There is no denying that the recent texts we have been assigned to read for class have been anything short of entertaining. Each story could be transformed into a modern daytime soap opera. Every story is so over-the-top and dramatic it is almost annoying. However, coming from a girl’s perspective, I have a slight suspicion that some of us still have similar feelings towards heartache.
I am not suggesting that women today behave in such extreme ways. We aren’t (for the most part at least) ripping off our clothes and mangling our flesh like Mary-Ann Mooney in “Innocence Betrayed”. Over the years we have learned to keep most of our “crazy” hidden; not only to keep up our own reputations, but to avoid scaring other people. While reading “Innocence Betrayed” on the outside we all laugh at this pathetic girl who is driven to the brink of insanity over some slime-ball guy who charmed his way into sleeping with her. However on the inside, at least for me, I completely sympathize with Mary-Ann. Even today I hear similar stories of these types of men manipulating wholesome girls into doing things that typically go against their morals. The times might have changed, but a sad story is still a sad story.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Pick me, Choose me, Love me!
The emergence of the romantic novel in print culture at this time is caused by gradual revolt from the traditional patriarchal structure of society. By illustrating what love and romance can be like, readers are beginning to ask why they cannot have those wonderful feelings for themselves. Women are beginning to stand up to society and resist arranged marriages in hopes of finding a true love like they read about in novels.
It is surprising to me that women have any desire to search for love. In almost every single text we have read the female characters falls into a depression if not death after being mistreated by a man who they thought was in love with them. Personally, the texts scare me into wanting arranged marriages again! I admit that allowing my father to choose a husband for me would certainly take a lot of pressure off of me, but is it worth loosing the opportunity to find a soul mate? The truth is heartbreak is not the end of the world, even though it surely feels like it at times. But these texts don’t give the other side of the story. We never see the women learning from her mistakes and finding a new love that was better than the previous man. We see the heartbreak as the absolute end. By showing a more positive side to the end of relationships, perhaps women today would feel more confident in perusing the next.
It is surprising to me that women have any desire to search for love. In almost every single text we have read the female characters falls into a depression if not death after being mistreated by a man who they thought was in love with them. Personally, the texts scare me into wanting arranged marriages again! I admit that allowing my father to choose a husband for me would certainly take a lot of pressure off of me, but is it worth loosing the opportunity to find a soul mate? The truth is heartbreak is not the end of the world, even though it surely feels like it at times. But these texts don’t give the other side of the story. We never see the women learning from her mistakes and finding a new love that was better than the previous man. We see the heartbreak as the absolute end. By showing a more positive side to the end of relationships, perhaps women today would feel more confident in perusing the next.
Monday, October 13, 2008
The Modern Day Rake
When I first began thinking about a modern day “rake” the movie Cruel Intentions came to mind. In the film, the lead male character, Sebastian, makes a game of tricking girls into losing their virginity. Sebastian is a wealthy socialite from the upper eastside who has always had everything he wants: the trendiest clothes, the newest car, and all the girls. The plot of the movie surrounds a bet Sebastian has made with his equally manipulative stepsister, Kathryn. The bet consists of taking the new girl in towns’ virginity before the summer is up. Sebastian does everything he can to persuade her to let go of her virtue, and to a certain extent, succeeds.
Sebastian, the “rake” seemed similar to Florio in “On Seduction”. In both cases, the male character was attracted by the female innocence and set out to conquer her. In the earlier text, Belinda’s “artless simplicity made the conquest easy to this skillful deceiver”. In Cruel Intentions, the innocent female seemed to have a stronger personality and was more certain of her morals, making it difficult for Sebastian to use his wit and manipulative charm to win the bet.
Being a native of Dallas, when thinking of modern day rakes in my life the yuppies in uptown are the first thing I think of. These men are always attempting to impress girls by flaunting their cars, clothes, and cash. It seems pretty pathetic to me. They do everything they can to flatter a girl in hopes that they will get the girl to come home with them at the end of the night. These men seemed similar to the rakes descried in “Melancholy Tale of Seduction”. In this text they are described as not “having the merit of a coward, for he attempts the life of his enemy; nor had you the tenderness of a brave man, for he weeps over the wound he has made.” This description of a self-centered man can certainly relate to not only the men of the past, but men today as well.
Sebastian, the “rake” seemed similar to Florio in “On Seduction”. In both cases, the male character was attracted by the female innocence and set out to conquer her. In the earlier text, Belinda’s “artless simplicity made the conquest easy to this skillful deceiver”. In Cruel Intentions, the innocent female seemed to have a stronger personality and was more certain of her morals, making it difficult for Sebastian to use his wit and manipulative charm to win the bet.
Being a native of Dallas, when thinking of modern day rakes in my life the yuppies in uptown are the first thing I think of. These men are always attempting to impress girls by flaunting their cars, clothes, and cash. It seems pretty pathetic to me. They do everything they can to flatter a girl in hopes that they will get the girl to come home with them at the end of the night. These men seemed similar to the rakes descried in “Melancholy Tale of Seduction”. In this text they are described as not “having the merit of a coward, for he attempts the life of his enemy; nor had you the tenderness of a brave man, for he weeps over the wound he has made.” This description of a self-centered man can certainly relate to not only the men of the past, but men today as well.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Lessons for the Ladies
In recent texts, we have been introduced to the male’s definition of how a woman should act and be educated. It is obvious that men have strong opinions regarding how a woman should behave; unfortunately they obviously do not have the female population’s best interests in mind.
In “An Address to the Ladies” written by Alphonzo, the author attempts to convince the female reader that he is giving her advice, as a friend, when in reality he is suppressing the entire population. Alphonzo states that the kitchen is where women belong while academics belong to men. He goes on to say that men will find it unattractive if a woman tries to invade their “department”.
Throughout the text Alphonzo describes the perfect woman as one who is quite, mild, and sentimental and encourages women to act accordingly. He believes education is unnecessary as long as they can present themselves in a respectable way. Learning arithmetic is completely unnecessary because it will never be useful to them.
After reading these texts I have been inspired to continue working hard and furthering my education. When a person says I can’t do something, it only encourages me to do more!
In “An Address to the Ladies” written by Alphonzo, the author attempts to convince the female reader that he is giving her advice, as a friend, when in reality he is suppressing the entire population. Alphonzo states that the kitchen is where women belong while academics belong to men. He goes on to say that men will find it unattractive if a woman tries to invade their “department”.
Throughout the text Alphonzo describes the perfect woman as one who is quite, mild, and sentimental and encourages women to act accordingly. He believes education is unnecessary as long as they can present themselves in a respectable way. Learning arithmetic is completely unnecessary because it will never be useful to them.
After reading these texts I have been inspired to continue working hard and furthering my education. When a person says I can’t do something, it only encourages me to do more!
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