and the need for identity and belonging and if individual disharmony occurs with culture then then is a struggle to synchronise with culture
In The Two Pearls of Wisdom, Alison Goodman uses a number of literary techniques to portray a culture of male dominance and superiority. The literary element of first person narrative technique with a female protagonist, Eona as the story teller, makes the text more convincing with respect to the theme of male dominance. In a time when the Dragon eyes, who hold most of the power and fame with the Emperor, are all men, Eona attempts to contest the title of Dragon eyes and wins but in order to achieve her aspirations she has to hide from everyone that she is in fact a girl. The author effectively conveys this cultural theme of male dominance at the start of the novel with the use of diction as seen in the phrase ‘women have no place in the world of dragon magic’ (pp 2). Furthermore the literacy technique of sarcasm is found throughout the text successfully portraying the image of females being inferior to males such as when Master Brannon gives Eon the two death plaques of her ancestors saying ‘they are only women’ (pp35). A depressive mood is created as Eona is subjected to unwanted sexual advances from Lord Ido and emotive language such as ‘female corruption’ (pp313) is used to convey the concept of male dominance.
Alison Goodman also portrays a culture where imperfections are frowned upon. ‘ rid the school of the cripple’ (pp 3) ‘ no one would dare spit at me or make the ward-evil sign or turn their