Before the nineteenth century woman were held in barriers. Then in the nineteenth century female authors arose creating a movement of change in the way they were seen and regarded with in the literary world. Female authors paved the way in allowing woman to expand them self and creatively expressing their ideas, opinions and feelings. As we can see in some literary reading the way woman were characterized varies based on the authors unique style of writing. In two nineteenth century readings, “A Carcass’” written by Charles Baudelaire and “The Lady with the Dog” written by Anton Chekhov readers can compare the different ways each author uses when describing and explaining woman.
In the story the lady with a dog readers are introduced to the protagonist Dmitry who is instantly characterized as a womanizer. Dmitry is an unhappily married man to his wife whom he meets in college. Although he once was in awe of her he now cannot stand to be home. Dmitry uses his past bitter experiences with woman as a crutch to manipulate and charm woman in to getting what he desires. He has even created a name for woman referring to them as the “lower class”. Through the reading it is very apparent the Dmitry uses woman for their sexuality to fill a void he has emotionally inside himself, this is the cause of his many affairs on his wife. “He feels quite at home among woman, and knew exactly what to say to them, and how to behave, he could even be silent in their company without feeling the slightest awkwardness”pg1524. This quote verifies his use of manipulation when it involves a woman and how he uses his charm and attractiveness to achieve his desires. A pivotal point is when he meets a woman named Anna who is also unhappy within her life and is on a journey to find her happiness. They form a friendship eventually evolving in to an affair both having spouses with whom they married to. Through this affair transformations occur changing the view and thoughts Dmitry originally possessed for woman. At the end of the story it becomes clear that Dmitry has always lived a double life, one involving the life he has with his wife and kids, in which he constantly disrespects his wife and bond of marriage by all his illicit affairs. Then his second life where he is personified as this sweet, caring, loyal gentleman who wishes to please and cater to what the woman wants.
In A carcass written by Charles Baudelaire describes woman in grotesque fashion describing certain characteristics they may display. “her legs were spread out like a lecherous whore, sweating out poisonous fumes,’pp1387 here the author uses explicit details to show how a woman can utilize her sexuality in order to gain the things she desires. The main theme of this poem to show direct correlation between life and death even most beautiful thing die and decay in order to support the life cycle.so living with the fear of death will only hold us back from achieving a higher spirituality and will cause a mass distraction in our lives.once we release this fear and gain acceptance it will greatly improve our life and the appreciation we have.
Through these two reading it is apparent the various techniques author use to characterized woman. During the nineteen century it is evident that woman were seen unequal to man and man had the power to persuade or manipulate a woman in order to get what they want.It also shows how women were characterized as sexual objects.emotionally in touch with themselves.Both readings show how women had unequal rights and how women were treated extremely poorly.
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