Diana Dunstan Misogyny

“This early period is sometimes described as having two stages, one concerned with the critique of misogynist stereotype in male literature, the other devoted to the recovery of a lost tradition and to the long labor of historical reconstruction” (Rivkin & Ryan p766). During WWI, some women, afraid of being the target of misogyny, chose to undertake the responsibility of sustaining their families while others decided to work. Diana embodies a character who combines the features of both traditional domestic women and independent female workers. In the novel, Diana is an excellent nurse working in the battlefield. She happens to be a beautiful English girl, with a magnetic charm and easy manner, who has also received a good education. Dunstan

had observed Diana for a few days and described her as: “A girl who can do that without being facetious or making a men feel self-conscious is no ordinary creature” (Davies P77). Although Diana is different from the other women during her time, the traditional concept of gender roles still influenced her perspective on marriage.

For example, Diana persistently asks Dunstan a question: “If we aren’t going to be married, that’s that. But what are you going to do, Dunny?” (Davies P89) Diana is very idealistic about what the future holds for Dunstan and herself. This explores an aspect of Diana’s traditional conceptualization of marriage. However, Dunstan does not care about their future as much as Diana. Dunstan’s action exhibits the ideology of male chauvinism: treating women merely as sexual objects. Moreover, Dunstan also believes that women lacked logic and rationality. Diana is a turbulent character who possesses the traits of a traditional woman and independent female at the same time. Diana personifies the change of the social role of

women.
In the 1950s, women gradually became more involved in some domains that used to be predominantly controlled by men. In the male-female relationship, females stopped being submissive to males. Liesl is a female character who represents women during this period and she demonstrates the change of the role of women. In the novel Liesl is an investor of Paul’s magic company and simultaneously a successful businesswoman who has a keen business awareness to manage her company. It is evident that the awakening of female’s independent consciousness is illustrated in the case of Liesl. According to Ms. Brown’s survey, “Women are oppressed by the patriarchy economical, politically, socially and psychologically” (Brown p189). There is a, since Liesl has a steady economic income to support her life. Compared with previous female characters, Liesl possesses some dominance in man-woman relationships. “Women are best served by the kind of education devised by men for men” (Davies p116). Dunstan holds a fusty perspective towards females until he met with Liesl. At first glance, Dunstan thought Liesl, who wore men’s cloth and had short hair, was the ugliest woman that he had ever seen, even sneakingly judging her in his own mind. It is undeniable that Liesl uses her profound knowledge and exceptional intelligence to alter Dunstan’s fusty perceptions toward women. “In spite of her appearance, and the mistrust of her I felt deep within me, she was a woman who could draw out confidence” (Davies p220). Liesl’s wisdom also teaches Dunstan a lesson about how to view and cast the dark side of his past in a different light. Liesl’s endeavours alters Dunstan’s attitudes toward women, from misogyny to respect. In particular, Dunstan is willing to share his life experiences and thoughts with Liesl. It illustrates the man’s respect for women since men never share their thoughts to someone they consider a no-brained object. The process of Dunstan accepting Liesl demonstrates the rise of women’s social status in the 1950s. In contrast to Dianna and Leola, Liesl showcases a strong personality as she undermines the limitations of the traditional female’s social role.
Denyse is the last female character in Fifth Business and appears in the late 1960s, revealing the increase of women’s social status and females’ sense of independence during the 1960s.

During this time period, women extricated (liberated) themselves from the oppression of male-dominated society. “She had been in the W.R.N.S. during the war and had risen through the ranks to become a lieutenant commander and a very capable one. After the war she had established a small travel agency and made it a big one.”(Davies p238) In contrast to Liesl, Denyse emerges more in the domain of politics and possesses more masculine characteristics. Denyse is recognised to be “a power in the world of women” due to her sense of independence that promotes herself to strive hard on her business and political endeavours. Meanwhile, Denyse also is an ambitious, emulative and successful woman who is willing to sacrifice her female traits to acquire a position on the same level as men in this male-dominated society. “Now he [Boy] became aware that this poor girl had sacrificed so much of her feminine self in order to gain success in the business world, and to advance the cause of women who lacked her clarity of vision and common sense.” (Davies p) Denyse undermines the traditional female’s social role. As a result, this sense of independence attracts Boy’s attention and he falls in love with Denyse. “Boy had always been found of the sexual pleasure women could give him, but I doubt if he ever knew

much about women as people, and certainly a determined and clever women like Denyse was something outside his experience.” (Davies p239）Compared to the relationship between Boy and his first wife Leola, Boy and Denyse’s relationship trends towards gender equality, which illustrates Denyse’s influence and the resulting change of Boy’s perception toward women. Denyse’s endeavours are not only acknowledged by the society but approved by Boy. “Soon he (Boy) discovered that she (Denyse) understood his political ideas better than anybody else, and he aid her compliment typical of himself by assuring everybody that she had a masculine mind.”(Davies p) Denyse’s political background helped her understand Boy’s political ambition and gain Boy’s respect and admiration. Denyse is a typical woman who knows her desires and perseveres to pursue her dreams. The awakening and continued efforts of women striving to improve their lives has led to outstanding achievements for women in political, economic, and social circles.