open up and break away from his philosophies. The baby’s ghost continues to fade and grow in the house. Denver becomes more and more attached to Beloved and Beloved seems to stir up trouble as she becomes strange, almost choking Sethe and seducing Paul D. As the plot continues, the past continues to be revealed in order for Sethe to move forward. The novel also introduces characters such as Ella who was abused and raped in her past. She wants to rid 124 of Beloved. It also introduces Baby Suggs, Halle’s mother, who escapes from Sweet Home because Halle has bought her freedom. Within introducing the new characters, the past is depicted. It shows flashbacks and explains the marriage of Sethe and Halle, the escape of Baby Suggs, the abuse of Sethe while she waited for Halle who was watching above, Sethe’s escape, and Sethe’s attempt of murder and her arrest. Sethe faces her past which makes and breaks relationships. Beloved becomes more and more attached to Sethe while Denver continues to fight for Beloved’s attention. Paul D also wants to move forward and have a baby with Sethe until he learns that she tried to kill her children, which is why the baby haunts the house, in order to stop them from being captured and turning into slaves. This causes Paul D to leave 124.

                Throughout the first part of the novel, Toni Morrison’s style helps illustrate the point the novel makes about African American women. The novel is expressing the hardships the women face: the past that continues to haunt them and feeling worthless and trapped which breaks down the character of a person. Morrison’s style includes the use of figurative language, flashbacks, and symbolism. An example of the figurative language that stands out to me while reading because of its strong impact is when Sethe is remembering the story of how she escaped and comparing her baby to an antelope. The comparison allows the audience to see the struggle that Sethe faces when escaping. She is not simply escaping without any hardships. She is escaping while pregnant, with a baby that seems to have the restless power of an antelope, and trying not to be seen. The remembrance of the time Sethe escapes is also a flashback. The novel has multiple instances of flashbacks, discussing the death of the children, the abuse of the schoolteacher, life at Sweet Home, etcetera. By having flashbacks within the novel, Morrison is allowing the audience to see how much the past is having an impact on the characters. The past continues to come back and shape the characters in the novel. In combination, the largest part of the novel is the symbolism, specifically the symbolism of Beloved. Beloved seems to embrace many roles in the novel. For Denver she is a sense of security because Denver desires to be around Beloved and fights for her attention. To Sethe, Beloved seems to represent her past. Beloved asks questions about Sweet Home and seems to recall things that someone would not be able to unless earlier present. By embodying the past, Beloved is illustrating that the past has a large impact on the life of African Americans, especially women. Beloved also could questionably be a symbolism of her past considering that some of the characters imply that Beloved could be a reincarnation of a previously mentioned character.

Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich Entry 2

                The second half of the novel introduces new characters and goes in-depth of the recent state of all the characters. Beginning with Albertine, she has connections with Henry, Lyman, Gerry, and Lipsha that are revealed to expand the perspectives on the reservation. Albertine has relations with Henry (whose brother is Lyman), works for Gerry (whose son is Lipsha), and knows Lipsha through childhood. After revealing the connections to these four men, Erdrich chooses to show the perspectives of them as well as the perspective of June’s husband, Gordie. Gordie is a drunk and hallucinates that he has killed June when it is only a deer. The chapter involving Gordie reveals some unanswered questions about June’s state. However, in the concluding chapters the novel focuses on Lipsha. Lipsha is the grandson of Nector and Marie. Through Lipsha’s, Marie’s, and Lulu’s perspective it tells that Nector has lost his mind and is still in love with Lulu. The love between Nector and Lulu makes Lipsha try to create a Love Medicine, through blessed turkey hearts, to save the relations of his grandparents. Instead of healing, the Love Medicine ends up killing Nector. Nevertheless, the death of Nector caused by the Love Medicine creates a new found bound and understanding between Lulu and Marie.

                The last major event written is Lipsha finding out the truth about his parents. His true parents are June and Gerry. Once finding out this information, Lipsha runs away where on his journey he joins the army, meets up with King, meets Gerry (who has escaped from jail), and finds an understanding of what his parents are like despite the death of June. The novel ends with Lipsha reflecting that his mother had made a good choice. Lipsha is happy that he is raised by Grandma Kashpaw. Through all these events and connections, Erdrich illustrates the turmoil of life and the blending of cultures.

