Term Paper on "Conceptualization of Operation in Literary Works: Gender"

Term Paper 8 pages (2442 words) Sources: 0

[EXCERPT] . . . .

conceptualization of operation in literary works: Gender and social class stratification according to Voltaire, Jane Austen, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Henrik Ibsen, Zora Neale Hurston, Chinua Achebe and Franz Kafka

In literature, the depiction of oppression is a dominant theme commonly used by writers, primarily because of the truth that it presents about the nature of human society. Despite the similarities in depicting oppression in human society, it is however remarkable that there are also various ways in which oppression is illustrated in literary works. Given a specific period in history, literary writers create their own conceptualization of oppression. As reflected in the analyses of the following works of literature, oppression is commonly associated with socio-economic class and gender stratifications.

This paper analyzes the theme of oppression, specifically gender and social class oppression, in the context of seven (7) literary works, enumerated as follows: "Candide" by Voltaire, "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen, "Notes from the underground" by Fyodor Dostoevsky, "A doll's house" by Henrik Ibsen, "Their eyes are watching god" by Zora Neale Hurston, "Things fall apart" by Chinua Achebe, and "The metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka.

The analysis and discussion about these literary works center on how gender and social class are presented by each author. Ultimately, this paper posits that there is a universality of experienced reality among the writers/authors, as they focus on almost the same preoccupation with inequalities in human society, especially those concerning socio-economic class and gender differences. The texts that follow discuss the said thesis, with references to specific passages from each literary work cited.

In "Candide," Voltaire portrays a different view of oppression -- that is, from the perspective of a member of the elite class, the protagonist Candide. In the story, the writer argues that the high stature of Candide and people close tom have made them vulnerable to oppression, especially in a time where rational thought and intellectual development is not a common characteristic of the individual in society. The increased vulnerability of the elite class to suffering is marked by the increased hostility by society about the extravagant ways of the rich people. Despite the material difference between the rich and the poor, "Candide" ultimately reflects how intellectual development among the elite created a specific kind of divide wherein the lower classes felt oppressed. In order to counter this 'perceived' oppression, the lower class has responded by oppressing the elite class instead, taking advantage of conflict and wars to subject them to disunity and let them become peasants or slaves.

This reality is reflected in Voltaire's literary work, wherein Candide realize the challenges that life present to rational individuals in a dominantly theistic society. In Chapter 3, wherein he wanders around the camp of a Bulgarian army, Candide experiences hostility among the people in the community because of his non-traditional views about religion and spirituality, leading the people to call him an "anti-Christ." In the book, Candide exclaims to these accusations as follows: "Candide, penetrated with so much goodness, threw himself at his feet, crying, 'Now I am convinced that my Master Pangloss told me truth when he said that everything was for the best in this world; for I am infinitely more affected with you extraordinary generosity than with the inhumanity of that gentleman in the black cloak..." This passage illustrates Candide's realization that people religion are the ones who are most capable of bringing discord and inhumane acts and behavior towards other people in society. His experience of oppression in this incident allowed him to take a more experienced and wiser view of human society in general. Through Candide's character, Voltaire succeeds in illustrating how the socio-political state of Western society in Candide's time influenced the formation of oppression against rationalism and people who subsist to this philosophical thought.

Similar depictions of oppression against intellectual development are reflected in the work of Fyodor Dostoevsky, "Notes from the underground." Through the character of the Underground Man, Dostoevsky expressed his own interpretations of intellectual development by seeking and realizing one's true self, a process associated mostly with the belief in individualism. There is a clear distinction between romanticism and realism, as well as individualism vs. conformity. In these sets of dichotomies, the Underground Man is considered realistic and individualistic; these characteristics led to his eventual marginalization within his own society. His isolation and inability to create and foster lasting human relationships made him feel oppressed, another unique form of oppression under the more general theme of stratification based on socio-economic class.

The important points discussed above are demonstrated in Dostoevsky's novel, effectively conveyed through the Underground Man's narrative. In Part 2 of the novel, the writer provides an illustration of the Underground Man's experience of oppression by his society, a form of 'mild protest' against his attempt to appear intellectual and individualist at the same time. In the novel, the Underground Man states,

My schoolfellows met me with spiteful and merciless jibes because I was not like any of them. But I could not endure their taunts; I could not give in to them with the ignoble readiness with which they gave in to one another. I hated them from the first, and shut myself away from everyone in timid, wounded and disproportionate pride. Their coarseness revolted me... They understood nothing, they had no idea of real life, and I swear that that was what made me most indignant with them. On the contrary, the most obvious, striking reality they accepted with fantastic stupidity and even at that time were accustomed to respect success. Everything that was just, but oppressed and looked down upon, they laughed at heartlessly and shamefully. They took rank for intelligence; even at sixteen they were already talking about a snug berth. Of course, a great deal of it was due to their stupidity

From the passage above, the Underground Man expresses similar hostility against his oppressors. However, at the end of the novel, the readers realize that his attempt to suppress this oppression goes futile as his society has managed to isolate and alienate him from the rest of them, prompting him to go 'underground,' a reference to his concealed identity and adopted character of the Underground Man.

