2) What are the power relationships between men and women in the text?
3) How are male and female roles defined?
1984 - "Lust" by Susan Minot
I enjoyed the formatting of the story and the character's evolving perspective on sex as she looks at her history of past lovers. In her experience, the power of the relationship shifted from herself to her male counterpart. In the begging she relished in her femininity and took pride in her sexual exploits but towards the end of the piece her viewpoint drastically changes. She finds those flings empty and superficial and feels used. At the end, " men" appear to have the upper hand as they achieve the "goal" and want nor more from her while she aspires for both a psychological and physical relationship
I enjoyed the formatting of the story and the character's evolving perspective on sex as she looks at her history of past lovers. In her experience, the power of the relationship shifted from herself to her male counterpart. In the begging she relished in her femininity and took pride in her sexual exploits but towards the end of the piece her viewpoint drastically changes. She finds those flings empty and superficial and feels used. At the end, " men" appear to have the upper hand as they achieve the "goal" and want nor more from her while she aspires for both a psychological and physical relationship
1894 " Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin
Considering the time period and the context of the story, women had minimal control of their lives. Their husband was ruler of the house and wife would be submissive to his actions. The protaonist's feeling of joy upon hearing of her husbands "death" and her extreme reaction to his unexpected return suggests her dissatisfaction for marriage.
1966 - "Where are you Going' Where have you been" by Joyce Carol Oates
This was a pretty dark and creepy tale with what I found to be an irritating ending. Men in this world have full control of the women, as the main character of the piece is feels compelled to obey a male predator against her will. Without ever touch her, the antagonist successfully pressures the girl to submissively follow his orders, portraying male dominance. I found the ending annoying as I felt that the girl was incredibly weak willed and cowardly in her mannerism. The author claims that the story was pro-feminism, as the protagonist bravely sacrifice herself to save her family was not properly portrayed. I felt that instead of valiantly sacrificing herself, the protagonist had an unmotivated psychological episode with a sudden loss of dignity, portraying women as mentally fragile and very anti-feminist.
"Girl" by Jamaica Kincaid
This was a nice piece, revealing the never ending restrictions and rules imposed on women by listing them out one by one. It highlights the clear gender bias between males and females, and reveals the strict lives women are forced to lead in order to be "proper."Men have far more freedom in this world than women.
1966 - "Where are you Going' Where have you been" by Joyce Carol Oates
This was a pretty dark and creepy tale with what I found to be an irritating ending. Men in this world have full control of the women, as the main character of the piece is feels compelled to obey a male predator against her will. Without ever touch her, the antagonist successfully pressures the girl to submissively follow his orders, portraying male dominance. I found the ending annoying as I felt that the girl was incredibly weak willed and cowardly in her mannerism. The author claims that the story was pro-feminism, as the protagonist bravely sacrifice herself to save her family was not properly portrayed. I felt that instead of valiantly sacrificing herself, the protagonist had an unmotivated psychological episode with a sudden loss of dignity, portraying women as mentally fragile and very anti-feminist.
"Girl" by Jamaica Kincaid
This was a nice piece, revealing the never ending restrictions and rules imposed on women by listing them out one by one. It highlights the clear gender bias between males and females, and reveals the strict lives women are forced to lead in order to be "proper."Men have far more freedom in this world than women.