                Connecting the novel to my research, Erdrich reveals underlying problems that are found in a reservation life. She reveals the distrust that occurs between Native Americans and the judicial system through the character Gerry. The judicial system is illustrated to not trust and believe Native Americans, especially as witnesses in court. The invalidity that Native Americans feel because of the mistrust and not having proper identification make the Native Americans, in return, not trust the judicial system. Other pieces of research that I found in the novel were the abuse and alcoholism seen on reservations. Gordie expresses both the abuse and alcoholism. He is abusive to his wife, June, which he reveals because of how he reminisces of her and how he hallucinates killing her. He also becomes an alcoholic after June’s death. The last piece of research that I would like to point out is sexual abuse. Henry and Albertine have relations but I question the validity of whether it is wanted or forced. I am unsure whether Albertine truly wants to have sex with Henry because of how she tenses, is scared, and thinks of running away. If it is unwanted, as I believe it is, I think this makes a big statement. It illustrates not only the factual information of how Native American women are sexually abused but makes the statement that the Native American women believe they are powerless and cannot fight back when the abuse occurs. Albertine simply caves in and lets the act continue. If this is unwanted, then it illustrates how women are meant to feel inferior and cave into the whims of men.

                Analyzing the novel itself, Erdrich expresses the emotions of love, jealousy, trust, etcetera of life. Through the main characters Nector, Marie, and Lulu these emotions are expressed most. The Love Medicine itself is shown to be unreliable especially since it is created improperly by Lipsha. However, the unreliability seems to express that nothing can change the heart, the emotions that come in life whether they are appalling or excellent. Erdrich also illustrates the blending of cultures and religion. She discusses the blending of Native Americans reservation life and the outside societies. She also discusses the blending of Native American and catholic religion. Erdrich blends elements together to express the problems that occur with rejection but also everyday life for Native Americans.

                After reading the novel, I have a new understanding of Native American culture because of the factual based information that is embedded in the novel. It gives an inside look to the reservation life and struggles of a Native American and Native American women.

Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich Entry 1

         The novel begins by introducing June Kashpaw. She is an Native American who dies on her time off the reservation. She is described as a woman who likes the company of men. Connecting to June, the author separates the chapters into different people who are somehow connected to June or the Kashpaw family in both past and present time. For example, the second chapter is from Albertine Johnson’s view, June’s niece, who discusses her view of her aunt, family, and life on the reservation compared to life off in present time. It goes in-depth of the relationships of all those around her including June’s sons. Transition to the Lazarre family, Erdrich introduces Marie Lazarre who is a victim of a crazy nun, Leopalda. However she escapes the convent and runs into Nector Kashpaw, connecting the two different social class families since Nector ends up marrying Marie and betraying his true love Lulu Nanapush. The views switch back and forth between Nector, Lulu, and Marie explaining the intertwining relationships of the Native American families from the drunks in the Lazarre family to the affair of Nector and Lulu and even the return of Marie to the convent. The relationships, feelings, causes, and effects are all explained throughout the novel.

            It was interesting to read about the affairs taking place on the reservation. I had never thought that Native Americans had relations outside marriage because to me they always seemed so strong in their morals. After doing some research on Native Americans I took notice that the characteristics and life are accurately portrayed. The novel accurately portrays a major problem that is seen on reservations, alcoholism, through the Lazarre family. It also illustrates the treatment of Native American women. Erdrich mentions event of abuse between King Jr. and Lynette in multiple instances which is usually evident on reservations.

In my research it showed that there is discrimination for Native American women off the reservation. However, in the novel this is proven both on and off the reservation. The discrimination is illustrated through the stories of abuse as well as the expectations of Native American women. Two expectations especially stand out to me. One is that Albertine’s mother is afraid she will become a career girl and forget about marriage. This illustrates how women seem to be expected to stay on the reservation and raise a family. The second expectation is written in the chapter narrated by Albertine where she states, “Indian woman’s nothing but an easy night” (9). This horrifies me because the discrimination makes society believe that Native American women are good for one thing. Connecting this to real life, it seems to be evident by the cases of abuse and sexual abuse of Native American women. In the novel, June illustrates this expectation and even seems to believe the expectation herself because of what society has always shown her. The relationships are interesting and give different viewpoints of the story but are sometimes overwhelming. However, I enjoy the different perspectives though sometimes gruesome, horrific, or immoral.

Research on Native American Women

                With the research I have done, in preparation for my reading of Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich, it seems as if the roles of women in Native American reservations have changed. Native American women were said to grow up strong and from childhood learn what responsibilities they would have. At a young age they would be given toys that would illustrate the roles and prepare them such as a doll. However, women were said to be able to take on any roles of the men when needed. They were even able to marry without force and divorce without trouble. Comparing this to the current events that I have read, it seems as if the equality for Native American women has changed. Native American women are reported to be abused both by those in the reservation and those outside of the reservation. It is said that Native American women have the highest rate of violence in any group in the United States. This is illustrated by women suffering from rape, sexual abuse, or physical abuse by their husbands or by men who are outsiders.  However the women do not report the acts of violence to law enforcement because of racism that had existed between law enforcement and Native American women. The women believe that law enforcement has turned their back on them so do not turn in reports of violence.

