The Marquise Of O

In Kleist’s novella The Marquise of O, the narrative depicts the account of the Marquise of O’s, a young Italian window and a “lady of unblemished reputation”(Kleist 68), sudden impregnation and her subsequent attempts to solve the question of the paternity of her child. Through the contrasting interactions between the characters from the Marquise’s estrangement with her family to her eventual reconciliation, Kleist utilizes the search for her unborn child’s father to provide a social commentary on how tensions of uncertainty complicate the search for truth and identity within established gender relationships and traditional social constructs.

Women were always classified based on their relation to a male: wife, daughter, mother, etc. Secondly, women were basically under the control of their male counterparts because of the assumption that they were not of sound mind to make important decisions. The article alludes to these facts that not only were there gender role distinctions, but also class distinctions. Whether it be that you were an office holding general or a woman adorned in gold, the rich were on top of society. Their apparel and positions only confirmed their status. The Oppian law proved to be taking away what made the rich the elite. When these women could not wear jewelry or ride in carriages, they were seemingly on the same level as the lower classes, and in turn their male counterparts were by means of association on that lower level too. Gender

In the sixteenth century the role of women in society was very limited. Women were generally stereotyped as housewives and mothers. They were to be married, living their life providing for her husband and children. The patriarchal values of the Elizabethan times regarded women as the weaker sex.’ Men were considered the dominant gender and were treated with the utmost respect by females. Women were mainly restricted within the confines of their homes and were not allowed to go school or to university, but they could be educated at home by private tutors. Men were said to be the ones to provide for their families financially. Women were often seen as not intelligent. Property could not be titled in the name of a female within the family. Legally everything the female had belonged to her husband. Poor and middle class wives were kept very busy but rich women were not idle either. In a big house they had to organize and supervise the servants.

As the perception of women changes constantly, society is the only factor in creating their ideal image. These societal views are the basis of their treatment, with the expectation that it is beneficial for them. However, societal expectations of women in the Elizabethan and Victorian eras severely limit their freedoms and rights. William Shakespeare’s Othello and Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein portray most women in their typical roles. Both authors depict the level of injustice in society’s treatment of women through the passivity of women causing their deaths, the silencing of vulnerable women and the portrayal of women as more humane than men.

What was the predominant image of women and women’s place in medieval society? Actual historical events, such as the scandal and subsequent litigation revolving around Anna Buschler which Steven Ozment detail’s in the Burgermeisters Daughter, suggests something off a compromise between these two literary extremes. It is easy to say that life in the sixteenth century was surely no utopia for women but at least they had some rights.

Patriarchal culture has dominated society throughout history. Males have control in many aspects of life and women have continued to fight for equal rights in society. There are many ways women have contributed to the fight for equality; some more physical and other less abrasive. Education and Literature gave the voice to a few women in a male-centered world. Poet Lady Mary Wroth captures the injustices experienced by women in the feminine narrative of Sonnet 9 from her collection of sonnets, songs, and lyrics entitled 'Pamphilia to Amphilantus. In this poem, Wroth explores the thoughts of elite women in the 1700s and uses aspects of her own cultural and historic circumstance to convey the theme of a religious patriarchal society.

Gender inequality will always affect the portrayal of women in society, the weaker, unnecessary, and other sex. It is not just a subject of the past, and still holds a name in society. However in the olden eras, the way women were treated and looked at was in a much harsher condition. In Shakespeare’s Othello and Shelley’s Frankenstein, women’s roles in the books are solely based on the way they are treated in their time period. The portrayal of women in these books demonstrate that they can never be in the same standing as men and therefore will never have the same respect as them. In both Othello and Frankenstein women are treated as property, used to better men’s social standards, and lack a voice, which demonstrates that in

Throughout Western thought to 1600, women are portrayed as second-class citizens, their roles in society were inferior to those of the dominant groups in society. Women during this time filled traditional roles of caretaking, birthing and manual labor. They were tools used in society in the form of property or as a source for bearing children, preferably boys. Women were compared to other luxurious items such as gold, and horses and often praised for their beauty. Although many texts portray women in these subordinate roles, some were referred by name but often times not. Overall women weren’t given access to many positions or resources in society due to the way they were perceived by those dominant in society.

