The Allegory Of The Double Standard - 1531 Words

Introduction The allegory of the Double Standard Gender roles/ role playing Abuse of feminine creative powers The domestic ideal and symbolism of the bell jar The ironic coming of age and rebirth Color symbolism Manipulation between â€Å"personal experience† and variety forms of â€Å"artifice† Introduction Controversy over women s place in society and feminism has long been lurking as early as the 14th century. American poet and novelist Sylvia Plath is the author of collections of highly acclaimed poems that highlight women’s roles in a culture principally dictated by patriarchal views. Although, she is mostly acknowledged for her novel, The Bell Jar, first published in 1963 under the pseudonym Victoria Lucas. The novel takes place in the 1950s, following the migration of American soldiers back to the states after serving in the World War II. Women during this time were expected to be the stereotypical housewife, viewed by men as being part of the American Dream, along with a house and the opportunity to start a family. They were deliberately forced to return to their domestic roles and capitulate the freedom that was so foreign to them before, however was greatly enjoyable. Esther Greenwood’s character gives prominence to the struggles women encounter, on account of Syl via herself. â€Å"She told another friend that she thought of The Bell Jar ‘as an autobiographical apprentice work which I had to write in order to free myself from the past’, according to LoisShow MoreRelatedIn the short stories in ‘The Bloody Chamber’, Carter is excessively interested in violent instincts’. How far do you agree with this view?967 Words   |  4 Pages‘the company of wolves’, it is actually hinting at what it is like for females to go out into the world and immediately be in danger from men and the traps that they lay for them, ‘You are always in danger in the forest’. The forest is perhaps an allegory for society and in a sense women must use the strength that has derived through their female lineage e.g. Mothers, Grandmothers to face obstacles. Angela Carter presents a feminist agenda in which women are presented as controlling their ownRead MoreThe World Of Color, By Theu.s Marshals1784 Words   |  8 Pagesto succeed. The social level in which you are born is the one that you must stay in. Growing up in Brooklyn, I’ve seen these types of things happen a lot: individuals let their environment draw conclusions that ultimately, affects their goals or standards. Descending from Georgetown, Guyana, a Caribbean country in South America, my parents always instilled higher expectations for my brother and I. Being apart of the first generation American in my family, it was expected for us take advantage ofRead More Symbols and Symbolism in Nathaniel Hawthornes The Scarlet Letter1178 Words   |  5 Pagesthe book that does not do double duty as a symbol (Bruckner 5850).   These include Pearl [who according to Larzer Ziff (127) and Charles Feidelson, Jr. (67), is ultimately the scarlet letter - the embodiment of her parents sin that will forever be a reminder], Hester, Dimmesdale, Roger, Mistress Hibbons, the rose, and the red meteor.   Not to mention the already stated scaffold, black glove, and scarlet letter.   Although Nathaniel Hawthorne may not set national standards on literary style or set recordsRead MoreAmbiguity in Language Essay2263 Words   |  10 PagesAmbiguity in Language If everything we know is viewed as a transition from something else, every experience must have a double meaning or for every meaning there must be two aspects. All meaning is only meaningful in reference to, and in distinction from, other meanings; there is no meaning in any stable or absolute sense. Meanings are multiple, changing, and contextual. SIGMUND FREUD Language, being a system of communication,Read MorePi and Plato2865 Words   |  12 Pagesstrive to gain an understanding of. Yet many of those who try to apprehend such knowledge lack the ability to perceive why some things in the world are better off not knowing. The Allegory of the Cave written by Plato and the movie Pi by Darren Aranofsky demonstrate exactly why such goals should not be attainable. In the Allegory of the Cave, Plato expresses the idea of different perception of the real reality and the fear of letting go that perceived reality. The prisoners chained in a cave their wholeRead MoreThe Crusades Essay1643 Words   |  7 Pagesthe papacy and perhaps even reunite the Western and Eastern Churches, the leaders of the Church decided to take up their cross and march into battle with the intent of converting the infidels to their Christian beliefs. Pope Innocent III used an allegory in which many small foxes would spoil the vine thus comparing it to the poisoning o f Christianity which was said to be caused by heresy. Anybody who went against the Church’s doctrine was seen as an enemy of God, and the papal headship truly believedRead MoreWomen and The Church: The Madonna/Whore Complex1629 Words   |  7 Pageswell-known figures like Jesus’ mother Mary, Anna the elderly follower of Jesus, and Deborah the prophetess. The same can be said for men, there are evil and pure men in the Bible. However, men are never held to be less than women or held to the same standard as women. The evil women are highlighted as the women’s race is evil, and the pure women are the exceptions. In the middle of those two areas are the obedient women. Women are expected to fill all of these quotas. The previously mentioned articleRead MoreAnalysis Of The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas1762 Words   |  8 PagesHas it ever happened to you that you go to the theater with friends, and in the middle of the movie someone exclaims, â€Å"That was n ot in the book!†? When a book comes to life on film, the expectations double: not only must film makers satisfy the demands of the author and other people involved in the creative process of the text, but also they have to please an already established fan base that expects for the movie to do justice to its written counterpart. It is definitely a challenge to meet thoseRead MoreFemale Italian Artists of the Baroque Period2154 Words   |  9 Pagesholding down Holofernes using her body weight while the vengeful deed is being done. The maidservant is wearing a bright red dress and has her sleeves rolled up expecting to conduct a very physical task. Holofernes is seen laying on what appears to be a double mattress bed lined with silk sheets as befitting a general of his status. He appears to be partially awake, but too impaired on wine to defend himself fully, and aware of the painful and horrifying situation. Holofernes is clutching the dress at theRead MoreDr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde2521 Words   |  11 PagesHyde, his hairy and villainous double. Let the best man win. We dwell in a world that enjoys a good hero vs villian story. Naturally we would all like The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, a novel whose title has become ironic between the battle between being good and being bad. The idea behind Good vs. Evil provides the novel with its biggest theme. This novel delivers a pretty clear example of split personality. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is viewed as an allegory: a story in which the characters