                In reaction to the research, I am shocked. I had never imagined that Native American women would be ranked in the highest rate of violence. With information I had learned at a younger age I had thought Native American women were among the strongest and most respected. Though I still see them as one of the strongest groups of women, it is hard to imagine that they have been abused by loved ones and even men who are passersby. I had not realized that Native American women were still receiving inequality from law enforcement and society after all these years past the time of civilization. It seems as if the reservations are a trap for Native American women. Instead of providing protection from society, they are trapped for disgusting passersby and abusive husbands.

References:

Sommer, Robin L. North American Indian Women. North Dighton, MA: JG, 1998. Print.

"Native American Women and Violence." National Organization for Women. National Organization for Women, 2011. Web. 04 Apr. 2013. <http://www.now.org/nnt/spring-2001/nativeamerican.html>.

Erdrich, Louise. "Rape on the Reservation." The New York Times. The New York Times, 27 Feb. 2013. Web. 04 Apr. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/27/opinion/native-americans-and-the-violence-against-women-act.html?_r=1>.

The Glass Castle Entry 2

                In the rest of the novel, Walls describes more hardships she and her family face. For example, they are banned from Erma’s because they fought her when she started to molest Brian. They then stay in Welch but in a run-down home. The family continues to go from being able to eat to near starvation. The hardships cause Maureen to practically live with her friends, Lori to leave, Jeannette to stop believing in Rex, and Brian to be full of anger. Though they continue to have difficult lives, eventually all the children make their way to live in New York and begin to make something of themselves. Their transition is interrupted when Rex and Rose Mary move to New York too. At first the kids try to help their parents but when they realize it is useless, and their parents then become homeless. Jeannette, Lori, and Brian all continue to grow and make something of themselves but Maureen moves in with the parents which causes her to go mad and stab Rose Mary. She leaves for California after being arrested and put in the hospital. Then Rex gets sick and dies. The return of the hardships makes the family disconnect. However, in the end they all (but Maureen) gather at Jeannette’s new home, a farmhouse, with her second Husband, John, where she is very happy. Brian is divorced but a decorated sergeant detective with a daughter and nice home. Lori is still living in her apartment in New York and Rose Mary is still content with being homeless.

                I love seeing that each child of Rex and Rose Mary make something of themselves. I enjoy seeing the empowerment Jeannette obtains through her new life and through finally telling her story after hiding it for so long. To think of how her parents were and seeing that she does not hold any anger towards them is unbelievable but also inspirational. Jeannette learns that her mother could’ve sold land for a million dollars and sees how her father is capable of changing, yet she holds no anger towards them for not improving her childhood. Jeannette is an inspiration.

                As for the others, I enjoyed seeing their lives improve as well. However, I never thought I would feel bad for her parents until her father begs Jeannette to stay in Welch. It was heartbreaking to read which made me realize that deep down her parents do care sometimes. But I can still not fathom that they did and said those things during Jeannette’s childhood. I still cannot believe Rose Mary has a way to not be homeless but refuses to improve her life.

                From a feminist’s point of view, the book illustrates women empowerment. Jeannette lives a harsh life as a child facing the hardships of her parents and society. It seems as if she is planted in this low class role but she breaks away from expectations and makes something of herself. Jeannette becomes a content working woman but also creates a happy family. Jeannette Walls proves that women, or even anybody, can break away and empower themselves with their own story.

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

The Glass Castle opens up with Jeannette Walls seeing her mother dumpster diving. It also gives a meeting with her mother that illustrates how Jeannette feels towards her parents and how they feel about themselves. Continuing through the story, Walls recounts her childhood. She begins with the time she is three years old and burns herself while trying to cook and the halfway point ends with her hating her grandmother, Erma. Within the long flashback, Walls illustrates the hardships she faces in childhood. Walls tells of the daughter her parents had lost the child they have born. She discusses over 11 places that she has lived and how each ended with her parents running from someone or something. Jeannette Walls describes the people she meets throughout her childhood and the mishaps that occur, such as falling out of the car and her parents not returning for a good amount of time. In addition, Jeannette and her brother defend themselves against the group of Mexican girls as well as the boy, Billy, who claims he raped Jeannette. Jeannette even has to face a group of bulling girls in Welch. Walls also reveals the character of her family members. Her parents have no rules and no cares. Her mother’s priority is her art and her father’s is his booze. As for Wall’s siblings, Lori is fond of their mother, Brian hates their father, and Maureen is treated special. Nevertheless, her parents seem to have some hope since her mother gives good lessons at times and her father quits drinking (for a short period of time) for Jeannette’s birthday present.

