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Women in Thomas Hardy writing
Representation of women in Hardys novels
Women in Thomas Hardy writing
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Return of the Native is a novel written by Thomas Hardy and was published in 1878. It is part of Hardy's Wessex Novel and takes place in Edgon Heath which is an area rife with witchcraft and superstitions. Eustacia Vye, Diggory Venn, and Clym Yeobright are all main characters in Return of the Native. However, they all have different physical appearances and personality traits which causes other characters in the novel to react to them differently.
Eustacia Vye is originally from Budmouth but moves to Edgon Heath to live with her grandfather, Captain Vye. Eustacia is described as beautiful young woman and is compared to a goddess. She has "pagan eyes that are full of nocturnal mysteries" (Hardy 63). Her black hair is compared to Sphinx, and she always gets referred to as the "Queen of Night" (Hardy 39). Eustacia attracts about every boy in Edgon Heath. Charley, a local servant, is willing to give Eustacia his role in the play just to hold her hand for ten minutes. Also, Damon Wildeve and Clym Yeobright are both in love with her. People in Edgon Heath, such as Mrs. Yeobright and Susan Nunsuch did not react to Eustacia very well. For instance, Mrs. Yeobright believes Eustacia is idle and wanton. She does not approve of Clym's and Eustacia's marriage and believes Eustacia is the reason behind Clym's disappointing actions. For instance, when Clym informs Mrs. Yeobright that he wants to stay in Edgon Heath, she says he is wasting his life away. Mrs. Yeobright states that if it had not been for Eustacia, Clym would never "entertained the teaching scheme" (Hardy 178). Susan Nunsuch accuses Eustacia of being a witch. Susan believes Eustacia casted a spell on Johnny and Susan Eustacia with a needle to prevent atrocious spirits upon her son.
Another main character in Hardy's novel Return of the Native is Diggory Venn. Diggory Venn has been in love with Thomasin Yeobright ever since his childhood. However, she rejects Diggory by writting a letter to him claiming she is not in love with him, and Mrs. Yeobright would not approve of him (Hardy 76). Although Diggory gets rejected by Thomasin, he does not stop caring for her. For instance, Diggory assures Thomasin's happiness by talking Damon Wildeve into marrying her. Being heart-brokened, Diggory quits his proffession as a diary farmer and becomes a reddleman, a person who sells red chalk to sheep farmers (Diggory Venn: the Reddleman).
Another fear erected from this novel is the power of seduction over feebleminded women. Evident in a passage from Zofloya, Victoria was swooned even by the sound of his voice, ‘Oh, Flattery, like heavenly dew upon the earth, gratefully dost thou descend upon the ear of woman! Indescribable pleasure dilated the bosom of Victoria, as she listened to the honied accents of the delicate Moor’ (Dacre 156). This villain had a hold over her making it easier to push her towards evil deeds. He promised her security after committing the crimes she wished, ‘…you shall see your desire fulfilled, and I will preserve you from every danger and suspicion’ (Dacre 181). Victoria had wished Berenza dead and Lilla out of the way but required the extra push from Zofloya.
Creator of Le Misanthrope and French playwright Jean-Baptiste Poquelin had written Tartuffe, or the Impostor during the 17th century. Among the classical stories of the Chinese literature entitled Journey to the West, otherwise known as "Monkey" is created by Chinese scholar Wu Cheng'en. The comedy Tartuffe and the Monkey by Wu Cheng’en are stories accentuating on the exploration of the concepts of appearance and reality.
...’s Lanval and Laustic, were subservient to men in three different ways: by being considered temptresses, by needing men’s protection, and by obeying men’s orders. The lady of Laustic conforms to all these types, and the Queen in Lanval as well, with the exception that as the Queen she has some power. Lanval’s lover breaks some of these trends, but we later learn that she is a lady of Avalon, the mythical land where King Arthur is buried and whence he will come again, and therefore it is not surprising that she does not conform to the standard status of women.
