great works ii – 2850 jta 12:25-2:05: love letters from the world

“That’s true, I am the lowliest–the lowliest of the lowly” (33).

“Yes, indeed, I did. They were out in the stable yard one evening and she was ‘training’ him as she called it. Do you know what happened? She made him leap over her riding whip, the way you teach a dog to jump. He jumped it twice and got a lash each time” (2).

Falling into the flirtation of Jean, Miss Julie succumbs into the half-woman identity of which Strindberg had portrayed. These two quotes specifically brought the  day and night contrast of the relationship of Miss Julie with men. From the beginning of the story, Miss Julie was known as the dominant partner, “training” her lover of that time. Towards the end, Miss Julie was seen as a projector, who translated exactly what Jean wanted her to say. I think the transformation from the start to the end indicated how correct Strindberg was of Miss Julie. An great quote would be “The mistress of the establishment–the ornament of the house. With your looks– and your manners –oh, it’s a sure success! Colossal! You could sit like a queen in the office and set the slaves in action by touching an electric button. The guests line up before your throne and shyly lay their riches on your desk. You can’t believe how people tremble when they get their bills –I can salt the bills and you can sweeten them with your most bewitching smile–ha, let us get away from here” (15).  With the direction of the story, the status begun with Miss Julie being greatly above Jean. But then Jean popped the idea of the two of them being equals with the introduction of hotel ownership. This escalated onto the idea of Jean being greater than Miss Julie.  Also, in the idea of half-woman, Strindberg made many great points. I however feel that that term is incorrect especially in this time and age. It might of been different in a different era but I would have to be there to believe it. I still think it is possible for woman to catch up to men.