                I am enjoying the book tremendously. I love the detailed memories Walls portrays and the story she tells as a whole. I find the attitude of her parents unbelievable and conflicting. It is unbelievable because they seem to barely care for scary events such as perverts sneaking into their house for the children or the hunger their children face. However, my attitude towards them is also conflicting because they seem to have moments where they shine. For example, Rex saves the children in multiple instances and quits drinking for his children. Nonetheless, my attitude towards her parents is more that it is unbelievable because Rex begins to drink again and her mother never seems to care. Though the book is upsetting, due to the opening chapter I believe it will be an empowering book. It seems like it will illustrate a feminist because Jeannette, despite society and her family, creates a life for herself and finds the rights and privileges she deserves. It is interesting to see how Jeannette is an opposite of her mother because her mother allows Rex to control and abuse her. While in opposing character, Jeannette stands up for herself and creates a better life. I find the book and Jeannette’s story riveting. The part that I believe that truly illustrated to me that the book is impactful is on Christmas night when she writes, “…we all had out own ways of shutting down and closing off, and that was what we did that night” (115).

                                                                                                                                                Entry 1 of 2
                                                                                                                                  A Girl and Her Heels

Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar (entry 3)

            Esther represents a woman oppressed by society in her time. Esther expects more from her life and dreams of the future she wants. However her dream drives her mad because she cannot reach it. In the second half of the book Esther spirals even more until she finally ends up in a facility. Within the facility she recognizes what she must do to be free. Esther then sleeps with Irwin to go against the double standard of purity that society holds. In a personal reaction to this event, I thought Esther had lost it even more but for her it was a release of the hold society has on her. Another example of how the hold is released is the comparison of the symbolism of the Bell Jar (symbolizing her madness) from the beginning of the second half to the end. At first Esther feels as if she “would be sitting under the same glass bell jar, stewing in her own sour air” (185). In the end the jar is lifted and the hold is released. However, it still hangs over her waiting to drop at any moment.            

                Esther is a prime example of a woman oppressed by society in her time because of this bell jar that hangs over her. Esther cannot choose her future because of society ad that drives her mad because if she takes her path then she would be a lonely harlot for choosing a career and losing her virginity. Though this view of women needing to have a certain role is not near as strong as it was in the 1950s I believe women still have a double standard with purity and marriage. In the purity sense, men are still seen as those who can do what they want when they please. However, if women were to do so they would be seen in society as harlots. In the aspect of marriage, I feel as if women are still expected to be pure when they are married but the men are not expected to be or that women are more appealing to men if they are pure for marriage. Again, this view is not as strong as it was in the time setting of The Bell Jar but I still believe it exists.  Feminism believes that the sexes should receive equality. However with the views of purity and marriage, both in the Bell Jar and in society today, I believe that it would be hard to fight such beliefs that have been present for so long. Esther tries to fight the beliefs but ends up almost dead, in a facility, and trapped in a bell jar.

Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar (entry 2)

                In the second half of the novel, Esther begins to spiral into a deeper depression when she returns home. She begins to not be able to sleep, eat, read, or write. Her signs of hollowness and beginning of insanity release her to a psychiatrist, Dr. Gordon. However, Dr. Gordon acts as if nothing is wrong with Esther and performs improper shock treatments. After devastating her mother on her depression Esther refused to return. Days following Esther feels the same and realizes she is spiraling down due to not being able to sleep, eat, read, or write. This causes her to try to commit suicide through cutting, hanging, drowning, and her final attempt pills. Esther hides and takes pills and is not found until days later. After which she is sent to a hospital asylum, where she is kicked out. However, the famous novelist Philomena Guinea takes Esther to a private facility after seeing her in the news. Within the private facility many events occur. Esther begins to trust her new psychiatrist Doctor Nolan because she receives injections instead of shock treatments. Joan, a person from her past, even end up coming to the facility as a patient herself. Throughout her stay, Esther begins to improve and is moved to a better house, Belsize. However, Esther then must receive shock treatments but this time they end up working. Following the treatments Esther seems to improve. She finds an opportunity to receive her freedom by going to get birth control. She feels even more free when she loses her virginity to a man she randomly meets, Irwin. She has an incident afterwards and asks for Joan’s help. This event scares Joan and she must return to the asylum along with Esther’s return. After only a day or so of being back, Joan commits suicide by hanging herself in the woods. The suicide of Joan causes Buddy to return and asks if he causes women to go mad because he dated both Joan and Esther. Buddy’s visit causes Esther to realize she will never be married because she has been in an asylum. In the end, Esther enters to be interviewed to be released from the asylum.

Sylvia Plath, The Bell Jar

    Sylvia Plath illustrates a woman, Esther Greenwood, who is trying to decide her future in New York City with a group of other women who had won the fashion magazine contest. Esther's days are planned out for her but she tries to go away from the norm and plan her own time such as going off with Doreen by the hand of a strange man, Lenny. However, throughout her time Esther begins to spiral into a depression illustrated by comparing herself to other women present, crying for no reason, and focusing on her mistakes. One of the mistakes she focuses on is narrating the time she had with the man she was told to marry, Buddy Willard. She discusses the man she thought him to be, pure, and the man he really was, a hypocrite. While reflecting back, Esther realizes she has never truly been happy since she was nine years old, though she seems to have a moment of happiness with Constantin. From then on she begins to spiral, from avoiding set events to almost letting a man, Marco, take advantage of her and abuse her.

