Essay on "Traditional Woman and the "New"
Essay 4 pages (1160 words) Sources: 5
[EXCERPT] . . . .
Traditional Woman and the "New Woman"The woman's traditional gender roles are changing at the beginning of the twentieth century. The "New Woman" seeks to experience life and express herself beyond the social limitations of being a wife and mother and living solely for her family. The role of the woman in the changing social environment is an important one to writers of the period (West, 1955). Through William Dean Howells's "Editha" (1905) and Edith Wharton's "Roman Fever" (1934), the reader can see the evolution in the social freedom of young women over two generations. While Editha and Mrs. Slade exhibit a tension between falling into more traditional gender roles and desiring freedom from them, the young women of "Roman Fever" suggest that they are indeed experiencing a social liberation their mothers could not enjoy.
A young woman living at the end of the nineteenth century and beginning of the twentieth century, Editha embodies the struggle between being independent and assertive and falling into the traditional role of the young woman looking to get married. When George comes to tell her that the United States is going to war, Editha contemplates her relationship with him and how she came to be with him. She details typical courting of the day: "She had always supposed that the man who won her would have done something to win her; she did not know what, but something" (p. 1080). While love could be a part of courting, there is also the aspect that the man "wins" the woman. While Editha understands the traditional role she plays in the courting process, she is also confused by it because she "did not know what" a man might do to win her over. Editha is strong willed, a
download full paper ⤓
Very early in the story, Howells makes it clear that Editha wants to assert herself and her desires; she wants to be in control. As Editha tries to get George to see that the war is a noble cause, George suggests that Editha is probably correct. If he's in disagreement with her, then he's probably in the wrong. This brings out a strong emotional response in Editha: "A generous sob rose in Editha's throat for the humility of a man, so very nearly perfect, who was willing to put himself below her" (p. 1081). George sees Editha as his moral and intellectual superior, and this is not lost on her. The defined gender roles of the time are switched -- Editha is masculine and assertive, and George is yielding and feminine.
However, Editha is a young woman of her time; because of her position in society, she must live out her fantasies vicariously through George. Editha is arrogant and controlling. She's extremely patriotic to the point of obsession, and she manipulates George into enlisting. This does not erase the fact that Editha, as a woman, cannot fight for her country if she desires. When Editha learns of the war, she determines to turn George into an ideal man, someone she would like to be, "her hero" (p. 1080). There's a play on words here. The idea that George can be Editha's hero evokes the "knight in shining armor." On the other hand, Editha contemplates "urging him, by… READ MORE
Quoted Instructions for "Traditional Woman and the "New" Assignment:
*****¢ During this period the American physical and social environments changed radically. The frontier closed, immigration patterns changed, industrialization and mass capitalism reshaped American cities and American economic life, and a rising feminist consciousness drew new attention to the position of women. Write a 1,050 to 1,400-word paper analyzing the tension between the individual and the environment in one or more of the works of American literature assigned for Week One. You may focus on any definition of *****"environment*****": political, social, physical, or moral. Make sure you support all claims with evidence from the text or texts analyzed. No sources beyond the textbook are required, but you may use such sources if you choose.
READING: Read the following selections from the text, The American Tradition in Literature:
a. *****"Realism and Naturalism: 1880-1920*****" (pp. 1047-1053)
b. Mark Twain (pp. 1054-1061)
1) from Life on the MIssissippi (pp. 1064-1074)
2) *****"How to Tell a Story*****" (pp. 1074-1077)
c. William Dean Howells (pp. 1077-1079), *****"Editha*****" (pp. 1079-1088)
d. Henry James (pp. 1088-1091), *****"The Beast in the Jungle*****" (pp. 1148-1177)
e. Bret Harte (pp. 1177-1178), *****"The Outcasts of Poker Flat*****" (pp. 1178-1185)
f. Red Cloud (pp. 1185-1186), *****"[All I Want Is Peace and Justice]*****" (pp. 1186-1187)
g. Sarah Winnemucca Hopkins (pp. 1187-1188), from *****"Life among the Piutes*****" (pp. 1188-1192)
h. Henry Adams (pp. 1192-1194), *****"The Dynamo and the Virgin*****" (pp. 1194-1201)
i. Sarah Orne Jewett (pp. 1201-1203), *****"A White Heron*****" (pp. 1203-1209)
j. ***** Chopin (pp. 1209-1211), *****"The Story of an Hour*****" (on Ariel CD)
k. Charlotte Perkins Gilman (pp. 1333-1334), *****"The Yellow Wallpaper*****" (pp. 1334-1345)
l. Frank Norris (pp. 1345-1346), *****"A Plea for Romantic Fiction*****" (pp. 1346-1349)
m. Stephen Crane (pp. 1349-1351), *****"The Open Boat*****" (pp. 1352-1368)
n. Edith Wharton (pp. 1368-1370)
1) *****"The Muse*****'s Tragedy*****" (on Ariel CD)
2) *****"Roman Fever*****" (pp. 1371-1379)
o. Theodore Dreiser (pp. 1379-1381), *****"The Second Choice*****" (pp. 1381-1393)
p. Jack London (pp. 1393-1395), *****"To Build a Fire*****" (pp. 1395-1405)
How to Reference "Traditional Woman and the "New" Essay in a Bibliography
“Traditional Woman and the "New.” A1-TermPaper.com, 2010, https://www.a1-termpaper.com/topics/essay/traditional-woman-new/2919. Accessed 5 Oct 2024.
Related Essays:
Women's History Research Paper
Women's History Questions
In the early days of the United States, particularly the 1790's, women had a very limited role in public and political life. However, the massive political changes… read more
Research Paper 5 pages (1670 words) Sources: 0 Topic: Women / Feminism
Women in Management and the Glass Ceiling Has it Been Shattered Models and Best Practices Research Paper
Women in Management and the Glass Ceiling
In the last 20 years, women have shattered the glass ceiling that once kept them out of senior management positions in business, politics,… read more
Research Paper 10 pages (3250 words) Sources: 7 Topic: Women / Feminism
Women's History and Policy Opinion Piece Essay
Women's History And Policy Opinion Piece
Historically, the political arena has been a stronghold of the masculine gender. The representation of the feminine gender has been equivalent to extremely minor… read more
Essay 4 pages (1253 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Women / Feminism
Women's Suffrage in the 19th Century Term Paper
Women's Suffrage In The 19th Century
Although the right of women in the U.S. To vote for their preferred political candidates was finally guaranteed through an amendment to the constitution… read more
Term Paper 8 pages (2561 words) Sources: 10 Topic: Women / Feminism
Violation of Women Rights in India Term Paper
Women's Rights In India
Violation of Women's Rights in India
As a fast-growing economy and the largest democracy of the world, India struggles with numerous human rights issues in its… read more
Term Paper 8 pages (2284 words) Sources: 8 Topic: Women / Feminism
Sat, Oct 5, 2024
If you don't see the paper you need, we will write it for you!
We can write a new, 100% unique paper!