WordsfromtheWise

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

2005-12-05T13:31:00.000-08:00

This has been wonderful everyone! I really enjoyed all of your comments and this has been fun after all:)
See you later!

To me, fair friend, you can never be old,
For as you were when first your eye I eyed
Such seems your beauty still
~Will Shakespeare

From Thoughtless to Thinker

2005-11-30T13:26:00.000-08:00

Eliza Haywood

Miss Betsy Thoughtless

Haywood engages us in a deeply character driven narrative through which we become better aquainted with the issues of marriage, and the destructive nature of abusive relationships that women often face. Miss Flora is a similar character to Fantomina in that she sports a diguise to obtain the affection of Mr. Trueworth, and like Fantomina has her heart broken in the end. There is immense pressure placed upon Betsy to marry for wealth and social stature, and Betsy shows us through various relationships with the men in her life that women were expected to accept their husband's actions under all circumstances and to not protest. Adultery and abuse reoccur throughout the course of the text, and point to a need for equality to be established between spouses before a marraige can be stable and emotionally satisfying for both individuals. When Betsy finds out that Munden has cheated on her with her brother's mistress, she stands up for herself and as a female reader I find myself saying "finally!" and applauding her bravery. Miss Betsy Thoughtless ends up being very conscious of what is taking place around her, and Eliza Haywood emphasizes the need for not what society sets as virtuous ideals, such as marrying not for love but for monetary gain, but for the personal virtue that Betsy finds within herself in the realization that she too can have a voice. Betsy's trickery and taunting ways when it comes to men are criticized by Haywood in much the same way as Fantomina. Betsy's character evolution from thoughtless tease to thoughtful wife show that she is not thoughtless at all, and is rather a woman who is very aware of her surroundings and is indeed thinking of her own happiness.

Curiousity Killed the Cat

2005-11-26T07:52:00.000-08:00

Fantomina

Eliza Haywood shows us the frustration felt by "proper" women, who had to sacrifice their urges and conduct themselves in an appropriate fashion. Fantomina goes against her expectations and at first dresses up as a whore merely to "gratif[y] an innocent Curiousity". As readers, we identify with Fantomina's character, for desire and passion are inherent human emotions that women in the past, and even in the present day, are expected to control more so than their male counterparts. Fantomina represents the frustration in all of us, the need for attention and love, albeit she goes about it in the wrong way. The feelings that Fantomina finds herself experiencing towards Mr. Beauplaisir are described as unnatural: "Strange and unaccountable were the Whimsies she was possess'd of, — wild and incoherent her Desires". This shows us the depth of her social expectations as a proper woman, for even Fantomina herself is unnacustomed to such desire and is in awe of her own passion. Both Fantomina and Beauplaisir are uncomfortable with the arrangement when he believes her to be a whore, and they are both described as being afraid of the unfamillair and anti-social relationship: "He believ'd her a Mistress, but believ'd her to be one of a superior Rank, and began to imagine the Possession of her would be much more Expensive than at first he had expected". Fantomina is afraid as well, "She fearful, — confus'd, altogether unprepar'd to resist in such Encounters, and rendered more so, by the extreme Liking she had to him”, although not in quite the same way as her beloved. This points to the oddity of the situation in which Fantomina finds herself emmersed in. As the story progresses, Fantomina finds herself acting in much the same way as the players in the playhouse she frequently visits in order to seduce Beausplaisir. She uses diguise to allow herself to become active, but in the end Haywood points to both the risks and benefits of doing so. Fantomina's story is ultimately a tragic one, as Eliza Haywood highlights the consequences that arise when sex roles are transgressed.

Spread the Word!

2005-11-16T18:27:00.000-08:00

Next week my group for Gender Studies 2001 will be holding an information table outside of Chris Doran's presentation about the Montreal Massacre at 7:00pm Thursday, November 24th, where he will be talking about violence towards women. We will be distributing flyers to advertise our weblog, and will have pamphlets and other interesting items and information handy for anyone who is interested in finding out or helping out with an important cause. Hope to see you there!
www.safehavenforthoughts.blogspot.com
Check out the site, its awesome and we are recieving some great feedback so far!

