Women in The Count of Monte Cristo

964 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The portrayal of women in literature

Women in The Count of Monte Cristo possess unique personalities, but intensely similar restrictions. Currently, women in the United States, as well as other countries, are able to have jobs, travel, and participate in many other activities that the ladies Dumas portrays are not allowed to. Feminist analysis of this book reveals the ways of the time and the delicate balance of society’s typical structure. In The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas realistically conveys that when women violate their traditional roles, the balance of life is disrupted. This is evident through descriptions of instances in which females are in the home as well as when they are not. When women are kept in their classical role of mother and caretaker, all is well and their lives are simple. Children relate positively to their mothers in this typical setting; while Dantés was in prison, during a time of distress, he remembered something his mother had done for him. For example, Dumas writes, “He remembered the prayers his mother had taught him and found meanings in them which he had formerly been unaware.” (41). Mothers teach their children to the best of their ability, evidenced in Dantés, as well as when Caderousse says Mercédès is instructing her son, Albert. It is in these moments that a mother’s love, compassion, and necessity are revealed. Lives are calm and enriched as long as women are in their niche. This includes non-maternal nurturing roles, for example, Mercédès attentiveness to Dantés father and Valentine’s special ability to care for Nortier. This loyalty is valued and shown as essential for the stability of life. Though The Count of Monte Cristo depicted women as best suited to the home, they intermittently stepped further out of that r... ... middle of paper ... ...ld not be radical. Women couldn’t step outside of their classic place without causing evils. When the ladies Dumas created broke the balance, there were consequences. This creates a harmful portrayal of women’s capabilities, because though Dumas wasn’t demeaning women, his honest depiction of them only shows females in the inferior light of their times. In The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas expresses that violation of their traditional roles leaves women and those around them in chaos and disruption. Works Cited Dumas, Alexandre. The Count of Monte Cristo. Trans. Lowell Blair. New York: Bantam Dell, 1956. Print. "Feminist Literary Criticism." Feminist Criticism. North Dakota State University, n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014. Transchel, Kate. "The French Revolution and Women's Rights." History 1C- Modern World History. Kate Transchel, 2001. Web. 23 Apr. 2014.

Show More
Related

  • Catalina de Erauso: On Playing Gender Roles

    1469 Words  | 3 Pages

    Men and women were held under drastically different expectations in Spain and the Spanish colonies in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. These set gender roles are effectively demonstrated through the life of Catalina de Erauso, who experienced the entire spectrum through her adventures as a transvestite in this time period. Opportunities and freedom in culture, politics and economy, and religion varied greatly between men and women. Men were capable of living out their lives independently and ambitiously. Women, on the other hand, were taught to be reliant and mild-mannered characters in the background. De Erauso shatters this idea of a woman’s role by fulfilling a life of adventure and power. In doing so, she briefly dispels the obligations of gender roles, if only for herself. Catalina de Erauso was a nun, a lieutenant, and a history-maker.

    Read More

  • Lady Of Guadalupe Character Analysis

    1980 Words  | 4 Pages

    Our lady of Guadalupe is the most venerated and respected by the Catholics. The appearance of the Virgin caused a great commotion in the Catholic Church. Ever since the Virgin's first appearance, Catholics have respected and acquired so much faith to the Virgin. The lady of Guadalupe has so many faithful followers that believe in her without any hesitation because of the miracles that she has made for the people that were once suffering and were miraculously helped by her. Because of the help that she has provided for those who were suffering people never forget her and they celebrate the day of her appearance every year by doing parties in her honor. The Lady of Guadalupe’s appearance certainly changed the belief of Catholics and, I believe

    Read More

  • Toni Morrison's Sula - Sula and Nel as Soulmates

    2111 Words  | 5 Pages

    The greatest influence on a growing girl is her mother, and in some cases, like Sula, her grandmother. In order to fully grasp the connection between Nel and Sula, one must examine who and what their mothers were and what traits and beliefs they handed down to their daughters. Nel's mother, Helene, sought to teach her daughter the ways to be a stereotypical "good woman," a supportive wife and a caring mother. As an example to her daughter, Helene took great pleasure in raising Nel and found in her "more comfort and purpose than she had ever hoped to find" in her life (2105). Helene took pride in motherhood and was proudest when someone complemented on how "obedient and polite" Nel was (2105). Helene's embracing of these qualities, an accommodation to the sta...

