The writers presentation of conflict and power between men and women Essay Example for Free

The writers presentation of conflict and king between men and women EssayIn Thomas bald-faceds The Mayor of Casterbridge, Tess of the DUrbervilles and William Shakespe ars effeminate monarch Lear, the writers portray the lives of women and men during their time. cardinal could compete antheral characters are generally gathern to be stronger and powerful than female characters in each of the texts.In King Lear, we are introduced to Lears three young womans, the eldest G whizril, dearest Regan and more opulent Cordelia. In the story, Lear is seen to break natural nightspot by dividing the kingdom into three for each of his daughters. He orders them to say doth cacoethes us most, making Goneril speak first. Our reaction to Gonerils speech is one of strong dislike, which is caused by her desire for power. The blend of power and femininity demonstrated in this speech from the Jacobean society is one of the main contributing factors to our turn down for Goneril. This is a n idea which h experienceds true today. It is interesting that for a male character this trait is non be so offensive. This is due to the gender differences and expectations in society.Similarly in the novel The Mayor of Casterbridge, we clearly see the treatment of women in Victorian society. The novel begins with Henchard auctioning off his wife to the highest bidder at Weydon Fair, Id sell tap this minute if anybody would buy her, showing how in early nineteenth century England country women of this class, were viewed as cypher. They could be disposed of if their owners, namely their husbands or fathers, wished, it has been done elsewhere, illustrating just how common these auctions were. This is similar to King Lear, where Lear has the power to order his daughters to speak.Equally in the novel Tess of the DUrbervilles, bald-faced portrays the way in which men prevail women, presenting their greater control and power in society. Alec, for example, recognises how morally cor rupt he is for seducing Tess for his own brief pleasure. This displays his power oer her and his ability to take advantage of it. In reverse, Tess parents ask her to work in the DUrbervilles and she refuses. When her m an other(prenominal) asks why she replies, Id rather not tell you why, draw indeed, I dont quite know why. This shows us how cognisant Tess is of the differences in gender. She tries to use her power, even though it does not do much good.King Lear is in the form of a play, where speech is a main aspect. notably the daughters speeches to Lear, particularly those of Goneril and Regan, present authority and greed, I am made of that self-mettle proving to Lear, Regan is made of gold or silver, as she begs Lear with her highness love. Proving to Lear she wants money and wealth, Cordelia on the other hand refuses, Nothing, my lord., as well as mocking her sisters explaining how she loves her father no more nor less, presenting Cordelia to be a fair and reasonable characte r.Likewise in The Mayor of Casterbridge, Susan has no control over Henchard and his rash decision making, dropping her eyes again, and saying nothing. The word nothing here is different to King Lear, as the meaning of nothing here means no hope or words to fight back. However in King Lear, the word nothing is used metaphorically as no money or no love.The word nothing is used in another ace in Tess of the DUrbervilles, go steady here I wont walk another inch with you if you say any jokes about him, confirming Tess loyalty towards her father, she proves nothing in another meaning. Tess depicts how she allow exclude herself from the group if they talk bad about her father, presenting female characters in the novel to be faithful and independent.King Lear, as a play, has no direct description of the settings and environment. Although we see the action taking place, we are also guided through the stage directions, Sennet meaning a ceremonial influence as well as one bearing a corone t, presenting a formal mood to the act. We are also aware of the attendants who are involved in this large event. The female roles in this royal occasion are classified as the Kings daughters, giving them a higher status than other women in the time. portly begins the novel in the late summer with the valleys and woods and the sight of several horses. He displays how women receive a connection to nature, she becomes part and mail boat of outdoor nature, that men cannot share as they are more involved with strain than of the systematized religion taught their race at later date. venturesome portrays how men are more linked with a systematised world and the development taking place in the Victorian time.Similarly, Hardy uses natural imagery in Tess of the DUrbervilles, a swallowflew to and fro in quick curves above their heads, presenting a strong symbolic image. Swallows were often the first to land on a carry that had been out to sea for long periods of time, which relates to t he buyer of Henchards wife, Newson who was a sailor. Foreshadowing the future, Hardy relates the swallow to Susan.One of King Lears recurring radixs focuses on sight, where Lear has a lack of insight, as we see how full of changes his age is put forwarding he is likewise old and making bad decisions. Unlike the female characters such as Goneril and Regan where they have strong insight towards Lears actions, he hath ever but slenderly known himself., this shows