Another "Scribling Woman"

2005-11-15T15:10:00.000-08:00

Francis Burney

A Known Scribler

Through the various literary genres expressed in Burney's text, we see the changes occurring thoughout the literary social sphere during the Eighteenth century. A known "diarist", Burney's accounts of her life as a writer are fascinating, however, we must take into account the pressures she was facing and the way in which her writing was influenced by her societal constraints. One must be suspicious when reading any of the early texts we have read, for each of these works reiterate the same issues that women were faced with throughout history, especially those resulting from gender discrimination. Thus, many females' texts avoid telling the whole truth because they could not speak their minds outside of the constraints that the patriarchy of the literary sphere forced upon them, as Burney's account reveals. Burney tends to write from a very personal perspective, and often about herself. Her life is described as "exatraordinary" in an online biography of Burney (http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/litlinks/fiction/burney.htm), because she survived a mastectomy without being under anesthesia (*ouch*), and searched through the battlefields in France in 1815 to find her husband. Burney is a woman who deifed social expectations and proves that woman stand on equal ground with men, physically, morally and intellectually. An interesting description of Burney in A known Scribler comes from John Wilson Croker of the Quarterley Review in April 1814. He states that "None of our female novelists ever attained so high a reputation as Miss Burney" (310), and in response to her works criticizes her as being overly "self-convicted of being", and what the painters call a "mannerist; that is, she has given over painting from the life, and has employed herself in copying from her own copies" (310). He continues to criticize Burney from a patriarchal position, mocking her attempts at understanding politics: "she did not see, good lady, that this disclaiming note was the most severe satire against her imperial protector..." (312). This is just one of the many examples throughout this text of the unavoidable opposition female writers were up against every time they put a pen to paper.

On the Outside Looking In

2005-11-10T10:04:00.000-08:00

Alexander Pope

The Dunciad
Alexander Pope's deformed body and the fact that he was Catholic in a Protestant England worldplays a huge factor in his views towards women. He speaks of women poets not in terms of their writing, but of their sexuality. Women are not even dignified in terms of their writing under Pope and Swift, instead they are degraded and labelled "scribbling women". Eliza Haywood is described as having "cow-like udders" and "ox-like eyes". It is very hard for a modern woman to read such misogyny without feeling anger towards Pope. However, he is a sympathetic character due to the fact he has been placed in his "outside looking in" position by his society. He reduces women to the same position, when one would think he would be more sympathetic towards women because they are similarly ostracized by society. Emily Beyea's seminar gives us a more balanced sense of Pope, for if you can get past the bitterness of his work you can come to see the wit and personal aspects of his poetry. Pope relies heavily on insults in his poems, but as we have seen before, this is a typical convention in the early literary sphere.

A Woman's Passion

2005-11-02T18:44:00.000-08:00

The Adventures of Rivella

From the very first page of The Adventures of Rivella, Delarivier Manley sets the tone for her narrative when she says, "if she had been a man, she had been without fault" (Manley 47). Manley challenges the traditional sumptions that feminine writing can be equated with being a whore. The narration of the story is ambiguous for we are forced to take Lovemore's account of Rivella's actions as truth. D'Aumont questions Lovemore as to whether or not Rivella has "wit in her conversation as well as her pen?" (Manley 48). Her pen is also described on the first page as being able to "love". Manley satirizes the common way of thinking a woman's external and physical beauty is a determining factor of her inner virtuous character when D'Aumont worries, "I hope there are no hideous vices in her mind, to deform the fair idea you have given me of fine hands and arms, a beautiful neck and breast, pretty feet, and I take it for granted limbs that make up the symmetry of the whole" (Manley 49). Rivella is by no means foolish in her actions. For example, she is "amazed at [Bella's] confidence, which she thought no way suitable to a maid" (Manley 97). Because this text is somewhat autobiographical, it is interesting to examine the way Manley may be using Rivella as a voice through which she can comment on her society from a safer distance than if she were to act in the same fashion as Rivella does. Manley is able to hide behind her fiction, and in the end her male charactes admire Rivella for her strength: "it would have been a fault in her, not to be faulty" (Manley 114). Manley prompts her male readers to feel the same by ending her text with this intriguing line. A woman's passion needs not to be constrained by her male counterparts, but rather let free. This is what is common amongst not only Manley's writing, but all of the women we have studied so far-their passions overflow their texts and this is what makes women such great writers.

Asking a Favour

2005-10-27T08:02:00.000-07:00

www.safehavenforthoughts.blogspot.com
I just want to let you all know about a blog my group has made for our Gender Studies 2001 class called A Safe Haven for Thoughts. I thought maybe you would be interested in checking it out, because we have devoted this weblog to violence towards women. It is a cummulative effort, so each of us will be contributing our own work and reflections to the blog. There will be an online domestic screening quiz posted and links to various organizations that help women to overcome violence in their lives. We are hoping that through advertising this blog our group can make this issue more well known on campus, and recieve feedback from viewers. Please, check out our postings and leave us your views!
Thanks

