Hi. Welcome to the blog for my IB English B class at Jur Hronec High School in Bratislava, Slovakia. Below you will find links to other websites and discussion questions. My students are required to comment on one of these postings every month and also respond to each other's comments. Feel free to add your two bits, but be aware that all comments are monitored before being posted.
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
The Blithedale Romance and The Bell Jar: Types of feminism
Both novels
have feminism as an important theme.How
does Plath’s (or Esther’s) view of feminism differ from that of Hawthorne (or
Miles)?
Comment from Marek My view of feminism in Blithedale Romance is that it tries to point out that roles in society should be assigned by skill and aptitude and not by sex, according to Fourier and Fuller.
“By and by, perhaps, when our individual adaptations begin to develop themselves, it may be that some of us who wear the petticoat will go afield, and leave the weaker brethren to take our places in the kitchen." - Hawthorne (III. A KNOT OF DREAMERS)
Zenobia realizes that women in general are not suited for strenuous physical work, however, she does not rule out women working in the field if they adapt and become capable or better than men working the field.
On the other hand, Plath does not question the capabilities of women in the modern world as we see a handful of successful women in the book such as Jay Cee, Philomena Guinea and Dr. Nolan. However, both in The Blithedale Romance and The Bell Jar, women’s role in society is to serve men to different extent respectively.
The trouble was, I hated the idea of serving men in any way. I wanted to dictate my own thrilling letters. - Plath (Chapter 7)
"She is the most admirable handiwork of God, in her true place and character. Her place is at man's side. - Hawthorne (XIV. ELIOT'S PULPIT)
The main difference in feminism between the works is that in Blithedale Romance, women are static objects put on a pedestal as a symbol of tenderness and love. They are highly praised and venerated only as housewives and child-bearers.
Plath however, includes women’s struggle as a cause to her “depression of indecisiveness”. Esther has to decide between options that are not necessarily exclusive to each other. Esther couldn’t even imagine a world where she is a poet and a mother. Her career and marriage do not go together. Esther does not know how to write shorthand or cook and does not fit society’s image of a woman. This does not mean that she rejects motherhood completely, rather Plath portrays a market where everyone has the same deal. Security for affection.
"What a man wants is a mate and what a woman wants is infinite security,"- Plath (Chapter 6)
It is only after Esther experiences Buddy making decisions for her that she decides that marriage is not for her.
In both works, being a housewife is a tried and true method for woman’s happiness. Both Zenobia and Esther believe this might be the only way. That is why they tend to gravitate towards men with status. In Blithedale Romance, it is the leader of the pack, manly traits Hollingsworth displays and for Esther, status means intellect or a successful career. The main issue is that men these women meet treat them in condescending or patronizing ways, often dismissing their problems. Zenobia and Esther both grew up without a prominent father figure and that is why they might have had trouble finding understanding men who are not afraid to display affection and tenderness.
I believe Blithedale Romance also touches upon these societal issues also in men. Coverdale seems in a way, intimidated by Hollingsworth. While Zenobia seems to have more in common with Coverdale than Mr. Hollingsworth, she tries to fit society’s image of a woman. Moreover, Coverdale and Hollingsworth both gravitate towards Priscilla maybe only to fit the “breadwinner and protector” stereotype.
Comment from Marek
ReplyDeleteMy view of feminism in Blithedale Romance is that it tries to point out that roles in society should be assigned by skill and aptitude and not by sex, according to Fourier and Fuller.
“By and by, perhaps, when our individual adaptations begin to develop themselves, it may be that some of us who wear the petticoat will go afield, and leave the weaker brethren to take our places in the kitchen." - Hawthorne (III. A KNOT OF DREAMERS)
Zenobia realizes that women in general are not suited for strenuous physical work, however, she does not rule out women working in the field if they adapt and become capable or better than men working the field.
On the other hand, Plath does not question the capabilities of women in the modern world as we see a handful of successful women in the book such as Jay Cee, Philomena Guinea and Dr. Nolan. However, both in The Blithedale Romance and The Bell Jar, women’s role in society is to serve men to different extent respectively.
The trouble was, I hated the idea of serving men in any way. I wanted to dictate my own thrilling letters. - Plath (Chapter 7)
"She is the most admirable handiwork of God, in her true place and character. Her place is at man's side. - Hawthorne (XIV. ELIOT'S PULPIT)
The main difference in feminism between the works is that in Blithedale Romance, women are static objects put on a pedestal as a symbol of tenderness and love. They are highly praised and venerated only as housewives and child-bearers.
Plath however, includes women’s struggle as a cause to her “depression of indecisiveness”. Esther has to decide between options that are not necessarily exclusive to each other. Esther couldn’t even imagine a world where she is a poet and a mother. Her career and marriage do not go together. Esther does not know how to write shorthand or cook and does not fit society’s image of a woman. This does not mean that she rejects motherhood completely, rather Plath portrays a market where everyone has the same deal. Security for affection.
"What a man wants is a mate and what a woman wants is infinite security,"- Plath (Chapter 6)
It is only after Esther experiences Buddy making decisions for her that she decides that marriage is not for her.
In both works, being a housewife is a tried and true method for woman’s happiness. Both Zenobia and Esther believe this might be the only way. That is why they tend to gravitate towards men with status. In Blithedale Romance, it is the leader of the pack, manly traits Hollingsworth displays and for Esther, status means intellect or a successful career. The main issue is that men these women meet treat them in condescending or patronizing ways, often dismissing their problems. Zenobia and Esther both grew up without a prominent father figure and that is why they might have had trouble finding understanding men who are not afraid to display affection and tenderness.
I believe Blithedale Romance also touches upon these societal issues also in men. Coverdale seems in a way, intimidated by Hollingsworth. While Zenobia seems to have more in common with Coverdale than Mr. Hollingsworth, she tries to fit society’s image of a woman. Moreover, Coverdale and Hollingsworth both gravitate towards Priscilla maybe only to fit the “breadwinner and protector” stereotype.