Images of Women in Literature

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Recommended: Sexuality in literature

After reading “Brooklyn” by Paule Marshall and “One Off the Short List” by Doris Lessing, I learned about the different ways in which someone can be viewed as a sex object. The first story “Brooklyn” was about a Jewish professor and an African American student’s interaction. The professor Max Berman was an older white Jewish man who attracted to a graduate student in his class. Ms. Williams is a African American woman who is also a graduate student who is registered in Max Berman’s class. Both of the characters have been alienated from their culture. The story Brooklyn is about a Professor Max Berman being attracted to a Graduate student Ms. Williams. Mr. Berman was a sixty three year old cigarette smoker; it speaks about him smoking them as if he was a chain smoker. It seems as if he was smoking them in class. He had been married twice. He was dismissed by society because he was a communist, he released from his former jobs. He wanted to escape his past situations by investing in a relationship with Ms. Williams. Ms. William was black woman who was taught by her parents not to trust white people. She was also taught to not speak with people who are darker then her. So having a conversation with Mr. Berman caused her to confront her issues. She also was empowered by the opportunity to converse with Mr. Berman because it helped her become a bit more open minded. Mr. Berman was interested in his student Ms. Williams was of because her loneness. He asked her to stay after class so that he can speak to her about the assignment that she turned in. He said “But I found it so interesting I wanted to give it to you privately”. That was his way of breaking the unknown between them two. He also wanted the opportunity to get to know he... ... middle of paper ... ...ted in being with her, he stated his sexual desires with her. Those were his only desires. When he seen that she wasn’t interested he continued with sexual acts. Barbara Cole reacted to Graham Spence attempts to seduce her by showing signs of being bored and not interested. He continued to kiss, lick and grind on her even though she showed no signs of appreciating his presence. They both went their separate ways. In both stories, the women were disgusted with how the men viewed them. Barbara had sex with him to get over it and move on, while Ms. Williams decided not to and told Professor how she felt. When women are viewed as sex objects they then feel as if they prostitutes and dehumanized. Both relationships ended with both counterparts separating. The men in these stories seem to respect the women because they are intelligent. I wonder how Graham wife feels.

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