Gender Stereotypes In To Kill A Mockingbird, And The Odyssey

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“People share a common nature but are trained in gender roles” (Blake). If a human being is exposed to gender stereotypes, they may become a victim to them. Although Fences, To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Odyssey all take place during different time periods, similar gender roles are prevalent in each text. These ideals impact the plot lines by influencing characters to act like their gender stereotype. To begin, in The Odyssey Odysseus was the the daring hero, while Penelope was the faithful wife at home. Odysseus, when narrating about his time with Calypso, stated: “[she] loved me excessively and cared for me, and she promised to make me immortal and all my days ageless” (7.254-258). Because Odysseus was a male and a hero, it was acceptable …show more content…

When he arrived home, Odysseus taunted at the suitors: “You dogs, you never thought I would anymore come back from the land of Troy … and [you] sought to win my wife while I was alive” (22: 35-41). This quote illustrates how the gender roles in the Odyssey chose who would be able to fend off the suitors, which would be the male head-of-household. Because Penelope was a women, it would be inconceivable for her to be able to remove the suitors herself, according to the beliefs of ancient Greek …show more content…

Scout recalled Jem screaming: “Scout, I'm tellin' you for the last time, shut your trap or go home—I declare to the Lord you're gettin' more like a girl every day” (Lee 24). Of course, after hearing this, Scout was determined to stick what Jem was doing to “prove herself.” This impacted the plot by letting Jem’s crazy schemes occur; perhaps, if Scout had left instead of going along, Jem would have reconsidered his actions. But, since Scout hated to be called a girl, Jem and Scout ended up sneaking into the Radley yard to peer in, which ended in them almost being killed. Thus, gender roles have impacted the plot of To Kill a Mockingbird by encouraging Scout to be tough and provoking the

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