How do the roles of women in society reflect how they are expected to act, speak, dress, and conduct themselves? For example, women are generally expected to dress and act in a feminine manner by being polite, accommodating, and nurturing to others. However, as seen in Tyrese Coleman's powerful story, “How to Sit”, the grandmother is perceived as a wild, selfish, and fiercely independent woman, who is forced to harass her granddaughter in order to shape her as the woman she wishes she could still be. The narrator describes her actions toward her granddaughter as cruel although they are done with a great deal of tenderness. She is, in a way, teaching the lesson of harnessing sex to have a power that transcends race.
A girl was not, as I had supposed, simply what I was; it was what I had to become. It was a definition, always touched with emphasis, with reproach and disappointment. Also it was a joke on me(142)”. The main character does not take into account how her mother might want someone to bond with until she is older. Because of her immaturity she has a bad relationship with her parents and her brother even though her thoughts are justifiable.
Pavla Chudějová in “Exploring the women’s experience” states that since Cordelia cannot compare to her attractive and talented older sisters, she makes great effort to keep up appearances in fear of being considered “disappointing” (Cat’s Eye 73). As Cordelia cannot adjust to the social expectations required in her family and in attempt to liberate herself from the constant surveillance performed over her, she refocuses her gaze to Elaine. Elaine presents an easy outlet for Cordelia’s frustrations because she is completely unaware of gender restrictions (43-44). As noted earlier, two events demonstrate Cordelia’s cruel treatment of Elaine. The first incident occurs when she digs a hole in her backyard and the three girls bury Elaine alive in it.
Women struggled with the limited clothing options, few job opportunities, had unrealistic beauty standards, and did not have the ability to achieve a higher education. The women’s rights movement improved women’s lives by breaking stereotypes and changing women’s ideals. The women of the 20th century, often struggled with beauty and fashion restricting their clothing options. Women were often described to be weak and a symbol of being delicate and fragile. In the 50’s, women were simply expected to get married to a wealthy man, stay at home, and raise children while her husband worked to provide for the family.
Fitzgerald’s stories focuses on the new generation of America with bold, excessive and infuriating characters. He depicts Jazz Age; the celebration and the loss of the Roaring Twenties. “Bernice Bobs Her Hair”, a short story by Fitzgerald, focuses on the struggle of a beautiful but reserved young girl, Bernice. Although Bernice is the protagonist of the story but other characters also lay a very important role in determining her character and fate. Fitzgerald creates a contrast between the two leading characters of this short story, Bernice and Marjorie.
Of Mice and Men is a novella by John Steinbeck about the price that one may have to pay in order to pursue the American dream, especially when one is a woman. The American dream drives a woman to success causing a lack in sense of belonging.When a woman pursues a dream of the unordinary society is taken back and is quick to root against them. Steinbeck shows a women chasing the American dream often results in dragging personal relationships. Curley's wife is the loneliest character in the story, not only was it a challenge to be taken seriously as a woman back then, but she was also stuck in an unhealthy marriage. In the 1930’s it was very much a “dream” for women to pursue their goals, for most women they were known for working indoors
Murasaki created a female character strong enough to reject Genji but still delicate to fit the Heian female description. The powerful depiction of women in Tale of Genji mirrored the persona of Murasaki herself. Murasaki did many things not common during the Heian period. Instead of marrying upon reaching puberty, she stayed with her father until she was ready to get married. She also hated men in general due to their consistent drunkenness and somberness.
This love can be identified in the relationships between the Capulets and Juliet, or Prince Escalus and Verona. It is obvious that the attitude Lady Capulet has towards Juliet is not tender love from a mother. “Nurse, give leave awhile; / We must talk in secret. Nurse, come back again. / I have rememb’red me; thou’s hear our counsel.” (I.v.3.7) Lady Capulet is so uncomfortable in her relationship with Juliet that she can’t speak to her daughter alone.
Curley’s wife is described as an attractive woman seeking attention. Through the dialogue between Curley’s wife and other characters, John Steinbeck portrays Curley’s wife as a woman with broken dreams, who is acting out for attention. The restrictions the men on the ranch have enforced on Curley’s wife have caused her to endure unending loneliness. As Crooks and Lennie are speaking to one another, Curley’s wife, standing in the doorway, is irritated that they won’t talk to her, and yells, “Well, I ain’t giving you no trouble. Think I don’t like to talk to somebody ever’ once in a while.
Lucy despises this notion almost as much as she loathes her mother and struggles with it daily. One concept she finds very repulsive is the importance of a woman’s image. She is disgusted by Dinah’s obsession with beauty and comments that “among the beliefs I held about the world was that being beautiful should not matter to a woman, because it is one of those things that would go away” (Kincaid, 57). Later on she mentions that “for the first time ever [she] entertained the idea that [she] might be beautiful”, but declares that she will “not make too big a thing of it” (Kincaid, 132). Lucy’s rejection of society’s emphasis on appearance frees her from the insecurities that are brought upon by a self-image based on looks.