Ernest Hemingway: Unrealistic Expectations Of Women
American Literature
October 6, 2013
Unrealistic Expectations The beginning of the 1900s saw the development of the downtrodden American. The Industrial Revolution had forced farmers into factories and destroyed the conventions of relationships. Recreational prostitution became exercise as an excuse to keep wives happy and rampant venereal diseases ripped through the middle class. In reaction to these developments the responsibilities of women began to shift. Instead of placing the responsibility on men to stay away from vices, suddenly it was the unrealistic expectation of women to create a home so perfect that it kept men from straying. Authors of the time contributed work that offered a social commentary on the guidelines given to the women of these times. Ernest Hemingway …show more content…
Hemingway painted a positive portrait of a faithful and obedient wife. The woman was attentive and understanding of her husband’s character flaws and because of this, she escaped the cruel fate reserved for women who did not meet the standard. On the other hand James’ character, Daisy was unrefined, presumptuous, and repeatedly snubbed the opportunity of marriage. She was too direct for the women of the time and she was too friendly to too many men. All of these things led Daisy to an unkind end. James made an example of her. Chopin however offered a critique of these unrealistic expectations of women. Being a woman herself, she understood that not everyone was capable of leading a life of shy servitude to a man. She created a female character that had a happy family and a loving husband, but who also had an affair. Chopin portrayed it as revitalizing for the character and it actually made her a better wife. She showed that the standard of the time wasn’t necessarily the only way to live. Women weren’t standard, and they had needs and desires like any other
October 6, 2013
Unrealistic Expectations The beginning of the 1900s saw the development of the downtrodden American. The Industrial Revolution had forced farmers into factories and destroyed the conventions of relationships. Recreational prostitution became exercise as an excuse to keep wives happy and rampant venereal diseases ripped through the middle class. In reaction to these developments the responsibilities of women began to shift. Instead of placing the responsibility on men to stay away from vices, suddenly it was the unrealistic expectation of women to create a home so perfect that it kept men from straying. Authors of the time contributed work that offered a social commentary on the guidelines given to the women of these times. Ernest Hemingway …show more content…
Hemingway painted a positive portrait of a faithful and obedient wife. The woman was attentive and understanding of her husband’s character flaws and because of this, she escaped the cruel fate reserved for women who did not meet the standard. On the other hand James’ character, Daisy was unrefined, presumptuous, and repeatedly snubbed the opportunity of marriage. She was too direct for the women of the time and she was too friendly to too many men. All of these things led Daisy to an unkind end. James made an example of her. Chopin however offered a critique of these unrealistic expectations of women. Being a woman herself, she understood that not everyone was capable of leading a life of shy servitude to a man. She created a female character that had a happy family and a loving husband, but who also had an affair. Chopin portrayed it as revitalizing for the character and it actually made her a better wife. She showed that the standard of the time wasn’t necessarily the only way to live. Women weren’t standard, and they had needs and desires like any other