    Read More

  • A Comparison of Othello and The Great Gatsby

    865 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout history, women’s place and role in society has changed. Women are often seen as a lower status and have a need to be taken care of by men. There are conflicts with the idealization of women as they are often overlooked and viewed as secondary characters. This idealization is well established in the characters of Desdemona in Othello and Daisy in The Great Gatsby. In F.Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby and Shakespeare‘s play Othello, Desdemona and Daisy are both responsible for their tragedies due to the manipulation and impact of the outsiders, their loss of innocence, and their vulnerability as women.

    Read More

  • The Significance of Art in Chopin's The Awakening

    887 Words  | 2 Pages

    Adèle Ratignolle uses art to beautify her home. Madame Ratignolle represents the ideal mother-woman (Bloom 119). Her chief concerns and interests are for her husband and children. She was society’s model of a woman’s role. Madame Ratignolle’s purpose for playing the pia...

    Read More

  • Analysis Of The Girl With The Golden Eyes

    1371 Words  | 3 Pages

    In this novel, the society is centered around dichotomies; “youth and dotage” (Balzac 67), “the young man who has possessions and the young man that has nothing” and “the young man who thinks and the young man who spends” (87). Any person who falls outside of either box is called a “[child] who learn[s]… too late” or can “never appear in polite society” (87), essentially meaning they are undesirable in a formal society because they cannot follow expectations. The titular character, Paquita, is an “oriental” foreigner, from Havana, domesticated in Paris when she was sold to a wealthy woman who desired her. She fits into no culture entirely, as she is “part Asian houri on her mother’s side, part European through education, and part tropical by birth” (122). She is bisexual, choosing neither men nor women over the other. She is controlling, dressing Henri in women’s clothing (119), but controlled as she is reduced to a possession. However, there are ways in which a person can still be desired even if they are not easily pigeonholed. With her golden eyes and sensuality, Paquita fulfills both of the main pursuits of this society, “gold and pleasure” (68). Consequently, unlike the Marquis and his irrelevance in society, Paquita is highly sought after, thus making her a valuable commodity. Her desirability is not because of who she is as a human, but instead what

    Read More

  • Archetypes In The Counte Of Monte Cristo

    58 Words  | 1 Pages

    They're archetypes hero in The Counte of Monte Cristo, The Odyssey, and Thor. They all have become hero's in different ways. In the Counte of Monte Cristo, Edmond Dantes becomes The Counte of Monte Cristo and takes revenge. In Odysseys, Odyssey tries to take his crown back. In Thor, Thor want to be the God of Thunder,

    Read More

  • The Stranger by Albert Camus

    1166 Words  | 3 Pages

    Meursault’s Maman, when introduced to the reader, has already passed away; however, her past relationships that disclose themselves when Meursault attends the funeral directly contrast her son’s emotional receptivity, or lack thereof. During Maman’s funeral, a woman “in the second row...emitted a little choking sob” (8). The keeper subsequently relieves Meursault of his frustration by explaining to him that “she was devoted to [his] mother” and that they were close friends (8). Along with friendship, Maman also embraces romance during her last few days with her relationship with Thomas Perez at the home, where “[he] and [maman] [are] almost inseparable” and “people [would] tease Perez about having a fiance” (10). Maman’s attempt to form de...

