A cultural conviction that prevailed throughout different historic eras was of male supremacy and female inferiority. Societies were ruled by men, and they structured the supposedly perfect roles that women should assume. These roles emphasized the importance of female silence, chastity, and obedience to the patriarchy. Men even rationalized their ideas of an ideal woman through Biblical examples and proverbial descriptions of the good wife (Kelso 3). Men imposed all of these characteristics on women as a strategic method to maintain an unlimited, unopposed power over women (Hall 23). Men wanted to keep women marginalized and mute to inhibit any intimidations or disturbances to the patriarchy. During the sixteenth century, the patriarchy in England constructed their definition of an ideal woman through religion. According to the story of creation, woman (Eve) is produced from man (Adam), consequently leading to her inferiority and submissiveness (Kelso 3). Further validation of women’s inferiority is presented in the story of “The Fall of Man”. In the story, Eve is tricked by Satan into eating the forbidden fruit, and she offered it to Adam, resulting in her being responsible for the sin (Kelso 3). Thus, the incident further asserted women’s fall and subjugation to men. Moreover, the writings of St. Paul were used by the patriarchy to prove the …show more content…
It is a reflection of the status quo of the society during that era. It illustrates the abuse the female characters such as Hero experience by the authority of the male figures. It sheds light on the powerlessness and submission of women to the power and authority of the patriarchal society. The new historic school of criticism assisted in achieving this analysis of the play, for it examines the historical and cultural contexts around the historical era the literary work is published
Baldassare Castiglione wrote about how a woman's sole purpose is to amuse and entertain men (3). Castiglione’s ideas reflect the patronizing attitude towards men that was seen throughout the era. This book is a reliable source because it is aimed at women seeking to become the proper lady as it gives advice on how to achieve that status, while showing historical truth because the author genuinely wants all women to behave in this manner. John Knox attacked women in positions of power by saying that they are cruel, weak, and insulting to God (5). This idea is not an uncommon one as female leaders were continually mocked throughout history.
The corruption women faced in the olden times were the social norm, and men were possibly unaware of any other way to treat women. In today’s times, it is a law that not only women, but everybody must be treated with respect without discrimination or racial injustices. While women face inequality at times, it is not normalized to treat women with disrespect. They are often misinterpreted and underestimated, but in the 1700s, women were expected to do one thing and only one thing: please the men.
This story portrays Eve as an independent and prideful woman, who refused to obey God. By refusing to listen to God, she fought submission. She is recognized as the Devil’s willing agent and symbolized women-as-evil. Most of the accused were women. Not only that, but most women had “rebelled” in some way, either by demanding land, speaking out in church, etcetera.
Women throughout history have contributed greatly to society, such as being a mother, taking care of the house or working in factories. Women have tried and succeeded in some ways to create gender equality. Some women living in Germany in the fifteenth century presented their power through witchcraft. Because of this men felt threatened, as these women did not conform to the feminine norms under a dominant male society. Men retaliated and restored what they believed to be their superior power through religious beliefs and misogynist methods.
The ideal woman of this time period was a pure, feminine, and submissive woman that was always considered inferior to men mentally and physically (Lavender 1). Women thus became the face of religion, and became their job to convert the men of the country back
In the developing western world, women have always been considered the weak link of the society. For centuries they have been treated as less intelligent and less important than men, and therefore, subordinate to men. Since, as a general rule, men are physically stronger than women are, such domination wasn’t hard to achieve. For hundreds of years, this mindset has impacted humanity’s understanding of equality and has left its mark on the way our society functions to this day. For the western world over the past few hundred years, and sadly to this day still having its impact on the general public, white males have been considered the most righteous, intelligent, moral, and thus, supreme to the rest of society.
More than six hundred years later the same issues of inequality and misogyny are still present in our society. The movement to fight against anti-feminism is not new. Thus, it only proves that the discrimination of women is more than centuries old. Written in 1405, The City Of Ladies is an allegorical story in response to the attack of men against women. Christine De Pizan highlights how a women are capable of good and moral character despite to the contrary of what male philosopher claimed to believe.
