In today's society, people are judged and treated with disrespect if they do not follow the same moral standards or have the same values that society sets. Each society tries to decide what is considered right and wrong and if someone goes against this then they are degraded. In school for instance, students will be excluded from others if they have different opinions about things, or if they act differently than how a so-called "normal" person is supposed to act. These were just small scale examples but it happens on a much larger scale all over the world.
A person should be able to have any view on life that they want as long as they do not force it on other people. I believe that society tries to control the lives of everyone who try to be individuals. The people who do not care about being part of what society accepts, and who have their own beliefs should not be penalized and criticized for how they live their lives. Everyone at one point in their life will judge another person based on what we value, not taking into consideration that everyone is different and has the right to believe what they choose to. Part of the destruction of our society is caused by people victimizing each other within the society. When we antagonize someone for not having the same values as us, we aren't just hurting them, but hurting others who might feel the same way, causing the society to be dysfunctional. Now, I understand that everyone will not always get along, but people need to stop pressuring others into living life through society's guidelines, and let people be who they want to be.
In The Stranger by Albert Camus, Meursault has beliefs that conflict with what society claims to be "right." He has an absurdest view on the world and he is persecuted because of it. He believes that people live life and die and there is no meaning behind any of it; there is no "inherent meaning" that can be found in life. Throughout the novel his viewpoint on life is evident as being absurd. He does not seem to have any emotion or care about anything for most of the novel. When Marie asks him if he wants to marry her, he is indifferent, and says he doesn't care. When he is asked why he shot the Arab, he says it must have been the sun. His answers to questions like these are why he is not accepted by society. Meursault not crying at his mother's funeral is another main reason he is not accepted by society. The people of that time thought he was ridiculous for not crying just because it was society's standards to cry in a situation like that. His views on life and his actions in life caused society to give him the death penalty and in my opinion, that just is not fair.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Monday, February 28, 2011
Comparing Quotes and Literature
1200 B.C. "No trust is to be placed in women." - Homer
1694-1773 "Women are to be talked to as below men and above children." - Lord Chesterfield
1769-1821 "Women are nothing but machines for producing children." "Nature intended women to be our slaves... What a mad idea to demand equality for women!" - Napoleon I
It is evident that throughout the course of time women have been treated as inferiors to men. The three quotes listed above are examples of how women were not to be "trusted," treated equal to men, or considered anything more than "machines for producing children." These quotes pertain to certain male opinions and all men should not be criticized as being male chauvinists. I believe that women deserve equal opportunity as men in every aspect of life. I also feel that respect for women has gradually gotten better over the years and women now have every chance to do anything in their lives that men do. When these quotes were said, many women did not have the opportunities they have today, and were stuck following the rules of their society; women must be mothers only. In today's world, opportunities are everywhere and women are no longer "talked to as below men," but talked to and treated as equals.
In Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own, the issue of women not having equal opportunity as men is presented. In Woolf's time, the women were not treated equal and she uses the example of William Shakespeare's fictional sister to prove it. Woolf creates Judith, basically a female version of William. She is intellectually capable of performing any of the tasks her brother is able to achieve, but she is not provided with the same opportunity. Judith's abilities are not recognized, and she is pushed aside by her family while William is praised. Although Judith is fictional, Woolf is able to make her point that even if women during that time had possessed "genius," they would not have been taken seriously like the men during that time were.
The quotes that are stated at the top of the page are examples of how women were thought of many years ago. A Room of One's Own tries to prove how quotes like these were not just words, but actions, and women did not have much of a chance to be independent and successful because men set the standards. Women were always compared to men and were not able to be superior to men in anyway possible. Times have changed and women are on the rise. Eventually, women will have just as many leadership positions as men do, maybe even exceed them.
1694-1773 "Women are to be talked to as below men and above children." - Lord Chesterfield
1769-1821 "Women are nothing but machines for producing children." "Nature intended women to be our slaves... What a mad idea to demand equality for women!" - Napoleon I
It is evident that throughout the course of time women have been treated as inferiors to men. The three quotes listed above are examples of how women were not to be "trusted," treated equal to men, or considered anything more than "machines for producing children." These quotes pertain to certain male opinions and all men should not be criticized as being male chauvinists. I believe that women deserve equal opportunity as men in every aspect of life. I also feel that respect for women has gradually gotten better over the years and women now have every chance to do anything in their lives that men do. When these quotes were said, many women did not have the opportunities they have today, and were stuck following the rules of their society; women must be mothers only. In today's world, opportunities are everywhere and women are no longer "talked to as below men," but talked to and treated as equals.