    Read More

  • The Oppression Of Women In Joseph Conrad's Heart Of Darkness

    558 Words  | 2 Pages

    In Joseph Conrad’s 1899 novella Heart of Darkness, women are portrayed as being inferior to men in nearly every way. Two of the story’s main characters, Charlie Marlow and Mr. Kurtz, appear to view women as weak and powerless objects, trapped in a world of fantasy all their own. In this novella, women are treated as merely the trophies of men. Their purpose in society, however, is left uncertain through the entire novella.

    Read More

  • Gender Roles In Don Quixote By Miguel De Cervantes

    1349 Words  | 3 Pages

    During the time of Miguel De Cervantes’ writing of Don Quixote in the early 1600’s, gender roles were much different than they are today. In present time, it is much more common to see fluid gender roles and equality amongst males and females as opposed to the more traditional gender roles of males being dominant over females. The setting of Cervantes’ Don Quixote is after the time of chivalry where men performed honorable deeds to impress the lady of their desires. Being the only male who is practicing knight errantry, which was very popular during the historic period of chivalry, Don Quixote is the only male character who repeatedly demonstrates respect towards female characters as well as the eagerness to assist them in any way he can. Due

    Read More

  • The Role Of Women In Joseph Conrad's Heart Of Darkness

    1278 Words  | 3 Pages

    Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” is the author’s most celebrated work. The book conveys the story of Marlow, who is a sailor on the ship. Marlow narrates the story describing particularly what he came across during his journey and experienced. When we look at the events that take place in the book, it is unquestionable that Women do not occupy a significant portion of the story; the story is predominately male dominated. However, does women’s lack of appearance make them minor characters? Or do women have a minor effect in the story? Having analyzed the book under the scope of “Feminist View”, we can answer these questions and say that women play considerable roles even though they occupy a small portion in the story. In my essay I will

    Read More

  • The Presentation of Women in La Belle Dame Sans Merci and Mariana

    683 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Presentation of Women in La Belle Dame Sans Merci and Mariana Though both poems have the common theme of unrequited love, Keats and Tennyson assign very different characteristics to the women in their poems. In "Mariana", the woman is submissive and a victim of cruelty, whereas La Belle Dame in "La Belle Dame Sans Merci" is the more powerful of the man and woman in the poem, and the one inflicting the cruelty. In both poems, the landscapes mirror these characteristics, and even the feelings of these two women. The landscape is also symbolic of Mariana, as she is mortal and will eventually die as plants die, and seasons change. She is therefore more naturalistic than the mysterious Belle Dame is.

    Read More

  • Summary Of The Feminine Mystique

    1601 Words  | 4 Pages

    Early feminists gained the right to vote, but were silenced when it came to being a homemaker. Women didn't have the drive because what was the point in trying? During the war, women went and got jobs to replace men and enjoyed their newfound careers. After the war, women were told to go back to their homes, but many didn't want to and felt very sad to go back. Powerful pieces of literature were posted during this time and gave women courage. Betty Friedan gave voice to second wave feminists by writing her book “The Feminine Mystique.” She found inspiration throughout her early life and careers. Betty created the National Organization for Women. A place where woman can educate each other on feminism. Betty was a high esteem journalist but

    Read More

  • The Role Of Women In Joseph Conrad's The Heart Of Darkness

    1473 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout The Heart of Darkness Joseph Conrad (personified in the book as Charlie Marlow) conveys his belief that women, in their belief of a better world one that men do not see, are mentally of an unconnected planet of their own. Conrad imparts the reader with the many reasons why women think this way and why men continue to let this be. He also shows the reader what he thinks a woman’s role is and what it should be. By the end Conrad communicates that the blackness of Earth is all around us and to tell these women who do not see the world in this way, would in turn be an even darker act.

    Read More

  • womenhod Depiction of Women in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness Heart Darkness essays

    327 Words  | 1 Pages

    In Joseph Conrad's novella, Heart of Darkness, the representation of women is extremely limited. Conrad's portrayals are extreme stereotypes meant to depict the entire female gender. Through these extreme stereotypes, Conrad is able to illustrate his themes of darkness and brutality.

    Read More

More about Women in The Count of Monte Cristo

Open Document