Modernist Angst- Misogyny essays

Modernist Angst- Misogyny essays The position of women in society has been exemplified in literature as misogynist, and although things have started to change in the last hundred years or so, one sees that women are still portrayed in a poor light. In essence, the idea of women being contemptuous, having a blatant disregard for authority dates back to Eve. Eve coaxed Adam to eat from the tree of knowledge and for such defiance, God punished both Adam and Eve, however, it was Eves punishment that cursed her (and the rest of womankind) to the role of a scapegoat. It is not hard to imagine people routinely murmuring that it was Eves fault, that it is Eves fault, or that is it will always be Eves fault for the role of women and the decline of masculinity. As for men, they have been cursed to dominate the world with the role of a stolid breadwinner. Just as this bible story has not changed to create a better depiction of Eve as less beguiling, less evil, and more caring, neither have Modernist writers who have woven societal tales of social strife. The depiction of women as conniving and despicable has not come through more clearly anywhere than in the Modernist period where women were portrayed as the Dark Horses, the archetypal forces behind social chaos and self-affliction. The depiction of women as the Dark Horses is not just confined to British novels. The American satire by Edith Wharton, The House of Mirth, aptly founds itself on a series of social events that create the same Dark Horses. Indeed, most of the interaction between the characters in the novel happens not by coincidence but by planning. Everyone plans trips to the Bellomont knowing that they will spend their time gambling, and Lily, the main character, plans all of her trips with the intent of getting something out of someone. The various visits, then, are the grounds on which the entire social analyses and gossip take place. The...