Jane Austen Essays - British Films, Jane Austen, Mansfield Park

Jane Austen EL2 Essay 2 Angela Bathgate Tutor Julie Marney 6. How does Mansfield Park interrogate the relationship of power and gender? Mansfield Park by Jane Austen is a classic realist text, which is almost exclusively focused on a small strip of society, namely the upper-middle class of rural England; the class to which she herself belonged. Throughout her novel, Austen portrays the disadvantaged position of woman, presenting the issues of gender stereotyping and marriage choice as the main problems they have to confront. Gender came to be seen as a construct of society, designed to facilitate the smooth-running of society to the advantage of men1, proving that men gained power throughout the socially constructed subordination of woman. Taking a post-structuralist approach to Mansfield Park, we can see that there is a pretence that bourgeois culture is naturalto limit meaning in the interests of control, repression and privilege2. Austens writing embodies middle-class values, and portrays an ideology that emphasises patriarchal rule, along with social and economic power, with little reference to the hardships of the working class. This text is therefore a form of oppressive ideology, in which women are kept in their socially and sexually subordinate place. When Sir Thomas Bertram discovers that Fanny will reject Henry Crawfords proposal, the cruelty of male power is evident, enforcing the gender role. He does not understand her refusal of a secure marriage, and attempts to change her answer by redefining what she says. Sir Thomas is an authoritative male, 1 _______________________________ 1 Literary Theory: An Introduction, Terry Eagleton (Blackwell Publishers Ltd, 1996), p114 2 Literature in the Modern World, Dennis Walder (Oxford University Press, 1990), p306 EL2 Essay 2 Angela Bathgate Tutor Julie Marney and represents the male-dominated system that tries to take control of, and organise a womans life for her. Although Fanny represents female resistance by opposing Sir Thomass judgement, Austen conveys the over-powering pressure that she feels as She could say no more; her breath was almost gone1. Fannys weak position is shown through the punctuation and structure of her sentences, as she often begins to protest, but then breaks off at a dash, unable to continue. This contrasts with the clarity of Sir Thomass speech, in which he conveys a tone of certainty and finality, whilst speaking with ease. He is confident, and sure of his thoughts; so sure in fact, that he tries to impose them on Fanny, and will use any kind of pressure or cruelty to force her to comply with his decision that she should marry. Sir Thomas trying to persuade Fanny to marry emphasises the fact that Austens novels operate around the framework of love, marriage and money. Many of the characters believe that there is no future development open to women of their class but marriage and the upbringing of children, making Fanny seem extremely unusual when she turns down Henrys offer. This relates to the Marxist view that dominant visible forms taken by modes of physical and social reproduction through history have been family and kinship structures2, which utilises the gender positions of male power and female subservience. Austen uses words such as career, to reminds us that marriage was a womans livelihood, her career in the sense that it was her lifes work, and that she would grab any marriage that had good financial prospects. 2 _______________________________ 1 Mansfield Park, Jane Austen (Penguin, 1994), p260 2 Criticism and Ideology, Terry Eagleton (Oxford University Press, 1976), p79 EL2 Essay 2 Angela Bathgate Tutor Julie Marney In the society and culture that Austen depicts, the male is regarded as the norm, as the central position from which the female is defined. This reflects structuralisms theory that society and thinking are constructed on models of binary pairs, such as the pairing of man and woman. However, this pairing allows the man to take precedence over the woman, who is seen as inferior to his superiority. Women are defined by men, just as in Mansfield Park when there is pressure on Fanny to meet Sir Thomass expectations of what a woman is, Thus humanity is male and man defines woman not in herself but as relative to him; she is not regarded as an autonomous beingShe is defined and differentiated with reference to men and