how generally male characters are have greater power over women heretofore one could argue the female characters have a greater insight to the pot and actions around them, such as Goneril and Regan recognising Lears doom.Similarly in Tess of the DUrbervilles, Tess has a large amount of insight to the world around her, this may by chance be connected to the daughters of Lear. However, Tess misfortunes and fate create tragedys which eventually destroy her insight Why it was that upon this beautiful feminine tissue been tra ced such a coarse pattern as it was doomed to receive. As Tess is raped, Hardy uses the word doomed, where one could suggest it is Tess doom or fate to be raped. The meaning of doom is slightly different to King Lear as we see Tess doom from the blood line whereas we see Lears by a gradual build up.Differently The Mayor of Casterbridge, the word doomed could be located in another sense as one could say Henchard shares the same characteristics to Lear with his rash decision making and again his lack of insight, causing the village and the people who are around him to be doomed. However the female characters such as Susan can see clearer into Henchards injure actions and goes with Newson the sailor, Ill try my chance elsewhere. A justifiable opinion could be Susans luck is far from doom by going with Newson, as one visualises Henchards personality from the beginning of the novel.In King Lear one could argue Lear does not notice his own faults, I am a man more sinned against than s inning presenting Lear to self- gentleness himself as he displays himself to be the victim. However on the other hand Lears favouritism for Cordelia makes Goneril and Regan despise Lear He always loved our sister most showing how Lear could possibly be sinned against by his daughters. This portrays how women who are more opulent have more chances of being liked.Similarly in Tess of the DUrbervilles, Tess was now carried along upon the wings of the hours, without the sense of a will. As Hardy relates back to the theme of time in the novel, Tess has waits passively for the wedding to take place as it is not under her indebtedness anymore. One could say Tess is more sinned against as Hardy uses another theme of fate and free will as a symbolism for Tess life. She uses her free will to choose or determine her own actions however these actions she makes, searchs like fate always brings her down.In comparison Henchard in The Mayor of Casterbridge could possibly be seen as more sinned ag ainst as well as sinning. Henchard had sold his wife displaying him sinning, however on the other hand one could possibly argue how it was not his fault as it was his fate and he cannot change his actions, making him more sinned against. This could create sympathy for Henchard although he has done wrong, where usually the sympathy is for the female characters.In King Lear, Shakespeare uses pathetic fallacy by using a force in Act 3 to conclude Lears insightful decisions. The storm is presented as a microcosm of Lears madness, as he encourages the storm to continue he shouts Blow winds and crack your cheeks. Lear personifies the wind as he asks the elements to destroy him, his unretentive world of man as he sees no importance of man or nature after his death. This shows how the word man is the centre of importance and how the power of the storm is imagined to be originating from Lear, a male character. The fretful elements are metaphors for Goneril and Regan where Lear is contendin g with his family. Kent being disguised gives the knight a ring for Cordelia, being symbolic as the embodiment of a circle is seen with the one bearing a coronet. This could also be seen with Edmund using a dramatic device, holding a garner. This follows a theme of a cyclical story with the letter being passed around as well as the circular imprint from the theme of fate and destiny.Likewise Hardy uses the Ring in The Mayor of Casterbridge to be a Roman amphitheatre, where he invites Susan to meet. Hardy uses this setting as there were ghosts of the past rumoured to be a wife and her husband, where a woman murdered her husband was half-strangled and then burnt of ten thousand spectators. The ghosts of the past were metaphors for Susan and Henchard, who both have the past haunting them. This shows how although the woman was seen to be powerful to be able to murder her own husband, men are still seen to be stronger as she was half-strangled and burnt for what she had done.In contr ast Tess of the DUrbervilles Hardy uses the past and compares it to the present Phases of her childhood lurked in her aspect still., one could argue Hardy uses the past and the present similarly to Shakespeare and Mayor of Casterbridge as the circular shape is used not visually but literally. Hardy describes Tess as an image of femininity As she walked along to-day, for all her bouncing handsome womanliness, you could sometimes see her twelfth year in her cheeks Similar to Lear with Cordelias looks being opulent, Hardy presents his female characters to be feminine and attractive. Hardy uses Tesss appearance to be the only powerful aspect of her, similar to Cordelia in King Lear.The power which is usually seen in male characters could be seen as defeated, as in King Lear, Shakespeare uses hyperbole to make the event seem larger than it is as Lear tragically says to the storm I stand your slave where we see Lear as a weak and poor old man. Ironically Lear says I will say nothing which could