Fear of Power, and Reversal of Gender Roles in Cat's Analysis by Luisa Valenzuela
“Cat’s Eyes” by Luisa Valenzuela
1. Fear of Power
2. Reversal gender roles
3. The strength of a woman
Thesis/ Analysis:
In “Cat’s Eyes”, Luisa Valenzuela challenges the roles of both the female and male gender. What is known as the dominant male figure, Valenzuela gives to female character in her story, this causes what seems to a dysfunction and an uncertain reaction to both the female character as well as the male. It is as though a power has shifted unto the woman using her eyes as the catalyst form. Many have said that the eyes are windows to the soul so one could argue that the female character knew deep in her soul that she was so powerful but did not want to face the reality of it being true. Her eyes always seem to come about in the dark , a place where people tend to become vulnerable and at their weakest, but it is here where her strength begins protect her. Her boss is very troubled by his secretary eyes when he sees them thus causing him to fear either the authority from a woman or the vulnerability he has become exposed to or both.
Both parties however have not quite come to terms with what it is that is going on with the secretary. It is as though the dominance of a man has now been given to the woman and the submission of the woman has now been placed on a man. I believe that Venezuela does this to show not only the fear of a woman being treated equally and becoming a dominant figure in society but to also show that women do not need to fear the strength they truly have no matter how powerful it may seem. Venezuela, does an admirable thing at the end of her story and it is presenting her readers with different options at the end for the readers to decide in which conclusion they believe is the best fitting to them, I have to say for myself, the ending describing the electricity bill being really high is the one best suited for the story. This ending suggest that both the male and female are so frightened by the eyes of the woman that
1. Fear of Power
2. Reversal gender roles
3. The strength of a woman
Thesis/ Analysis:
In “Cat’s Eyes”, Luisa Valenzuela challenges the roles of both the female and male gender. What is known as the dominant male figure, Valenzuela gives to female character in her story, this causes what seems to a dysfunction and an uncertain reaction to both the female character as well as the male. It is as though a power has shifted unto the woman using her eyes as the catalyst form. Many have said that the eyes are windows to the soul so one could argue that the female character knew deep in her soul that she was so powerful but did not want to face the reality of it being true. Her eyes always seem to come about in the dark , a place where people tend to become vulnerable and at their weakest, but it is here where her strength begins protect her. Her boss is very troubled by his secretary eyes when he sees them thus causing him to fear either the authority from a woman or the vulnerability he has become exposed to or both.
Both parties however have not quite come to terms with what it is that is going on with the secretary. It is as though the dominance of a man has now been given to the woman and the submission of the woman has now been placed on a man. I believe that Venezuela does this to show not only the fear of a woman being treated equally and becoming a dominant figure in society but to also show that women do not need to fear the strength they truly have no matter how powerful it may seem. Venezuela, does an admirable thing at the end of her story and it is presenting her readers with different options at the end for the readers to decide in which conclusion they believe is the best fitting to them, I have to say for myself, the ending describing the electricity bill being really high is the one best suited for the story. This ending suggest that both the male and female are so frightened by the eyes of the woman that