Hermaphroditic Joyce By Dante Essays - English-language Films

Hermaphroditic Joyce By Dante Dante's "The Hermaphroditic Joyce" One of the most powerful nuances of any writing is the dialogue within the story. In literature, it is all too often that characters live only in the jaded voice of the author and never truly develop as their own, or are not strongly opinionated in a manner which contrasts the opinions of the writer. It is also unfortunately true that the women depicted in most male-authored literature do not often sound realistic, or how most women one would speak to in the course of the day tend to sound. All too often, women are depicted on a lower level of speech than men. For instance, Dickens and Arthur Miller both apparently subscribed to this notion, as the women in their stories were usually more passive, and not as elaborate as men in their speech, however, James Joyce did not see things in the same light. The most developed female character in Joyces A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, is one who speaks with dignity, passion, and the female tact which is all too often ignored in the ch aracters of women. Joyce's Dante Riordan's words and thoughts are true to those of literate twentieth century women. Although a short-lived character in Portrait, Dante Riordan, in a brief amount of time emits an apparently important and mysterious aura, the aura of a woman. Judging from the studies of twentieth century linguists, Joyce's brief representation of Dante through speech is nearly flawless. To more lucidly understand this, one must carefully examine some of the instances at which Dante speaks in her conversation with Mr. and Mrs. Dedalus, Charles, and Mr. Casey, and re-examine the arguments she makes. Dante is introduced into the dinner table conversation as a silent character. However, when the men's conversation turns to the misuse of the preacher's pulpit, Dante begins her interjections. All too often, women in literature remain linguistically dormant unless called upon, however, studies conducted in the reality outside the covers of a book have shown that women will interrupt a conversation to contradict a previous speaker, and do so vehemently (Coates, 193). A nice answer for any man calling himself a catholic to give to his priest, (Joyce, 273) states Dante as her first response. At this point, Dante has drawn herself into the conversation. Never speaking out of turn (as linguists are always quick to point out about women), Dante's next few lines are responses to the rebuttals of Mr. Dedalus and Mr. Casey. In these lines, she defends priests in that it is their duty to teach, warn, and direct their flocks. According to the findings of most linguists, strong beliefs in religion and authority are held by women, and a desire to speak in favor of them is inherent to feminine nature. The bishops and priests of Ireland have spoken, and they must be obeyed (Joyce, 274). Linguist, Jennifer Coates states that woman-speak is revolved around power, and, as Dante illustrates in this quote, that women's conversational style, and topics of interest will usually be subconcious admittances to the idea that women must obey men, and remain socially submissive (Coates, 203). Joyce's realistic portrayal of Dante does not end there, however. In studying the findings of linguists, it becomes clear that during the Renaissance, it was proper for a woman to be silent and a man to be eloquent. However, the increased level of female literacy in the late nineteenth and early to present twentieth century, changed this philosophy, and it is now expected that women be just as, if not more eloquent than men. As Dante continues her conversation, she quotes the Bible in response to the ongoing attacks of the men at the dinner table in the presence of women and a child: Woe be to the man by whom the scandal cometh! It would be better for him that a millstone were tied about his neck and that he should scandalise one of these, my least little ones. (Joyce, 274) Even today, it is rare in literature to find a woman allude to, let alone directly quote literature as a witty response to a verbal assault. Women have an instinctive shrinking from coarse and gross expressions and a preference for refined and (in certain spheres) veiled and indirect expressions (Coates, Jesperson, 126). What better way is there to describe Dante Riordan? Her primary reason for involving herself with the conversation from the start is the vile blasphemy at hand. Of her sixteen turns in the conversation,

Men And Women Essays (2310 words) - Gender Studies, Identity

Men And Women Essays (2310 words) - Gender Studies, Identity Men and Women What influences a person?s identity? Is it their homes, parents, religion, or maybe where they live? When do they get one? Do they get it when they understand right from wrong, or when they can read, or are they born with it? Everyone has one and nobody has the same, is there a point in everyone?s life when they get one? A person?s identity is his own, nobody put it there and nobody can take it out. Everyone in this world has a different identity because they all make their own over the course of their life. A person?s identity also causes a person to have masculine and feminine traits. There is no one thing that gives a person their identity, there are however many different factors that contribute to one?s identity. What is someone?s identity? Is it the way they look, the way they dress, or it could be many things all put together, or is it none of the above? To me someone?s identity is a part of their being. Nobody will ever hold it, touch it, or even see it, but it is there. Everybody has one, it guilds your decision making, your thoughts, ideas, and dreams. You may think something is terrible while someone else does not even care and yet another person may laugh, why? The answer is simple, everyone has his own identity and personality. Everyone feels, acts, thinks, and dreams differently. People may have some of these things in common with one another, but they will not be totally the same, it is like a fingerprint, unique. There are many origins to a person?s identity, their family, friends, home life, religion, environment and others. But how does it get there, you do not go into a store and pick on off the shelf. A person?s identity is developed over many years and put together by the person themselves. It comes from the individuals ability to think, reason and form an opinion. Nobody has the same mind, or the same or the same conscious, so how could anyone have the same identity as another. A person?s identity is developed over many years from the time they become aware of their surroundings, to the time they decide if they are going to college, and even as they grow old there identity will change with them. As people?s dreams are dreamed and goals are accomplished their identities will change with the individual. Their aspirations and values will change, causing their identities to change with it. It may be a slight alteration or a major overhaul but there identity will adjust to the person. One of the factors of forming an identity will obviously be your family. One?s family if invaluable to them. Your family may not be your biological parents or ever a blood relative at all, but nobody in this world can live from birth without some one. But no matter who it is, they will be the people who take care of you when you are sick or aid you when you need help. These people will be there with you for a long time and yes they will have a major impact on what you turn out to be it the future. A lot off people are fortunate enough to live with a mother and a father, they may ever have some brothers and sisters to play with as they grow up. But ever with the same family influences, brothers and sisters still do not have the same identities Some may even say having a "traditional" family would be bad for the development of an identity. For example, what kind identity would a young girl develop if see repeatedly saw her father beat on her mother. She would probably not feel the sam e as another girl whose father always showed love and caring for her mother. What about a teenager who used drugs as often as he changed his underwear. Would his younger brother, in looking up to him, feel the same as another boy who grew up never seeing an illegal drug before. If family members have no regard for keeping the other members of the family on the right path to being