   Though Esther seems to be becoming a bit strange and depressed, I believe there is hope due to the flickers of happiness. Esther seems to have a moment of happiness when spending time with Constantin and if he were to return then her happiness would return with him. However she seems to be broken halfway through the book when she has her encounter with the women hating man, Marco. I am routing for Esther to pull through and find happiness but with what she wants compared to what society wants for her, it seems as if that is a far reach.

   Esther illustrates the views of a feminist. Esther does not believe in marriage the way it is meant to be because she finds it unfair that a man is expected to stay pure but a man did not have to or could even trick their wives as Buddy almost tricked her. Esther also relates to feminism because she wants to be empowered and make her own path. She also does not want to feel forced to serve men which she discusses, "...I hated the idea of serving men in any way. I wanted to dictate my own thrilling letters" (76). In her time women's dreams were to find a husband and be the perfect wife. However, Esther wants to choose her own dream as she states in the quote presented. I see society as a factor in her spiraling depression due to her opposing view of what a woman should want. Everyone is pulling her in one direction but she wishes to go in another. With the restraints of society, she cannot go her own way. I believe Sylvia Plath illustrates the beginning of a feminist. Esther breaks away from the standard because she denies the act of marriage and recognizes the unequal aspects of both marriage and society. Feminist recognize and fight against the inequality of the sexes. However, Esther cannot seem to find the strength to fight and instead spirals into depression.

The Yellow Wallpaper cont.

Response:

In response to The Yellow Wallpaper, I agree with what Gilman argues but only in some cases. I believe that a domestic life and marriage can become oppressing for women and cause depression. However, I only believe so if there is an imbalance in their life as there is in the character’s life. The character’s every move and treatment is dictated by her husband and her duties. She is meant to be happy with her life because that pleases her husband which is her ultimate duty. However, she becomes depressed and entrapped by it as the yellow wallpaper symbolizes. This can be true about an actual domestic life and marriage. If there is an imbalance and there is no freedom then the women becomes entrapped in her own life. However, I do believe in such things as a happy marriage and a happy domestic life but only when chosen. I believe with The Yellow Wallpaper Gilman is expressing that women need to push out from their domestic lives and life as they choose in order to find happiness and a good state of mind, which I agree because women should be seen as independent instead of dependent.

As for the Gilman’s style, I enjoyed the way she presents her argument. I like seeing the story as the character’s journal because it allows an inside look to the character’s state of mind. I also found the symbolism interesting because I felt as if it was a somewhat empowering and surprising ending when the woman tears down the wallpaper to ultimately free herself. It was a creative and attention grabbing way to express her argument. Overall, I enjoyed reading the piece.

Sincerely,

A Girl and Her Heels

The Yellow Wallpaper

Summary and Analysis:

Charlotte Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper illustrates a woman who is overcome with depression. The story is written from the perspective of the woman herself through her journal which she hides from everyone else. Within her journal it is clear that her husband dictates her every move, from when she has company to where she sleeps (the room with the ugly yellow wallpaper), and believes that she only needs rests and a clear head to feel better.  However, within the room with the yellow wallpaper she begins to become obsessed with its hideous color and supposed hidden pattern. Throughout the story, the woman’s depression and loneliness grows which is expressed through her crying at random times and becoming engrossed by the wallpaper. Her high point is when she sees a woman entrapped by the wallpaper. She then plans to and executes ripping off the wallpaper to help the woman escape. In the end, the woman she helped escape was herself.

                Within The Yellow Wallpaper, Charlotte Gilman is expressing her view on domestic life. Gilman argues that women are oppressed and driven mad by having a domestic life.  She executes her argument through multiple strategies. Gilman employs italics, parenthesis, and repetition in order to emphasize her key issues. However, her most important and impactful strategies are allusion and symbolism. Gilman alludes to the works of Mitchell, who believed in extreme therapies such as electroshock for the mental ill, in order to express how he was incorrect. She also alludes to Mitchell to express that it is not the treatment that needs to be changed in the protagonist’s life but her life itself. Also employed in The Yellow Wallpaper, symbolism is seen throughout the piece. The yellow wallpaper itself is a symbolism of the main character’s life. It is ugly and tearing away, such as she is in her mental state, but within it is a pattern she grows to enjoy. However this pattern grows into an obsession where it turns into an entrapment. The pattern becomes a prison for the woman that the protagonist sees inside. In the symbolic point of view, the wallpaper is the main character’s domestic life. She is entrapped by the duties she is meant to abide by for her husband as the woman is entrapped by the wallpaper. However, at the end of the story when she rips the wallpaper down it is symbolic of her gaining her freedom. The main character is ripping the wallpaper off the wall to free the woman inside but is ultimately taking herself out of the control of her domestic life and freeing herself. This is illustrated in the symbolism and the woman exclaiming to her husband, “I’ve got out at last…in spite of you and Jane. And I’ve pulled off most of the paper, so you can’t put me back!” She has gone against her husband and away from her domestic life—the wallpaper.