The film Dances with Wolves, that was written by Michael Blake and directed by Kevin Costner, helps to shift our perspective of Native Americans from one of stereotypical distaste, to one of support and respect. According to an anonymous critic on www.eFilmcritic.com "This is one of the few westerns that devotes its time to looking at the plight of the American Indians (particularly the Sioux), who were thought by some as even more subhuman than blacks during the 1800's (and even during parts of the 1900's)." It has always been thought that Native Americans of old were savage, non-feeling, unemotional, cold-blooded killers. It is difficult for people to see them as anything else. I have come to the understanding that they are much more that. They are kind, feeling, understanding, loving, loyal, helpful, good people just like us. There is no difference between them and us. The film helps us to think of them as real people that can relate and understand us.
“Film is more than the instrument of a representation; it is also the object of representation. It is not a reflection or a refraction of the ‘real’; instead, it is like a photograph of the mirrored reflection of a painted image.” (Kilpatrick) Although films have found a place in society for about a century, the labels they possess, such as stereotypes which Natives American are recognized for, have their roots from many centuries ago (Kilpatrick). The Searchers, a movie directed by John Ford and starred by John Wayne, tells the story of a veteran of the American Civil War and how after his return home he would go after the maligned Indians who killed his family and kidnapped his younger niece. After struggling for five years to recover his niece back, who is now a young woman, she is rescued by his own hands. Likewise, Dances with Wolves is a Western film directed and starred by Kevin Costner. It is also situated during the American Civil War and tells the story of a soldier named John Dunbar that after a suicide attempt; he involuntarily leads Union troops to a triumph. Then, by his request he is sent to a remote outpost in the Indian frontier “before it’s gone”. There, the contact with the natives is eminent and thus it shows how through those contacts this soldier is transformed into another Indian that belongs with the Sioux to tribe and who is now called Dances With Wolves. While both John Ford and Kevin Costner emphasize a desire to apologize to the indigenous people, they use similar themes such as stereotypes, miscegenation, and the way characters are depicted; conversely, these two movies are different by the way the themes are developed within each film.
Comedies contain blocking figures and in this play it is Egeus. If he was not in the way, Hermia could marry Lysander. Since he is causing problems in his daughters life by trying to make her marry Demetrius, this begins the journey into the woods. Egeus threatened Hermia with death if she were to marry Lysander so she thinks the only way they can be together is to run away.
To further contrast Edgar’s and Nelly’s opinion s of Catherine ways, Edgar sees Catherine as docile, calm, and loving. This side to Catherine can be attributed to when she stays at the Linton’s home. Catherine spends five with the Linton’s and while she is there she does not show her rough rude side in their company. As describe by the narrator, she took care not to act like a young ruffian and worse than a brute; comparing her to Heathcliff (her lover). While on the other hand, Nelly recognizes this calm behavior displays by Catherine as one of double standard; she being deceitful to get her own
Catherine and Heathcliff reveal their fervent devotion and affection for each other when the former is lying on her deathbed, and in those tender, moribund moments earnest and ardent confessions are made that signify their mutual adoration and are harbingers of Heathcliff’s adumbrative vengeance. Heathcliff suffers to see Catherine in such a ghostly state, and weeps at the idea of being without her, crying, ““Would you (Catherine) like to live with your soul in the grave?”” (151) In saying this he demonstrates not only his own pain at her imminent fate, but also their metaphorically entwined lives. He does so by connecting the departure of her soul to his own, claiming that when she dies, so too will he. Additionally, by mere fact that the normally stoic Heathcliff was found in a state of grievance over the unfortunate circumstances is indicative of the gravity and desperation that with her passing he regards. Nelly points out as much by her matter-of-fact remark, “...it seemed Heathcliff could weep on a great occasion like this.” (151) Therefore, Heathcliff’s anguish befo...
While researching the early relations between the American Indians, and the first European settlers, Jane Tompkins found that the way history was recorded seemed to mislead her. In her essay " ' Indians': Textualism, Morality, and the problem of History," Tompkins found that the historians put prejudice facts, and looked down upon Native Americans. Clearly it is seen that even through time, historians are still this way. This dilemma must be illuminated to find out who and why this has happened.