In Virginia Woolf's A Room of One's Own, the issue of women not having equal opportunity as men is presented. In Woolf's time, the women were not treated equal and she uses the example of William Shakespeare's fictional sister to prove it. Woolf creates Judith, basically a female version of William. She is intellectually capable of performing any of the tasks her brother is able to achieve, but she is not provided with the same opportunity. Judith's abilities are not recognized, and she is pushed aside by her family while William is praised. Although Judith is fictional, Woolf is able to make her point that even if women during that time had possessed "genius," they would not have been taken seriously like the men during that time were.
The quotes that are stated at the top of the page are examples of how women were thought of many years ago. A Room of One's Own tries to prove how quotes like these were not just words, but actions, and women did not have much of a chance to be independent and successful because men set the standards. Women were always compared to men and were not able to be superior to men in anyway possible. Times have changed and women are on the rise. Eventually, women will have just as many leadership positions as men do, maybe even exceed them.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Independence Changed History
Although Women's History Month is not celebrated until March, reading the novel The Awakening by Kate Chopin, and the play A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen made me think about how women should be celebrated for all of their great accomplishments. The referenced pieces of literature above made it easy for me to realize that independence is the key to success, and the reason why women have overcome great feats and accomplished many things throughout history.
Women's History Month would never have been created if women seeking independence had not exerted themselves and taken initiative in their lives. The authors of the two works above wanted to make it known how they felt about women being permitted to have independence. Even though The Awakening may seem to some as a book that portrays a selfish woman, only seeking what is best for her, I feel that Edna Pontellier has a goal in life which she sets out to accomplish. She wanted to be able to work like the men did in that time period. Her final action of taking her own life, by drowning in the ocean, showed how she wanted to address the subject. She was not able to do anything about the problem when she was living, so she probably figured, maybe if she was dead, people might change how they viewed women being independent and working. In A Doll's House, Nora is living a life that she does not really want to live, just so she can make her husband happy. She yearns to be an independent woman and rid the guise that she constantly displays because she knows she is capable of great things in life. She hurdled one obstacle when she saved her husbands life when he was ill, and she realized that she is able to achieve anything she puts her mind to. In the end she is able to work up the courage to leave her family, and provide for herself which was her ultimate goal. Some critics believe that Edna and Nora are self righteous women who only care about the good they can provide for themselves. These critics feel that leaving behind children and a husband is one of the worst ways to handle a situation. I on the other hand believe that the authors of the novels were trying to represent through characters, the problem that in those time periods women were considered unable to be independent.
The main point of my blog is that Chopin and Ibsen wanted to address women's independence in societies that frowned upon the idea. These authors were able to show how they feel as well as influence people by their works. Women's History Month is dedicated to the women who fought to have equal rights. Susan B. Anthony, a 19th Century civil rights leader, fought to include women's votes in elections and important topics in the United States. Her courage eventually led to states enabling women the right to vote. Throughout history women have fought for independence from their duties set by men, and it has led to an entire month devoted to their accomplishments, as well as everything women have done to shape the country and world we live in today.
Women's History Month would never have been created if women seeking independence had not exerted themselves and taken initiative in their lives. The authors of the two works above wanted to make it known how they felt about women being permitted to have independence. Even though The Awakening may seem to some as a book that portrays a selfish woman, only seeking what is best for her, I feel that Edna Pontellier has a goal in life which she sets out to accomplish. She wanted to be able to work like the men did in that time period. Her final action of taking her own life, by drowning in the ocean, showed how she wanted to address the subject. She was not able to do anything about the problem when she was living, so she probably figured, maybe if she was dead, people might change how they viewed women being independent and working. In A Doll's House, Nora is living a life that she does not really want to live, just so she can make her husband happy. She yearns to be an independent woman and rid the guise that she constantly displays because she knows she is capable of great things in life. She hurdled one obstacle when she saved her husbands life when he was ill, and she realized that she is able to achieve anything she puts her mind to. In the end she is able to work up the courage to leave her family, and provide for herself which was her ultimate goal. Some critics believe that Edna and Nora are self righteous women who only care about the good they can provide for themselves. These critics feel that leaving behind children and a husband is one of the worst ways to handle a situation. I on the other hand believe that the authors of the novels were trying to represent through characters, the problem that in those time periods women were considered unable to be independent.
The main point of my blog is that Chopin and Ibsen wanted to address women's independence in societies that frowned upon the idea. These authors were able to show how they feel as well as influence people by their works. Women's History Month is dedicated to the women who fought to have equal rights. Susan B. Anthony, a 19th Century civil rights leader, fought to include women's votes in elections and important topics in the United States. Her courage eventually led to states enabling women the right to vote. Throughout history women have fought for independence from their duties set by men, and it has led to an entire month devoted to their accomplishments, as well as everything women have done to shape the country and world we live in today.
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