A Girl and Her Heels

The Great Social Evil

In combination with reading A Vindication of the Right’s of Woman, I also read The Great Social Evil. It is a letter written to the editor of the Times by a prostitute in response to a previous letter to the editor by another prostitute. Within the letter the anonymous writer describes how she was raised compared to how the author of the previous letter was raised as a child. She discusses this in order to illustrate to the editor and the audience how she became to be in the position she is in, a prostitute. The author then uses this information to ask why her and other prostitutes are judged and abused by society for what they do. She explains how she is simply another worker and contributor to society. She also states how prostitutes are made to seem evil and sinful by society but should not be judged because of who they were made to be.

                In reaction to this piece, I found it interesting, entertaining, and enlightening. In this time period prostitutes were of a different kind but they also received cruelties for who they were. I believe it is wrong to judge someone without knowing their story and background, which with this letter the author is defending this claim. Society should not judge those who they do not know. The anonymous author was raised differently than those who judged her. It was as if her path was destined to end the way it did which is why I found the piece interesting. I found the piece entertaining because of the sarcastic remarks made by the prostitute, especially her signature which she began with “I remain your humble servant.” I also found the letter enlightening because it made me think about factors that I have not thought about before such as the story behind clothing. I also believed everyone has a background story that made them who they are but to think that there are many layers behind people and things is something I had never taken into consideration. The Great Social Evil was not simply a letter from a prostitute. It was a letter that entertained with its wit and enlightened with its discourse.

Sincerely,

A Girl and Her Heels

A Vindication Of The Right's Of Woman

Mary Wollstonecraft writes A Vindication Of The Right’s Of Woman in order to illustrate the oppressions women face. It is a reaction to Tom Paine’s Rights of Man. She describes how women are denied privileges that men receive, such as political and domestic privileges, which causes women to learn to fend for themselves through finding a man. Within her essay, she hopes to persuade women to fend for themselves and become creatures who rely on the knowledge and strength of their own bodies and minds instead of that of their men. In her introduction, Wollstonecraft begins to discuss how men are giving their privileges, rights, experiences, etcetera while women are denied these things. Women must flirt and become housewives in order to find security, character, and a life.  Wollstonecraft writes about multiple factors that oppress women such as women being seen as objects, women being denied the same education and experiences of men, and women expecting to only want to find a husband. In other words, women are meant to be taught to be dependent and independence is seen as ugly and a burden. In order to illustrate her point, Wollstonecraft alludes to many other works and even criticizes these works for oppressing women—feminist criticism. Some examples of these works include Hamlet, the works of Milton, Dr. John Gregory, and Rousseau. These works show what Wollstonecraft is trying to explain and refute, such as Dr. Gregory who discusses how women should be educated and Rousseau who writes about what is expected of women and how they should behave. Wollstonecraft criticizes the views of women in these works in order to express to women that they must become independent and illustrate to society that women must be given more privileges. She criticizes the views of women’s dependency illustrated through nature, history, philosophy, and other writers.

                In reaction to A Vindication Of The Right’s Of Woman, I agree with what Wollstonecraft is saying. In her time period, even sometimes in the current time period, women feel as if they need to be dependent on their looks, flattery, and flirtatious behavior in order to achieve their goals in life. In Wollstonecraft’s time that one goal in a women’s life was to find a husband to depend on. All these things were taught to females, beginning at young age. To see how much women have progressed since then but how the views have not is astonishing. I believe in today’s society women are growing more independent but the views of women being dependent have not changed. From my knowledge and experiences in today’s society I believe it is still believed that women are meant to be dependent. Though the view is not as extreme as it was in Wollstonecraft’s time, it is still evident.

                Also, it was interesting to see one of the first pieces of feminist criticism and with my base knowledge of feminist criticism today, it has changed and grown into something much more.

Sincerely,

A Girl and Her Heels

Jonathan Swift's The Lady's Dressing Room

           I have finished reading Jonathan Swift’s “The Lady’s Dressing Room.” In summary, the poem is discussing how Swift believes women who make themselves appear beautiful (doll themselves up) are lying, disgusting creatures. Swift despises human pride and believes that women are full of pride which is his reasoning behind writing the poem. If you have not read the poem I will summarize it for you.