Many would believe such statement to be true, “we live in a men’s world”. This is a similar occurrence in the story of Laura Secord. Mrs. Secord lived at a time were men are the dominate species and they were consider to be “breadwinners” whereas females were expected to be the caregivers. Sarah Anne Curzon is the author of “The Heroine of 1812”, that beautifully relates the bravery of Mrs. Secord and the obstacles she faces as a female living in the 1800`s. This paper will illustrate the prejudice against females in the 1800`s and the discrimination females face in today`s society.

Men had far more power than women and took advantage by making them do everything from cooking, to cleaning, taking care of the children, and much more. This demonstrates the struggles women faced during this time period due to men acting more superior than women. Leonce “looks at his wife like a valuable piece, with suffered damages” (p33). He only holds on to Edna because he views her more like a possession than caring about her true self. Leonce uses Edna to make himself look better, rather than helping her with the damages she faced with. Woman require “psychologist to deal with” (p220). To men, women received impossible to deal with and for someone to understand them they need a medical professional. Men think they come off much more superior than women. In the role of society, “Mrs. Pontellier, not a mother-woman” (p43). A mother-woman someone who constantly there for others in time of need, they only worship their husbands and the holy spirit. But Mrs. Pontellier does not fit this role in society; She refuses to occupy the role and rather put herself above her family. She fights back towards the rights that women supposedly supposed to do. She does not appreciate only to do a couple things when she could do so much

The treatment of women and their response to it impacts culture all throughout history. It is easy to focus on the mistreatment that has fallen onto women globally: abusive relationships, lack of access to education and jobs, lack of respect shown and responsibility outside of child-bearing and rearing given and the psychological effects such treatment can cause. However, it is uplifting to focus on examples of women who are able to overcome and rise above such trials through persistence, thick skin, confidence, hard work and education. Literature is always a reflection of the time period and societal views at that time. Therefore, we can see a glimpse of the time period’s view of women when we read certain works and see their view of women.

Society’s influence of male domination over women's bodies, minds and economy force women to adhere to a male view. Women during this time period were directed to become exceptional housewives and mothers instead of reaching for specific careers or financial independency. Instead, society encouraged women into becoming domestic, obedient housewives who were discouraged to go against their husbands, brothers or any male. Women were to obey men and their requests, or suffer the consequences of isolation or ostracized by other

Many stories back then consisted of women being dominated over their husbands just because they are female and are considered the ones responsible to maintain the housework. The men who were considered dominant in this era, had the ability to control everything in terms of what the woman could and could not do. Along with that, it was expected that women were to be submissive to their husbands, or male figures in charge of their lives at the time. But in these three different stories, the outcomes of the woman all result in a significant impact to their lives in rather negative ways. In A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner, The Story of an Hour, and Desiree’s Baby both by Kate Chopin, the reader experiences the reinforced and subvert gender norms present in the women with male figures who are dominant and have control over their lives.

In fairytales, royal women are typically regarded as delicate, sophisticated creatures, controlled by the kingdoms to which they belong. However, it is the strength within these women that is far more admirable than their outer appearance could ever be. This is why looking at royalty as perfection—a gift of beauty, wealth, and dignity—creates a widely known myth that hides the unattractive truth behind the royal life. Although you should always seek to look beyond the surface, “The Princess in the Suit of Leather” shows that upon deeper inspection you ultimately get hit with the harsh reality of conservative gender roles.

8th century gender politics in Mary Wollstonecraft’s Maria, or The Wrongs of Woman Maria; Or, The Wrongs of Woman is the last and unfinished novel by the British feminist writer Mary Wollstonecraft, published posthumously in 1798. Wollstonecraft, alongside her husband, the philosopher William Godwin, can be considered Jacobin writers due to the nature of their revolutionary and radical ideas included in their production. Maria is related to the other Wollstonecraft’s feminist works and it is assumed to be a sequel of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, on feminist philosophy and didactic aim published in 1792. On those novels, Wollstonecraft vindicates the disadvantaged position women occupied in the 18th century and exposes gender inequality.