Oppression due to one's pursuit for self-discovery and -realization is the main theme projected in the short story "The metamorphosis" by Franz Kafka. Like Dostoevsky's novel, wherein the Underground Man's individualist nature has isolated him from his society, the symbolic process of Gregor Samsa's pursuit for individualism by metamorphosing from human to animal form has resulted to his isolation and eventual oppression by his own family.

Gregor's metamorphosis to being an animal creature is crucial in his attempt to fully realize his potential as an individual and determine his self-worth without the influence of his family. As he witnessed upon the accomplishment of his metamorphosis, his family valued Gregor for mainly for the help he gives them financially; without this important factor, he ceases to be an important member of the family. And just like his sudden death two months after his metamorphosis, Gregor has continually felt isolated and oppressed, hindered by his inability to communicate with his family and become mobile to move around and outside the house whenever he liked. As Kafka narrates in the story, it was only after Gregor's death that the family has developed unity and harmony among each other, illustrating that he is an unwanted individual vital only for the family's financial survival, which led to his alienation and eventually, disintegration from the Samsa family. His death marked the pivotal point wherein his family have become stronger, and in fact, liberated from the fact that Gregor was there to become a burden for them. The author depicts this sudden 'liberation' of the Samsa family from Gregor's father's exclamation that "...now we can thank God" after being informed that his son was dead. This shows that Gregor's pursuit for individualism is met with antagonism by his family, leading to his further isolation and eventual death, and manifested by the unity his family shows to each other upon his death.

Apart from social class stratification, oppression based on gender stratification is another most widely discussed theme in the literary works of Zora Neale Hurston, Chinua Achebe, Henrik Ibsen, and Jane Austen. The works of Hurston and Achebe looks into women oppression among the African-American communities, while Ibsen and Austen's works center primarily on women oppression among the white Americans. Over-all analysis of these works, however, illustrates that women oppression is a common theme shared by the writers, noting the prevalence, dominance, and perpetuation of gender oppression whatever a woman's race is.

In Hurston's "Their eyes are watching God," she creates in the character of Janie Starks the image of a modern woman who tries fighting the oppressive nature of society towards women. In fact, Janie confronts two realities of women oppression in the novel: first, oppression of men against women, and second, oppression of women by other women. The second kind of reality… READ MORE

How to Reference "Conceptualization of Operation in Literary Works: Gender" Term Paper in a Bibliography

Related Term Papers:

Characters From Various Literary Works in Dante Essay

characters from various literary works in Dante's Hell

Dante Alighieri's epic poem "Divine Comedy" provides readers with an account involving the writer as he is guided through the nine circles… read more

Essay 3 pages (933 words) Sources: 3 Topic: Literature / Poetry

---

Gender Inequality Thesis

Gender Inequality

One of the most accurate definitions of gender was given Ridgeway and colleague (1999) where he explained that gender was simply a structure where by a society was… read more

Thesis 8 pages (2806 words) Sources: 6 Style: APA Topic: Sexuality / Gender

---

Gender Influences on Women and or Men's Lives Essay

Gender

African-American men understand the issue of white privilege, which frequently goes unnoticed by those who possess that privilege. In fact, it is almost part of the definition of white… read more

Essay 6 pages (1906 words) Sources: 6 Topic: Sexuality / Gender

---

Gender and the Fashion Industry: Blaming Gay Term Paper

Gender and the Fashion Industry: Blaming Gay Men for the Emaciation of Women

One of the most recent controversies particular to the fashion industry that has spilled over into the… read more

Term Paper 6 pages (1943 words) Sources: 4 Style: MLA Topic: Fashion / Designers / Beauty

---

Politics of Gender and Sexuality in Aristophanes Lysistrata Term Paper

Gender and Sexuality

New Criticism: Gender and Sexuality in Aristophanes' Lysistrata

Aristophanes' Lysistrata is one of the eleven plays penned by the playwright that has survived over time. The original… read more

Term Paper 15 pages (4896 words) Sources: 15 Topic: Sexuality / Gender

---

View 100+ more related papers  >>