Analysis Of Feminist Criticism In John Joyce's Ulysses

After centuries of serving as background noise to her husband Ulysses’ odes of sea storms, sirens, and celebrity, the mythological Penelope finally steps into the light in Miriam Waddington’s poem “Ulysses Embroidered” (1992). Functioning as a revisionary text to both the Alfred, Lord Tennyson work “Ulysses” (1833) and The Odyssey itself, “Ulysses Embroidered” quickly strikes its readers as a fiercely feminist re-envisioning of Penelope and her tale. Waddington’s work permits an age-old legend to be told in a bold new way with a female lead, but to what end does the feminist adjustment remark on Tennyson’s work? By both reading against the grain and “constantly [engaging] in

Throughout American Literature, women have been depicted in many different ways. The portrayal of women in American Literature is often influenced by an author's personal experience or a frequent societal stereotype of women and their position. Often times, male authors interpret society’s views of women in a completely different nature than a female author would. While F. Scott Fitzgerald may represent his main female character as a victim in the 1920’s, Zora Neale Hurston portrays hers as a strong, free-spirited, and independent woman only a decade later in the 1930’s.

Does deviating from one’s gender norms inevitably doom one down a spiral of moral corruption? Tim O'Brien, author of “Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong” and Ernest Hemingway, author of “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber”, certainly seem to hold this view, as evident by the fates of the major female characters in their respective works. The deviance of the major female characters in both works appears to corrupt not only themselves, but also pollute their partners, causing them to suffer injury or harm as a result. The degree of injury ranges from negligible, like Fossie’s demotion and broken heart, to fatal, like the bullet that rips through Macomber’s skull. It begs the question, are these stories meant to serve as cautionary tales for their female readers, or possibly for their husbands, so they may recognize gender deviance and stop it in its tracks before their wives transform into Margot Macomber or Mary Anne Bell? This essay will analyze what such characters say about pervading views of women, both in society and in literature.

This article by Donaldson is about the role of women in Fitzgerald's life and how those women influence the characterization of the females in his books. He then went on to say how Fitzgerald himself was reflected in all his characters, male and female. It was then discussed how the characterization influenced the overall theme of the stories. Donaldson creates a very positive attitude giving an overall positive review. He does not criticize Fitzgerald, only analyses his work.

Sexuality has an inherent connection to human nature. Yet, even in regards to something so natural, societies throughout times have imposed expectations and gender roles upon it. Ultimately, these come to oppress women, and confine them within the limits that the world has set for them. However, society is constantly evolving, and within the past 200 years, the role of women has changed. These changes in society can be seen within the intricacies of literature in each era. Specifically, through analyzing The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, one can observe the dynamics of society in regards to the role of women through the lens of the theme of sexuality. In both novels, the confinement and oppression of women can be visibly seen as a result of these gender roles. Yet, from the time The Scarlet Letter was published to the time The Bell Jar was written, the place of women in society ultimately changed as well. Hence when evaluating the gender roles that are derived from sexuality, the difference between the portrayals of women’s oppression in each novel becomes apparent, and shows how the subjugation of women has evolved. The guiding question of this investigation is to what extent does the theme of sexuality reflect the expectations for women in society at the time each novel was written. The essay will explore how the literary elements that form each novel demonstrate each author’s independent vision which questions the

Joyce 's novel demonstrates a city and a society full of contradictions, parochial ideas, and paralysis. The Dublin inhabitants are divided by the river Liffey, into 'North and South ', 'rich and poor classes

American Literature has always been about men and for men. In this essay, we are going to analyze the women’s role in the book, as inferior and weaker gender.

Human beings yearn for better lives, often through escape. The main characters in James Joyce's Dubliners are no exception. Characters such as Eveline in "Eveline" and Little Chandler in "A Little Cloud" have a longing to break free of Dublin's entrapment and pursue their dreams. Nevertheless, these characters never seem to achieve a better state; rather, they are paralyzed and unable to embark on their journey of self-fulfillment. Joyce employs this motif of the empty promise of escape and its subsequent frustration through one's own responsibilities and purely physical acts. Through this, Joyce interconnects the different Dubliners stories to show that escaping life in a place as paralyzing as Dublin is no easy task on the individual.

Firstly, Joyce incorporates multiple figures of speech and elements of design to express a purpose through the events that occur in the story. As mentioned before, this story is written in first person perspective of a boy who lives with his aunt and uncle. The perspective best allows readers to understand what this boy encounters every day and his opinion on certain topics. Furthermore, it also allows readers to perceive the feelings this boy has for a girl. For example, the author mentions the boy playing and says, “The cold air stung us and we played till our bodies glowed. Our shouts echoed in the silent street. The career of our play brought us through the dark muddy lanes behind the houses…” (Joyce, 1). This quote highlights the lively and childish fun the boy has with his friends.

Only Bloom's wife, Molly, offers a different perspective on the fertility issue. In 'Penelope,' Molly condemns the apotheosis of Mr.

     Throughout the story, Joyce portrays many symbols to show the boys transition into becoming an adult. Joyce says, “I sat staring at the clock for some time and, when its ticking began to irritate me, I left the room.” The ticking of the clock symbolized the long and frustrating journey into adulthood; and we see from the fact that it irritated him, shows his desire to become an adult already. Later in the story, Joyce portrays an instance where the boy desires to be a man even though he is not; “From the front window I saw my companions playing below in the street.” It is as if he is an adult, towering over his friends, looking down upon them when in reality they are the same age as he is.

One of the key aspect of modernism was portraying the mundane and average in an honest (and often depressing) light, so it is unlikely Joyce would have made the choice to have a young narrator express himself in such an advanced and unusual way. Throughout the story, the narrator seems to have underlying animosity toward the event that took place. At the beginning of the story, the narrator describes how his evenings were spent, “When we met in the street the houses had grown sombre. The space of sky above us was the colour of ever-changing violet and towards it the lamps of the street lifted their feeble lanterns. The cold air stung us and we played till our bodies glowed” (19). Even when describing fun activities, like playing outside with neighbors, the narrator uses negative language. Typically, a memory about a failed childhood crush would be met with a shrug, but the narrator still has feelings of anger toward this event all these years later. This is because this story illustrates what was likely one of the the first instances of paralysis the narrator encountered in his life. The story has value because of the implications it has on the future of the narrator. The negative tone of the story reflects how the narrator still feels disgust toward this event many years later because it was the first in a

James Joyce’s book of short stories entitled Dubliners examines feminism and the role of women in Irish society. The author is ahead of his time by bringing women to the forefront of his stories and using them to show major roles and flaws in Irish society, specifically in “Eveline” and “The Boarding House”. James Joyce portrays women as victims who are forced to assume a leading and somewhat patriarchal role in their families. He uses them to show the paralysis of his native land Ireland, and the disruption in social order that is caused by the constant cycle of abuse that he finds commonplace in Ireland. Joyce is trying to end the Victorian and archaic view of

    In the chapter entitled Nausicaa, one gets acquainted with Gerty MacDowell.  She leans toward the seductive, sexual side which explicates her ability to entice.  She uses these attributes to seduce Leopold Bloom.  She is described as a, "winsome Irish girl" whose figure was, "slight, and graceful",  thus does not hinder her allure yet adds to it.    This chapter thrusts (no pun intended) into the open.  Bloom recalls his sexual escapades with Molly on Howth Hill, and his interaction with the woman he mistook for a prostitute.

inability to escape their lives. In another of Joyce’s writings, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young