Free Essays on Death Of A Salesman Female Roles

Women in today’s society have a variety of roles to perform throughout their lives. To become a complete woman, one must embrace each role as a vital piece of her own individuality. As the expectations of society changed with feminist movement, women recognized these new aged standards. Which in turn combined the roles of women into one conflicted model, each of our main roles contradict one an other, but the fundamental intent of each role has not been altered throughout generations. â€Å"Arthur Miller† has revealed the diversity of women’s roles in â€Å"Death of a Salesman† by individualizing each female role in this playwright. The sympathetic, and tenderhearted behavior of Linda Lawman has placed her in the task of a thoughtful mother figure. Sexual female roles are also dramatized throughout this play, for instance â€Å"The Woman†, who is Willy’s mistress. As well Miss Forsythe and Letta are illustrated as ladies of the evening. Jenny is a secretary, who does not receive respect she is entitled to as a workingwoman. Every one of these roles is essential to women as a whole; being devoid of any of these characteristics would create a perfect woman within expectations of today’s society. Throughout history the fondness of a woman’s attention has been a spirited pursuit for men, women’s sexually has always been used to caress males confidence. The Lowman men use women to boost their egos right through the play. Happy and Biff both believe that intercourse is directly associated to ones own self-confidence, as well that using woman for sex is completely appropriate way to treat women, â€Å"I’ve got to see that old confidence again. Do you want her? She’s on call.† Willy is no more exceptional at the art of courting a woman then his sons are. The most important incentive for the affair is Willy’s personal self-worth; â€Å"The Wom... Free Essays on Death Of A Salesman Female Roles Free Essays on Death Of A Salesman Female Roles Women in today’s society have a variety of roles to perform throughout their lives. To become a complete woman, one must embrace each role as a vital piece of her own individuality. As the expectations of society changed with feminist movement, women recognized these new aged standards. Which in turn combined the roles of women into one conflicted model, each of our main roles contradict one an other, but the fundamental intent of each role has not been altered throughout generations. â€Å"Arthur Miller† has revealed the diversity of women’s roles in â€Å"Death of a Salesman† by individualizing each female role in this playwright. The sympathetic, and tenderhearted behavior of Linda Lawman has placed her in the task of a thoughtful mother figure. Sexual female roles are also dramatized throughout this play, for instance â€Å"The Woman†, who is Willy’s mistress. As well Miss Forsythe and Letta are illustrated as ladies of the evening. Jenny is a secretary, who does not receive respect she is entitled to as a workingwoman. Every one of these roles is essential to women as a whole; being devoid of any of these characteristics would create a perfect woman within expectations of today’s society. Throughout history the fondness of a woman’s attention has been a spirited pursuit for men, women’s sexually has always been used to caress males confidence. The Lowman men use women to boost their egos right through the play. Happy and Biff both believe that intercourse is directly associated to ones own self-confidence, as well that using woman for sex is completely appropriate way to treat women, â€Å"I’ve got to see that old confidence again. Do you want her? She’s on call.† Willy is no more exceptional at the art of courting a woman then his sons are. The most important incentive for the affair is Willy’s personal self-worth; â€Å"The Wom...

American Goverment (2) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

American Goverment (2) - Essay Example This helps in ensuring nationals from whichever corner of the globe help the state as well as the city governments with empowerment of social objectives and financial projects. We also get to learn that all the elected members of the American government together with the media do have a direct influence on the choices of public policies in the country. The approaches used in the public are blueprints being used by administrations. Despite being dependent on the law, they are being set by more than one individual. The setting and motivation that is vested in political gatherings, different government extensions, and political parties have a role in shaping the dynamicity of the American government. Plans are always not static; they are under constant reshape when a new president takes in charge of the office or whenever a party takes the largest congressional share (Goodnow, 27). An approach is received when the congress passes a law. This can occur when there is a signature on an official request from the president or the ruling on an important case by the supreme case. This procedure regarded as genuine fluctuate in most times. The United States seems to be supporting strategies incremental results, setting and motivation. This creates a great instrumentalism that helps in providing a degree of dependability that is extraordinary in the process of developing strategies thus providing quick and vital changes in the social order and economy of the United