Portrayal of Gender in the Passion of New Eve
The Passion of New Eve
How is gender presented in the novel?
Females are subservient throughout the whole novel, whereas men and dominate
- First scene – Evelyn forgets the woman’s name in the cinema ‘otherwise forgotten’ (5),
- Women are constantly objectified > Tristessa
- Leilah – he ties her up and forget about her the whole day, not tying her feet up is considered a kindness > she has no choice. He dominates and takes advantage of her, she is merely a sexual object, he doesn’t mind her being with other men.
- Zero, he has many wives, and they are passive/submissive > applaud his rape. ‘If he let the pigs do as he pleased, he demanded absolute subservience from his women’ (92), this shows how Zero values animals above women, he believes they need to be kept, controlled and maintained.
Male and female cannot exist equally, in order for women to gain power they need to turn men in to women > feminise them
Men are controlled by their sexual desires/urges, (ironic – animalist urge) ‘in the grip of savage desire’ (20) > it is never portrayed as a good, healthy and natural inclination; instead it is portrayed as violent and aggressive. Zero has a very masochistic view of sex, he enjoys seeing women in pain. This is the ultimate male supremacy; he exercises his dominance over women when they are at their most vulnerable.
What means are used by the various characters and groups to establish, maintain and / or disrupt clear ideas of masculine and feminine identity and behaviour?
Evelyn, a female name? From the start the reader questions his male identity, disrupting a clear masculine ideal.
It adheres to traditional views as one Evelyn is accepted in to the matriarchy he immediately becomes aware of his appearance, vanity being traditionally considered a female trait > it is as though his change has already begun. He can’t understand why Sophie does not see his beauty, as it is expected that women should be more concerned with their looks.
How is gender presented in the novel?
Females are subservient throughout the whole novel, whereas men and dominate
- First scene – Evelyn forgets the woman’s name in the cinema ‘otherwise forgotten’ (5),
- Women are constantly objectified > Tristessa
- Leilah – he ties her up and forget about her the whole day, not tying her feet up is considered a kindness > she has no choice. He dominates and takes advantage of her, she is merely a sexual object, he doesn’t mind her being with other men.
- Zero, he has many wives, and they are passive/submissive > applaud his rape. ‘If he let the pigs do as he pleased, he demanded absolute subservience from his women’ (92), this shows how Zero values animals above women, he believes they need to be kept, controlled and maintained.
Male and female cannot exist equally, in order for women to gain power they need to turn men in to women > feminise them
Men are controlled by their sexual desires/urges, (ironic – animalist urge) ‘in the grip of savage desire’ (20) > it is never portrayed as a good, healthy and natural inclination; instead it is portrayed as violent and aggressive. Zero has a very masochistic view of sex, he enjoys seeing women in pain. This is the ultimate male supremacy; he exercises his dominance over women when they are at their most vulnerable.
What means are used by the various characters and groups to establish, maintain and / or disrupt clear ideas of masculine and feminine identity and behaviour?
Evelyn, a female name? From the start the reader questions his male identity, disrupting a clear masculine ideal.
It adheres to traditional views as one Evelyn is accepted in to the matriarchy he immediately becomes aware of his appearance, vanity being traditionally considered a female trait > it is as though his change has already begun. He can’t understand why Sophie does not see his beauty, as it is expected that women should be more concerned with their looks.