Learning in a Womanly Fashion

2005-10-27T07:26:00.000-07:00

An Essay to Revive the Antient Education of Gentlewomen

One of the earliest pieces on the education of women during the Seventeenth Century, Bathsua Makin uses examples of various women that preceeded her and how their education served them well in society. This is interestingly applicable to her own person, for she was a tutor to Queen Elizabeth I in the 1640s. Makin acknowledges and refutes the questions that men often have in regards to educating their daughters and identitifes ways that girls can be taught more efficiently than boys. She completely submits to expected scruntiny: "These things and worse then these, are commonly talked of, and verily believed by many, who think themselves wise Men: to contradict these is a bold attempt; where the Attempter must expect to meet with much opposition. Therefore, Ladies, I beg the candid Opinion of your Sex, whose Interest I assert. More especially I implore the Favor of your Royal Highness, a Person most Eminent amongst them, whose Patronage alone will be sufficient Protection". Bathsua recognizes that without such noble patronage her work would have no significance in the literary sphere. Her work ties in well with the female authors we have examined so far, for this essay on learning is an attempt to help women break free from some social stereotypes: "I hope some of these Considerations will at least move some of this abused Sex to set a right value upon themselves, according to the dignity of their Creation, that they might, with an honest pride and magnanimity, scorn to be bowed down and made to stoop to such Follies and Vanities, Trifles and Nothings, so far below them, and unproportionable to their noble Souls, nothing inferior to those of Men, and equally precious to God in Christ, in whom there is neither Male nor Female". Bathsua manages to do so without breaching her own boundaries and even advertises her school in the process: "If any inquire where this Education may be performed, such may be informed, That a School is lately erected for Gentlewomen at Tottenham-high-Cross, within four miles of London, in the Road to Ware, where Mris. Makin is Governess, who was sometimes Tutoress to the Princess Elisabeth". A cunning woman!

The Harlot in Us All

2005-10-20T12:33:00.000-07:00

The Rover
Aphra Behn’s The Rover is a truly amazing play that suggests there is an urgency and need for women to maintian and express their own individual power. Although Helena is destined for the convent and Florinda is supposed to accept an arranged marriage, both of these females exhibit strength and will of character by attending the Carnival and denying their expected roles. Even Angelica, the whore, is depicted as a woman who has her own independence and control, that is, until she falls in love with Willmore and forfeits her heart. As long as a woman can distance herself from the pains of love, it seems, she can reatain the power to control her own destiny. The masculine figure is satirized throughout, especially in regards to Wilmore and Blunt-two "rogues" who strongly foil each other. When Blunt is thrown out by a whore in his underpants, the audience is supposed to note the ridiculousness of his character. It is indeed a welcoming form of revenge. Wilmore, however, is a man ho ultimately thinks with parts other than his brain, but yet is successful in the end in winning over Hellena and gaining her forgiveness. We are not supposed to be satisfied with this conclusion as an audience, for it is obvious that Willmore's 'roverish' character is not likely to change. Hellena is a well-suited match for Willmore, for she embodies what it would mean for a woman to be a "rogue". She often thinks in sexual terms and is not afraid to go after what she wants. Behn has successfully created a highly sexualized play that is undermined with feminist tones: women as possession, violence towards women, the issue of gender stereotypes and most prominently, a woman's often unidentified power.

Angel of the Home

2005-10-12T14:14:00.000-07:00

To One Persuading a Lady to Marriage
Katherine Phillips' poem "To One Persuading a Lady to Marriage" speaks of domesticity in a way that society during her time was unaccustomed to as women were limited to the private sphere. Instead of being inherently domestic, Phillips brings forth the notion that women have the potential to be "public", but are placed into the confines of the home by their husbands. When the narrator states, " She is a public deity; /And were’t not very odd She should dispose herself to be/A petty household god?", she indicates the injustice experienced by the 'angel of the home'. She speaks of woman as the "sun" whom in private must shine and "bid the world adieu" and this evokes a sense of sympathy from the reader. The woman's "beams" are described as being "more large and bright than his", suggesting that a woman can touch the outside world just as much if not more than her man, but because of social constraints, a woman's power is not recognized. This poem takes an outright stab at masculinity and femininity as constructs, and allows Phillips to make a much needed point by breaching her (what was considered) feminine boundaries. As we have seen before in the writings of Rachel Speght, the issue of equality between men and women is progressing with time and resonates throughout this piece for it implies that a woman is better off to live an independent life rather than submit herself to marriage.

Daddy, Adam did it too!