During this week, we have covered numerous topics, none more prominent than the oppression of women. Everyone had different opinions, allowing me to take into account different views on the issue. In one of the texts we examined, “Oppression”, Marilyn Frye, a philosopher, debates the subjugation of women. She states the cultural customs that causes oppression of women. I do agree with her view that women are oppressed, but I do not agree that it is just women.
A Modern View of Feminist Criticism William Shakespeare 's "Othello” can be analyzed from a feminist perspective. This criticism focuses on relationships between genders, like the patterns of thoughts, behavior, values, enfranchisement, and power in relations between and within sexes. A feminist examination of the play enables us to judge the distinctive social esteems and status of women and proposes that the male-female power connections that become an integral factor in scenes of Othello impact its comprehension. I believe that the critical lens that provides modern society with the most compelling view of literature is Feminist Criticism because it analyzes distrust and disloyalty among relationships, women being treated as possessions
EARLY MODERN EUROPE' NOTION ABOUT WOMEN In order to understand the position of women in Early Modern Europe, firstly we need to understand the society of this period. The society took place in Early Modern Europe was the patriarchy.
The Book of the City of the Ladies begins with three characters; Lady Reason, Lady Rectitude, and Lady Justice. These characters build a scholarly city where women can seek refuge from misogyny. They answer questions from Christine along the way about why men criticize women and exclude them from main parts of society. This book contributes many different ideas that go against the status quo. One important gender role that she disputes is that women are less than men as a whole.
Women of the Medieval Times Women have always had a significant role in history even though they were treated horrible in most cases. During the Medieval Times was really the first time women were allowed to become more than just a house wife. The fight for equality has always been a struggle and even in today’s society is still an ongoing battle. Although women of lower and middle class were treated poorly in the Medieval Times, some powerful women held great responsibility and were looked up too by both men and children; despite being admired, “men were thought to be not only physically stronger but more emotionally stable, more intelligent, and morally less feeble” (Hopkins 5). “The position of women in the Medieval Society was greatly influenced by the views of the Roman Catholic Church” (Heeve).
Different societies view women in different lights. Therefore, a woman’s position is greatly different from one society to the other. The societies in question do not necessarily have to exist at the same time. Even in the same time frame, two societies could exist, where one treat women as equals to men, and another that treats women differently than men, whether better or worse. The societies in question are: Mesopotamia, Greece, China, Rome & Europe, and this essay aims to study different societies’ viewpoints on women, and to compare and contrast them against each other.
For Shakespeare’s plays to contain enduring ideas, it must illustrate concepts that still remain relevant today, in modern society. Shakespeare utilises his tragic play Othello, to make an important social commentary on the common gender stereotypes. During early modern England, Shakespeare had to comply to the strict social expectations where women were viewed as tools, platonic and mellow, and where men were displayed as masculine, powerful, tempered, violent and manipulative. As distinct as this context is to the 21st century, the play exposes how women were victimised by the men who hold primary power in the community in which they compelled women to conform to the ideal world of a perfect wife or confront an appalling destiny for challenging the system. Moreover, Shakespeare utilises the main antagonist, Iago, to portray how men are desperate to achieve what they want and to indirectly fulfil the stereotype of masculinity and power through manipulation.
This paper seeks to offer an intrinsic analysis of the play, illustrating a society that promotes sexism, sexist exploitation and depression. The paper will use the feminist literary theory adopting key concepts: patriarchy, heteronormativity and queer theory in highlighting these instances. The writer used the text, “In the chest of a woman”, as a social commentary to highlight barriers women face in their effort to achieve their desires. As an illustration of the stated theme, Nana Yaa Kyeretwie desired to possess power, however, she being a woman placed her on a disadvantaged side as her younger brother was bestowed with the Ebusa Kingdom.