However, the ideal relationships are not immune to experiencing unharmonious periods. Despite this, the ideal couples eventually found harmony which allowed them to experience a joyous ending. Lysander and Hermia have a harmonious relationship in that they display similar desires and mindsets. In the beginning, after declaring their love for one another Lysander and Hermia devise a plan to run away and elope (A Midsummer Night’s Dream 1.1.156-178). Even when they are not of the same mindset Hermia and Lysander find an amicable solution. After becoming lost in the forest, Lysander’s desire is for them to sleep together, Hermia refuses for fear of the disgrace that would be placed upon her if for some reason they did not become married. Even though Lysander is a reluctant he respects her wishes (A Midsummer Night’s Dream 2.1.47-67). On the other hand, the relationship between Oberon and Titania in spite of being plagued by dysfunction comes to a harmonious agreement. At the beginning Titania and Oberon are quarreling over the control of an Indian changeling boy (A Midsummer Night’s Dream 2.1.18-31). While under the influence of an enchantment that Oberon had placed on her Titania relinquishes the control of the changeling boy to Oberon (A Midsummer Night’s Dream 4.1.56-60). After the enchantment is removed from her Titania no longer has feelings of defiance toward Oberon (A Midsummer Night’s
First, Godfrey Cass makes unsound decisions and causes problems for people. Initially, Godfrey secretly marries Molly; he would have been better off if he had married her in the open or had not married her at all. Dunstan uses Godfrey’s marriage to threaten him and says, “‘I might tell the Squire how his handsome son [is] married to a nice young woman, Molly Farren and [is] very unhappy because he [can’t] live with his drunken wife’”(24). Godfrey’s disgraceful marriage was a bad decision. Later, Molly is unhappy about their marriage because Godfrey resides in his fine house while she dwells in a dingy, small room. Molly hated that “her husband would be smiling and smiled upon, hiding her existence in the darkest corner of his heart” (108). Then, many years after Molly succumbs to her drug addiction, Godfrey unwisely decides to try to adopt his daughter Eppie who grew up with Silas. When Godfrey breaks the news to Eppie that he is her father, she “turns quite pale” (171) and replies, “But I can’t leave my father” (170). She is shocked that Godfrey had neglected her all of her life. It would have been nobler of Godfrey to claim Eppie as his own and reveal his marriage, but he was afraid of losing his reputation. Godfrey’s decision to marry Molly and not to claim Eppie creates turmoil in Raveloe.
who he falls in love with and then he returns to his Pride Land to
In the first part of the play Egeus has asked the Duke of Athens, Theseus, to rule in favor of his parental rights to have his daughter Hermia marry the suitor he has chosen, Demetrius, or for her to be punished. Lysander, who is desperately in love with Hermia, pleads with Egeus and Theseus for the maiden’s hand, but Theseus’, who obviously believes that women do not have a choice in the matter of their own marriage, sides with Egeus, and tells Hermia she must either consent to marrying Demetrius, be killed, or enter a nunnery. In order to escape from the tragic dilemma facing Hermia, Lysander devises a plan for him and his love to meet the next evening and run-off to Lysander’s aunt’s home and be wed, and Hermia agrees to the plan. It is at this point in the story that the plot becomes intriguing, as the reader becomes somewhat emotionally “attached’’ to the young lovers and sympathetic of their plight. However, when the couple enters the forest, en route to Lysander’s aunt’s, it is other mischievous characters that take the story into a whole new realm of humorous entertainment...
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,” a phrase that everyone has heard of at one point in his or her life. Walk by a cashier aisle in a supermarket and a there will be magazines shouting “How to lose 30 pounds in one month!” “Buff up with this weird new workout routine!”. “Fashion that’ll slim you down!” and the like. Is the concept of beauty and ugly really homogeneous, or does it vary? Is it just weight that’s considered? Exploring different ethnic groups prove that what one person thinks is beautiful may or may not be the same as the next person. (The article will mainly be focused on the women though, since their “worth” is judged more on their appearances than men. It will also be rather general on each ethnicity.)
For a lot of people physical appearance is an intricate part of a person’s sense of identity and a connection to their roots or even their personal religion. Appearance can also play a big role in the workplace. We will take a look into how companies can regulate appearance through dress codes, height/weight restrictions, and hair based on what is deemed “appropriate” and can this be successfully done without discriminating.