In the beginning stanza Celia, a beautiful woman, appears from her dressing room after taking five hours to get ready. In response her lover, Strephon, goes inside her dressing room to take a look around. The stanzas following the first illustrate what Strephon sees, each stanza making Celia appear dirty and grotesque. Some examples of what Strephon sees include: cosmetics made from Celia’s dead dog, smelly used towels, tweezers that pluck her facial hair, and a dandruff filled comb. Swift even alludes to Celia’s chest as Pandora’s Box (the first woman in Greek mythology whose box contained all evils) to express Celia’s dressing room and Celia herself as horrific. In the concluding stanza, Swift discusses how he views women and hopes that Strephon can now view women in the same way—lying, deceitful, grotesque creatures whose hide their true appearance.

In response to the piece, I was horrified and angered. Swift illustrates women as creatures who take too much pride in their appearance and thus are deceitful people. He spends the majority of his poem degrading women. The two lines that hit me the most are the last two which read, “Such order from confusion sprung/Such gaudy tulips raised from dung.” These two lines express Swift’s whole perspective on the women population. Women take too much pride in themselves but are truly nothing but dung, dirt, crap. To think that one poem could contain such degrading and unfathomable expressions is incomprehensible to me. Swift is a clear misogynist who knows nothing about the true intentions of a woman, such as myself. I do take pride in my appearance. On occasions I take the time (not the exaggerated five hours that Swift sarcastically writes) to make myself appear a certain way. I do not do this to deceive men or because I believe myself to be better than others. I do so because I am a woman. I am a feminine being who likes to show that femininity through my choice in clothing, and though I am feminine that does not make me part of the patriarchal society. (I believe that even in a dress I can dominate in what is supposed to be a male role, a career field, strength, hard labor, etc.) Though I take pride in my appearance as Celia does I am not deceiving nor am I hiding my grotesque nature (as Swift would like to say). Swift is simply a man who believes in a patriarchal society where the women must not overstep their bounds. Taking pride in appearance or even the work of a woman would be impossible for Swift and he believes that any woman who does so herself is simply a “…gaudy tulip raised from dung” but I believe Swift to be the dung that those beautiful tulips are tainted with and his character Strephon to be the average Neanderthal that follows along.

            ~A Girl and Her Heels

Feminist Movements

While researching the feminist movements, I found it interesting how different the attitudes of the women were in the three movements. In the first movement the women were first breaking away from the “average housewife” attitude by fighting for something more—equality—such as suffrage. The women were reserved and formal in their approach. In the later part of the second movement the women began to become more inventive with their protests and actions. For example, instead of holding a convention such as the Seneca Falls convention in the first movement the women held their own version of the Miss America pageant to express that it was a way to make women seem as simple as sexual objects. In this version of protest, the women threw objects that they believed made them sexual objects and crowned a sheep as the winner to express that it was like being judged as animals. This is interesting to me because it is a very different approach from that of the first movement. It also makes me think if this new approach receives better or worse results than that of the first movement. The new, direct approach continued to the third movement and seemed to grow. Instead of focusing on what has happened for women already, women were focusing on how small these improvements were and what a disgrace it was to not jump from little rights to all. I find this interesting because I believe progress comes in little steps. I do not believe that progress can be made in one big leap, which makes me believe that the third movement will have little results because the focus is unclear.

                With what I found interesting, it has changed my view of what I witness in terms of men and women. Realizing how little rights there were to begin with, I am thankful for those little progresses that were made in the past. I believe there is a lot to change in today’s society but looking at what happens in the current, third movement I wonder if the approach is too direct. It makes me wonder the impact that women are having on the view of society, the view of men. If women are too direct in their approach to changing today’s society I believe it could make women take a step back. It could bring more discrimination and more hatred if women are constantly aggressively attacking members of society, especially men. I understand that men would feel the discrimination and fight for their rights too if the patriarchy were to be reversed but I think that men will see this aggressive approach as an attack and come in with more hatred. I know that in some instances an aggressive approach is the best approach but sometimes I believe that approaches like that of the past two movements needs to be taken to be seen seriously as a member of society. I am not saying that because some women take an aggressive approach today that they deserve the discrimination and hatred. Women do not deserve discrimination or hatred. No one deserves discrimination. I am saying that compared to the past two movements, it seems as if the third has a possibility of providing less results.

However, this does not change what I read or experience. The experiences I have had because I am a young lady in society do not change. These experiences were undeserved, harsh, and invalid. It is for these experiences and what I read about others’ experiences that I see why women would take an aggressive approach. They are fed up and angry. Most of the time I do not believe the phrase, “You brought this on yourself” but I believe with this movement many will use this phrase towards women. In my opinion, fighting for rights is a worthy fight and inequality is not brought on by someone but by discrimination.

