Self-Determination In Thomas Hardy's Far From The Madding Crowd

Although heated with the increase in women 's employment households, they became more and more feel the unequal status of men and women, wishing to change their static diligent housework labor low role, demanding equal rights and chances with men. Famous women leader Betty was representative of the contemporary American women 's movement. She wrote a Book of servility secret, revealing the traditional American culture on women 's role imprisonment and definition and called on that the majority of families and women should break the family bound to seek self-value of life. This thought had awakened many American traditional family women, and they began to be not satisfied with the family to bring the sense of accomplishment, began to find their own identity and the right social role. In particular, a lot of knowledged women, due to a good education, had a stable income base.

In a male dominated society, women are forced to conform to the moulds that have been prescribed for them. When they do not fit into the categories that have been defined for them, they face ultimate rejection and suffer the consequences of non-conformity. This male dictated view of women is evident in the writings of 19th Century women writers who unconsciously view society through the perspectives that have been imprinted in their minds by society. A case in point is Kate Chopin through her work, Desiree’s Baby which chronicles the tale of an abandoned baby that is raised by a wealthy couple, the Valmonde’s. They were childless and raised her lovingly as their own.

6. One definition of a strong character is one who is able to influence and dictate the actions and

Edna’s house in New Orleans that Mr. Pontellier owns represents her responsibilities as a mother and wife. There, she must abide by Mr. Pontellier’s rules as well as society’s expectations of her. Discontent with those rules, Edna attempts to break from those responsibilities by breaking the vase in her husband’s house after trying to ruin her wedding ring. Here, she is no longer submissive, but trying to set herself free. Eventually, Edna moves to her own house that her husband does not own, which allows her to make her own decisions and allows her to decide what she will do each day.

“Just fancy, if any one should come and see it,” Hedda says. A portrait of her decorous father hangs in her home to remind her of the traditional values she is expected to uphold. Hedda’s repressed longings embroil her in conflict after she learns that Løvborg has sworn off alcohol and struck up an amiable relationship with a woman Hedda loathes, Thea Elvsted, a childhood acquaintance who is now the wife of a sheriff. Hedda wants Løvborg but refuses to allow herself to have him.

Wilde is greatly influenced by the societal movements in the Victorian Era, therefore the theme of hedonism is prominent displaying the influence of Aestheticism in The Picture of Dorian Gray and further explaining the consequences of selfishness and self-pleasure. The Aestheticism movement shockingly challenged all past standards of love, pleasure, and sexuality. Specifically this Victorian movement “promotes sexual… experimentation. ”(Burdett)

When Lengel, the “kingpin” of the A&P takes notice of the girls’ actions, he quickly steps up to protect his masculinity. In removing the girls from the A&P, he is attempting to put them back in their established place. As one critic noted, the male characters feel that “Either women were to stay in one place and allow themselves to be walked on as ‘houseslaves’ or mothers or they were to provide their sexual services when men so desired” (Douglass). The male characters expect

Furthermore, Feminist Criticism provides a better view of literature because it shows that women can be powerful. When Emilia finds out that her husband has been plotting an evil plan she says,” Tis proper I obey him, but not now”(Othello V.2.195). Emilia refuses to help her husband after she finds the cruel intentions he has despite the expectation of women always being submissive to their husbands. Women also have a voice and feelings, they are capable of defying their husbands commands when they know what he expects is simply wrong. In a literary article,The Role of Women in Othello: A Feminist Reading states that,” Society weighs heavily on the shoulders of women; they feel that they must support the men and defer to them, even if the actions of the men are questionable” (Literary Articles).

In what ways are women abused and discriminated against inside literature and throughout history? In many patriarchal societies, men have held authority over women due to gender. This power imbalance between men and women sometimes led to unjust treatment of women; men exert their authority over many women in the play, The Crucible. In The Crucible¸ male characters intimidate women to achieve specific outcomes and mark their superiority. Elizabeth Proctor, the protagonist’s wife, shows the standard for Salem women as she is submissive and does not defy her husband or the traditional role as a housekeeper.

Injustice violence and inequality becomes the law. Women are not treated equally. Men treat women like trash or just like a doll or a servant. Men think that women are useful only to bear children, cook and clean. Men are treated as more important than women.

Abigail’s loss of sexual innocence symbolizes the act of giving yourself to sin. In reference to Abigail’s and Proctor’s affair, Miller states that “...our opposites are always robed in sexual sin, and it is from the unconscious conviction that demonology gains both its attractive sensuality and its capacity to infuriate and frighten” (pg. 36). Abigail is the opposite to John Proctor. She hasn’t confessed to her sin and repented like Proctor had done. Instead, she has continued to do wrong and indulge in her own sinful nature.