Kiss of the Spider Woman
Kiss of the Spider Woman Reflective Statement
Through every oral I am able to learn something new about Puig's novel. This time, it was my own that had me discovering a facet of the book I had not yet unearthed. During one of Molina's many breaks from telling the panther woman story, Valentin voiced the opinion that “...It's just like an allegory, and really clear too, of the woman's fear of giving in to a man, because by completely giving in to sex she reverts a little to an animal.” I thought this comment at the height of arrogance until I considered the setting. In South America around the 1970s, woman weren't exactly equals. They held very little power over their own lives, whether is was their fathers approving/disapproving of their suitors or husbands automatically labeling them as cooks and maids. One of the few powers many women had, was the ability to withhold sex. Ergo, men had to demonize this to have all the bases covered.
I think that by the end of the novel, Valentin would have changed his tune due to the influence Molina had on him. Molina showed him that relationships don't have to be centered around a physical passion. They got to know each other well enough that sex came easily. Towards the end of their time together, neither Molina, the more feminine of the two, or Valentin, who was not even attracted to men, were afraid to get intimate. They bonded from a love based on camaraderie as opposed to lust. If Molina had been a woman, Valentin probably would not have taken the time to acquaint himself. He would be completely absorbed with the possibility of coitus which would ruin any foundation for a healthy relationship. The panther woman too can bond with her husband more deeply because intercourse is out of the question with her. So it could be said that woman are not afraid of sex, they just want it to be
Through every oral I am able to learn something new about Puig's novel. This time, it was my own that had me discovering a facet of the book I had not yet unearthed. During one of Molina's many breaks from telling the panther woman story, Valentin voiced the opinion that “...It's just like an allegory, and really clear too, of the woman's fear of giving in to a man, because by completely giving in to sex she reverts a little to an animal.” I thought this comment at the height of arrogance until I considered the setting. In South America around the 1970s, woman weren't exactly equals. They held very little power over their own lives, whether is was their fathers approving/disapproving of their suitors or husbands automatically labeling them as cooks and maids. One of the few powers many women had, was the ability to withhold sex. Ergo, men had to demonize this to have all the bases covered.
I think that by the end of the novel, Valentin would have changed his tune due to the influence Molina had on him. Molina showed him that relationships don't have to be centered around a physical passion. They got to know each other well enough that sex came easily. Towards the end of their time together, neither Molina, the more feminine of the two, or Valentin, who was not even attracted to men, were afraid to get intimate. They bonded from a love based on camaraderie as opposed to lust. If Molina had been a woman, Valentin probably would not have taken the time to acquaint himself. He would be completely absorbed with the possibility of coitus which would ruin any foundation for a healthy relationship. The panther woman too can bond with her husband more deeply because intercourse is out of the question with her. So it could be said that woman are not afraid of sex, they just want it to be