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!!! modern literature themes + Qs (In modern literature, all characters…
!!! modern literature themes + Qs
In modern literature, all characters are shown to be self serving
FG
NO:
WORK
: With the traditional roles associated with motherhood the women sacrifices her self for others, in order to constantly provide and nurture others
NO:
LONG QUEEN
: She bears the great burden of responsibility that comes with her power; she becomes elevated to a figurehead for womanhood, a motherly figure, that provides guidance
she is the voice for women in the brutal patriarchy of society
SND
Stella's perception of what is morally right, and her behaviour is distorted by her own selfish wants and needs, and is ultimately destructive for those around her, i.e. Blanche
Stella, like the Commander, is seen as indulging in her carnal desires when she describes her
“brutal desire”
towards Stanley... She returns to Stanley after he is violent and beats her, and disregards Blanche’s animalistic depictions of Stanley for the very reason that he provides her with the sexual gratification and relationship she wants...
As the play progresses, it can be seen that Stella maintains this complacency towards Stanley’s behaviour despite the impacts it has on her own sister, Blanche
New Orleans, where the play is set, is especially known for its transgressive attributes such as “the spirit of life”, blurring of barriers and sexual expressionism. In this way, Stella takes advantage of this new pleasure seeking society and acts very selfishly in doing so
Williams is cynical of post-war society itself: Stella and Stanley represent the new society
Blanche has to be self-serving in order to survive
HT
YES: Serena joy disregards moral responsibilities as a woman just to maintain social position, use what power she has and have a somewhat more pleasurable existence in Gilead
prime example being her persuading Offred to get pregnant. She makes it seem as though it is within Offred’s best interests to comply but really it is to enhance her status in society etc.
NO not all characters: Ofglen acts completely seflessly throughout by strengthening the charcter of Offred to be able to resist, kicking the man unconscious in the ‘particicution’ and being a leading figure in the underground resistance
May be seen as intent to help her own position, but the presentation of her risk taken to knock out the ‘rapist’ and her subsequent death shows how she was working towards the bigger cause
YES: Atwood predominantly displays the character of the Commander as a man who perpetuates the corrupt power structure of society, yet breaks the rules in accordance to his desires and needs
In Jezebels, whereby Offred’s narrative recounts “it occurs to me that he is showing me off” we see that perhaps there is an element of sinister selfishness within the character of the Commander
This idea is further supported whereby the Commanders explains that the club is “only for officers…it stimulates trade… you can overhear things too…”, the effect of the listing works to fully emphasise to the reader the extensive benefits for the Commander, and men in general.
In this way Atwood is also able to make a feminist comment on the way in which men utilise patriarchal elements in society to abuse their power
In modern literature, resistance is presented as futile
FG
YES: resistance is important and noble, but futile
LOUD:
by writing a poem of protest from a female perspective Duffy resists the norms that confine women and thus subvert the portrayal of femininity... she reclaims the woman's voice and gives female the passion and power usually associated with men... however, the ending shows that she has no impact ultimately
WHITE WRITING:
Duffy resists the societal norms that take recognition and importance away from gay marriage by exploring it in the poem... the woman in focus explores the inequality and injustice of society which is noble in action, and important on a personal level of feeling liberated from concealment... however, throughout and ultimately, the problem prevails and gay marriage remains hidden
THE DIET:
Duffy presents resistance to social norms and pressures as futile and extremely difficult to escape from. inescapable social pressure, and unrealistic ideals of beauty, which results in an eating disorder/ obsession
MAP WOMAN:
resisting the past is presented as futile, unescapable memories
SND
YES: Blanche trying to resist her past and true identity is ultimately unsuccessful and contributes to the inevitability of her tragic ending
but... NO: it allows her to exist with her own dream-like perception of reality which is an act of
self-preservation
YES: resisting the power of Stanley ultimately worsens Blanche's outcomes and further provokes his brutally animalistic nature in the end
YES: resisting reality is important on a personal level, but on a larger-scale this means she cannot adapt to society and is dangerous...
HT
2) YES: Offred trying to resist the regime has (potentially) very dismal outcomes because ultimately the regime prevails; the ominous ending
in her acts of 'resistance' she actually becomes more complacent and thus tolerant of the atrocities of the regime
BUT... ultimately she does escape Gilead- so perhaps not futile
1) NO: although Offred's resistance is only important on small, personal scale, she still benefitted by being able to maintain a sense of self and having a more bearable experience of life... emotional resistance is important for
self-preservation
and survival
2) YES: all of those which showed defiance towards the regime become profoundly damaged or punished: O’s mother, Moira and Ofglen
resistance is may be futile, but it is noble
3) YES: the Historical Notes epitomise how all female resistance is ultimately futile; despite Offred's efforts to resist the regime and creation of the tapes (an act of defiance), ultimately the patriarchal authority continue to disregard her identity and disempower her acts
she becomes almost insignificant which shows how female resistance may be futile
In modern literature, self definition is a form of prison
In modern literature, gender roles are increasingly blurred
FG
NO:
WORK
: there are still distinctly specific expectations that surround women, constricting them to the traditionally maternal role; despite their progression in their role in contemporary society, femininity is still strongly associated with motherhood
NO:
BEAUTIFUL
: women are still oppressed by the notion that women have a distinct role and purpose in society; to be beautiful and desirable for the male gaze; they are expected to act as passive objects of desire and are still subjected to the brutality of the patriarchy
HT
NO: they are not blurred at all, everyone has a specific function and identity in alignment with their traditional gender roles and biological abilities
gender roles are distinct but they are subverted for the purpose of the regime
tool of oppression for women
YES: Offred blurs the boundaries of her gender role as a Handmaid; although it may be clearly defined by wider society, she breaks certain regulations that means she is more than her purpose as a woman and "two-legged womb"
SND
NO: Stanley is hyper-masculine, embodying the traditional notions of what it is to be a 'man' through his brutality and dominance
he is the demise of the 1950s American man- the rape of Blanche epitomises his need to be a physical and dominant figure of masculinity
perhaps with the changing post-war society, with increased diversity, gender roles may also become blurred as the 'southern belle' remains a concept of the 'old South'
YES: Blanche aspires to maintain the 'Southern Belle' facade but cannot fulfil this
this image oppresses Blanche and her identity
personal identity is often sacrificed to fit in with wider society
suffering