suggest Lear thinking of Cordelia as well as chronic this theme of nothing. One could say Lears power has been destroyed from himself sinning and becoming nothing. Lears daughters had more power than Lear from Act 1 however it is seen clearer in Act 3.Similarly the idea of being a slave continues in The Mayor or Casterbridge where His old feeling of supercilious pity for womankind in general was intensified. Henchard is seen to be a tall and strong, male fancy, as he tends to feel more dominant and controlling over women. Since women are physically weaker, he feels a pity for womankind because of their weakness. This could possibly be argued how women were portrayed as slaves as men have the physical and stereotypical power to loom against them.In contrast Tess in Tess of the DUrbervilles could be seen as a slave to her own family, as she goes to work in the DUrberville household to pull in money for her family at home, she ought to make her way with en, if she plays her t rump bank note aright. And if he dont marry her afore he will after.. Tess mother sends Tess away for work, however she realises Alecs love for Tess and hopes for marriage. One could suggest her mother wants her to be married to Alec for the money which could present Tess to be a slave in another meaning. However she includes if she plays her trump card aright., which is ironic for Tess as it seems as if she has no trump card in her pack.In King Lear, Shakespeare relates grown men to compare with babes to shake all covers and business from our age conferring them on younger strengths, while we unburthend crawl toward death. It seems as if Lear is ready to retire, as he adopts the royal we making the event seem important. Shakespeare has displayed Lear as a weak, old man, however he gives another mental image of Lear crawling toward death like a nipper. One could argue old age is similar to being a baby as it leaves you weak and powerless. Goneril and Regans distaste to Lear humil iates him as they say O, sir, you are old showing how they as female characters have greater power and order over Lear.The image of a baby in seen in Tess of the DUrbervilles, however it is used in another sense. Tess baby could be seen as a symbolic feature for Tess bad luck which Tess could not control. The baby could symbolise naturalness like Tess as she has done nothing wrong however she is still punished by society, for an act she could not control. This is ironic as a baby could suggest new beginning, purity and usually visualised with a mother figure.In comparison a baby is presented in The Mayor of Casterbridge, where Elizabeth-Jane is the step daughter of Henchard, as the previous baby died, the little one too the more the merrier The baby could symbolise the past and change, as when she died another baby was born Elizabeth- Jane which could suggest a new beginning. Hardy used Elizabeth-Janes hair colour to foreshadow the future how she was not Henchards legitimate daug hter. As Hardys novels were in the form of serialisation the theme of foreshadowing became present in most of his novels.Differently in King Lear there is no mother figure for Lears daughters. Goneril and Regan are seen to be violent female characters in the play it raises the question would they be more feminine and caring if they had a mother to look out for them? Women are seen to be able to nurture and care for their children whereas one could say Lear caused his own downfall by failing to provide a mother figure. As Lear says Come on, my boy. How dost my boy? Art cold? this is the first time Lear is aware of the suffering of others, and acts like a mother figure to the fool, however it is the wrong time.Similarly the absent role of a mother figure is seen in The Mayor of Casterbridge, as Susan dies Elizabeth- Jane is left with Henchard. Elizabeth Jane begins to like Farfrae as she believes he seemed to feel on the nose as she felt about life, presenting how although she has no mother figure to look out for her, her strong insight helps her to continue her life. As Susan left Henchard a letter explaining how Elizabeth-Jane was not his daughter, it seems as if he disowned her by making her leave his house. The mother figure was seen to have a responsibility which Henchard as a male could not adapt to although Elizabeth-Jane was seen to be a step daughter to him.Differently Hardy uses the mother figure in Tess of the DUrbervilles however she is not present too often. We see her control Tess unlike in King Lear and The Mayor of Casterbridge where there is a father figure with no sense of control. Tess is made to go to the DUrbervilles house by her mother, where one could say Tess misfortunes began. She could represent time as although she is seen to be uneducated she still believes in old superstitions, Between the mother, with her fast- perishing timber of superstitions, folk-lore Mrs Durbeyfield could also represent pre-industrial England with the folk-lo re at that time.Both writers discuss the theme of women, however they are portrayed differently. King Lear focuses on women gaining power and having control over the male characters. The female characters in The Mayor of Casterbridge again have different roles, although this is mainly because the novel is set in the Victorian period where womens roles were to take care of their husbands and children. Lastly Tess of the DUrbervilles displays how male characters have a strong control over women, and how this affects their overall lives.