Sincerely,

A Girl and Her Heels

Reflecting on Factors of Feminism

I have begun my studies by looking into the different causes, critiques, and beliefs of feminist theories and feminism. I became intrigued by the different rights that women have fought for in the past and how absurd it seems to me that they had to fight for these rights. A clear example of this absurdity is that women in Germany had to fight for the right to engage in sexual relations before marriage. Men were able to engage in sexual relations without punishment. Men were able to do whatever they pleased. But women had to fight for a right that I believe is a freedom of choice, privacy, and belief. I did not realize that along with the harsh punishments from society there was also absurdity in the inequality of men and women. However, I feel as if a main root to this absurd example of inequality is one of the main contributors to women inequality, religion. I am not criticizing any form of religion or religion as a general practice but am stating that my findings have proven that religion, as it was first beginning, is one of the bases for the created inequalities. After all, in some religions women were said to serve their husbands or even be property of their husbands. Yet, some can argue that it is not the religion that has created the inequality but the interpretation of said religion, which I can agree. Many religions take the idea that women are to serve to the extreme. Abusing and using their wives as if they are an object that one can simply throw away.

                Another fact of information I would like to reflect on is that feminists groups are broken down into very small parts. For example, there is black feminism which I found out through the information on Patricia Hill Collins. I was unaware that the groups of feminists broke down into race. I find this eye-opening because it illustrates that even within women working for a similar purpose; there is still inequality between this subgroup. In combination with being surprised at this subgroup, I was disagreeing with a belief by the Postmodern feminism. From the information I found, postmodern feminists believe that you must look to the future and not the past to solve the issues of oppression and inequality. I agree with this when trying to overcome the emotional aspects, it is easier to move on than look back. However, society must learn from the past. Society needs to look at prior events of inequality, oppression, etc. to see what went wrong, why it went wrong, and learn from what went wrong. A society cannot advance if it does not look at where it needs to advance from.

                One factor that I find to be one of the main causes of this inequality is the fashion and film industry. Women and society are made to believe that all women must look “good”, look a certain ideal way. The female self-image is said to be a contemporary western society obsession that women must look “good”. (I put the word “good” in quotations because it is a very vague term that many can interpret in their own way. One woman may think that looking good is wearing a track suit and sneakers while another may think a dress and heels are the proper attire. But the term good referred to by the fashion and film industry is skinny, beautiful, sexy, etc.) However, this causes problems for this gender group because society criticizes women for not only being female but for not looking the way they are meant to look. The fashion and film industry has put into the mind of society that women must look “good” and that most women display their bodies sexually. It is for this reason that women are criticized as not being able to perform like men, being overly sensitive, etc. By saying that women display their bodies sexually, society is to believe that women are meant for one group of roles because their image is a self-definition to the world, a definition of a sexual, feminine being. Women are, as a whole and individually, being judged of who they are before they even open their mouths (something that I have been struggling with since the beginning of high school). If fashion and film were to change the perspectives that they take on women, I see society changing their ways as well. Yet, I do not see these industries applying this change anytime soon, if ever. It is for this reason; I find it hard to say that one day women will be completely equal to men. I know that the equality is growing and that it gets closer every day but I see places where women are also being pushed back when they take that leap forward to become equal. This imbalance in society was written before women even had the chance to fight it.

Sincerely,

A Girl and Her Heels

Welcome!

Welcome to the Reflections of Women in Lit blog!

 I have decided to dedicate some time to an independent study on Women in Literature. I want to obtain information about how women are and how women were portrayed in literature and how that comes across in real society. I chose this independent study because I am for women empowerment. I believe all women should have equal rights, equal opportunities, and equal representation. In other words, you could call me a feminist (but not to the extreme).

I am growing up as a young woman in a man's world and have faced struggles already because I am a woman, a feminine being. I have been judged on the clothes I wear and the height of my heels (hence the blogger name A Girl and Her Heels, especially since I am obsessed). These judgments have caused others, especially men, to believe that I should be seen a certain way. Whether that way may be as a weak girl or a modern day harlot, their judgments are wrong. From what I have obtained from varying works such as Thomas Hardy (Tess of the D’Urbervilles) and Maxine Kingston (one of my favorite authors), women are meant to be seen in a certain way based on their place in society and judgments of society, such as the way others are seeing me. I feel a connection to Women in Literature. I am intrigued by the way literature translates the diverse views of women in different time periods. I enjoy when a work illustrates the view of women by men, the view of women by women, and the view of women by themselves. I do not intend to keep my knowledge limited to one specific view, one specific society, or one specific race.

By choosing this course for my independent study I hope to expand my knowledge of how women are seen in societies, whether fictional or reality, in order to understand where the basis of inequality originated. I also hope to one day employ this knowledge to teach others, whether men or women, how literature can reflect past, present, and future societies. Also to teach how those reflected societies need to change. The blog is to help share my thought process and hopefully motivate others to reflect with me upon this course of study.

Sincerely,

A Girl and Her Heels