2005-10-04T09:48:00.000-07:00

A Mouzell for Melastomus

In this piece, Rachel Speght tackles a controversial subject that is still an issue within religious groups during modern times. The notion that woman committed the initial sin and had mankind exiled from Eden has led to discrimination against women for centuries. Men had the Book of Genesis to rely on for a perfectly good excuse to condemn women, and blame all of man's suffering on their feminine counterparts. Speght refutes the idea that women are lower than men, noting that God created woman because "man was as an imperfect building before woman was made" and "bringing her unto Adam, [He] united and married them together". She points out that it was not Adam who was decieved, but rather the Woman who was decieved by Satan, evoking a sense of Eve's innocence from her readers. She claims that the offenses of Adam and Eve are "parallel", and suggests that both were in the wrong, not just woman: "for a penalty was inflicted upon him, as well as on the woman". She provides arguements towards each of the negative statments towards women by religious authorities such as Saint Paul and Solomon, not by denying the fact that Eve sinned, but by explaining rationally her naivete and Adam's contribution to the fall as well. Speght pleads the feminine case with an eloquent and persuausive voice, "yet was she not produced from Adam's foot, to be his too low inferior; nor from his head to be his superior, but from his side, near his heart, to be his equal; that where he is Lord, she may be Lady", and once again we see a woman using the "master's tools" to release some of the oppression religion has placed on her gender.

God is our Mother, but We are his Wife...Hmmm

2005-09-21T09:22:00.000-07:00

While reading Julian of Norwich's "God our Mother" I could not help but admire her outlook on our relationship with the Holy Trinity. It is interesting how her beliefs follow a pattern of 3s; she equates the father, son and the holy spirit with nature, mercy and grace, and her definition of God is that of the "motherhood" qualities "natural love, wisdom and Knowledge". She takes a huge step in gendering God in opposition to traditional beliefs-for God has always been known as the "Father" and "He" is the ulitmate authority. However, by dividing God into two halves, a father AND mother, Norwich subtly prompts her readers to question gender roles. God is nurturing, Jesus "[fed] us with himself", etc...and thus Norwich's piece evokes a sense of the feminine being much closer to God than society has placed them. What does not make sense to me during the progression of Norwich's work is when she claims, "In the knitting and joining he is our real, true spouse and we are his loved wife and his fair maiden...", because it appears she is placing God back into the male stereotype. Albeit, yes God loves us devoutly-but does it have to be equated with the love a man has for a woman, and a "fair" one at that? Is she saying this to protect herself, because it does not seem to fit in with the rest of her thoughts.

What to Look for when Reading Elizabeth

2005-09-21T04:31:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Now that the schedule is complete, I just wanted to let everyone know that when you read the works by Elizabeth I, make sure to take notice of her immense faith and her determination. If anyone wants to check out my blog I have dedicated to her, it's at www.eng3621presentation.blogspot.com. (It's not quite finished yet, I'm still going to add my comments regarding the readings, etc...but I'll reveal that insight in my presentation;) I would appreciate any feedback! Thanks!

"I have no desire to make windows into men's souls" -Elizabeth I

One Extreme to Another

2005-09-13T15:34:00.000-07:00

There is a peculiar difference in the presentation of women in "The Wife's Lament" and "Lanval". The speaker in "The Wife's Lament" expresses her grief and isolation in terms of "exile" and describes her former "friendship" with her lover "as if it never were". The tone of the piece is sorrowful, evoking sympathy from the reader for the hardships this woman has been faced with. Feminine and masculine roles are layed out when she declares "a young man must be stern, hard of heart, stand blissful, opposing breast-cares and his sorrow's legions", while she must "sit, summerlong days...weep[ing] [her] exile paths". This woman's soul has been deteriorated, her man "bade" her live a life of oppression and the cruelty of his absence is haunts her continuously.

As a female reader examining this work in the present day, resentment is the first instinct that arises. However, Marie de France's "Lanval" depicts women who exert independence and their physicality and charm elevate them above the men in the story, and my anger softens. The tone is drastically more welcoming than that of "The Wife's Lament", and is even humorous at times. Beauty is a strange type of power that men seem compelled to yield to. For example, when approached by two beautiful maidens Lanval jumps at their request: "The knight went with them, of course; /He forgot all about his horse". His lover issues an ultimatum when she gives, "A warning, an order, a prayer:/ Don't reveal yourself to any man!", indicating an authoritative position on her part. The Queen also knows how to manipulate a man, hurling insults at Lanval: "Women offer you no pleasure--/ With a few well-schooled young men/ You prefer to pass your leisure". Instead of being distraught at the idea of being isolated, Lanval's lover seems to revel in her independence, threatening to cut him loose if he should disobey her. Unlike the woman of "The Wife's Lament", who is torn and alienated from the world, Lanval's lover is "a marvel" and has quite obviously figured out how to use her femininity to obtain what she wants. You go, girl!

One is prompted to ask, how could these two works from the Anglo Saxon/Medieval period appear to be at opposite ends of the continuum when it comes to the position of the female in society?

Introducing...

2005-09-08T11:26:00.000-07:00

Looks like this whole "blogging" thing was not so bad after all! Now that I have figured out how to work with one of these horrific machines I feel as if I have entered into a whole new literary experience that I'm sure will be interesting for all of us. Good luck everyone