Representations of sexuality in Early Modern literature reveal a variety of attitudes, but they can be characterised by the ambivalence which they display towards the subject of desire and its consequences for the self. The destructive potential of desire is revealed in John Ford’s Tis Pity She’s A Whore, widely considered to be one of the most radical works of Jacobean theatre, not only for its frank and nuanced portrayal of incest, but for its reworking of the theme of ill-fated love from Romeo and Juliet into a dark rumination on the fundamental incommunicability of desire and the impossibility of mutual understanding.…
Throughout history there have been many different theories of sexuality developed. Two well-known philosophers, Freud and Beauvoir have created their own ideas of what sexuality is and the ways in which it developed. These two different philosophers have created theories that can be compared and contrasted in ways in which makes one think about their own beliefs of sexuality. These two philosophers biggest difference is in the way in which they view feminine sexuality. In this paper I will compare and contrast the theories of Freud and Beauvoir and explain why I agree with Beauvoir’s understanding of sexuality more than I agree with Freud’s.…
The standard of an ideal woman has changed dramatically over the centuries. And the differences are certainly apparent when comparing the modern expectations to the Puritan’s. The most important difference being that the standards were much stricter and the idea of an ideal Puritan woman was very prevalent in society. Consequently, many readings during the 16th century emphasizes the necessary qualities of an ideal Puritan woman. One of which is Jonathan Edwards’ essay, in which he offers a male perspective by describing his perfect woman, Sarah Pierrepont. Additionally, Anne Bradstreet reflects a female view on how an ideal Puritan woman should be through her poem, “To My Dear and Loving Husband.” Lastly,…
Wengert, T. J. (2009). The Book of Concord and Human Sexuality, Seen Through the Institution of Marriage.Dialog: A Journal Of Theology, 48(1), 9-18. doi:10.1111/j.1540-6385.2009.00426.x…
These articles explore the issue of human sexuality during the nineteenth century. No matter in literature, economic developments, feminist movements or women’s agency in society, they all bring attentions to the notion of sexuality.…
Great job! Now let’s consider task. A task can be defined as a piece of work to be done or undertaken. Understanding your task when it comes to writing or speaking will help you determine whether or not you must use formal language. For example, let’s say your teacher gives you the following assignment:…
Why did Christianity grow so rapidly in the first four centuries AD? How did a tiny unknown movement of a group of people grow to be one of the dominant forces in the Roman Empire? “God’s providence” and “miracles” has been the easiest way to explain such a puzzle. Yet, stopping at such answers deprives us from the opportunity to better understand the complexity of the early Christians growth and takes from us the lessons we can gain from the experience.…
A topic often brought up in class discussion throughout the semester was sexuality and the many aspects involved; changing my personal perception of sexuality. In September I believed sexuality was just the act of sex and or being promiscuous, but it’s a much broader subject. The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter is a re-mastered version of the fairy tale Blue Beard with a sexual spin. It perfectly depicts the ideal image of sexuality to one who is more innocent than someone more experienced then alters it and shows us its variations after they’ve gained experience. This essay will explore the deception, dominance and violence surrounding the sexual relationship between the heroine and Marquis. Angela explores the aspect…
Lewd. Repugnant. Obscene. Those words are commonly associated with human sexuality, especially in modern society. Any utterance of copulation, genitals, or even sexual health, can be seen as crude or perverted. Most, if not all, parents have to face intense awkwardness when explaining the concept of reproduction to their children; the media often has to euphemize topics of sexuality in order to keep broadcasts either “professional-looking” or “family-friendly. For many centuries, human sexuality has been a topic of disapproval and has been a topic of very little discussion. This attitude towards sexuality may seem normal to those who reside in modern society, but for an inhabitant during the era of “The Epic Of Gilgamesh”, our view on sexuality…
__________. The Meaning of Sex: Christian Ethics and the Moral Life. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Academic, 2009.…
Jeffery Chaucer’s The Wife of Bath’s Tale revolves around the issue of feminine desire. A knight of King Arthur’s court rapes a maiden, which in the story is an offence punishable by death, but the queen grants him mercy. If in a year he could return to the court with the correct answer for her and her ladies to the question ‘What thyng is it that wommen moost desiren’ (Chaucer, l. 905) he could keep his head. This is not a straightforward question to answer yet the knight succeeds, stating that women most desire mastery over their husbands, bringing in the theme of female power. The concept is laid out plainly enough; however, the delivery in action is somewhat confusing. The actions described, performed by women themselves, seem contradictory to this desire, casting this ultimate desire into a shadow of doubt, forcing the reader to scrutinise the text to make sense out of the contradictions and try and pinpoint Chaucer’s message on feminine desire and power. By chronologically analysing The Wife of Bath’s Tale, with reference to her accompanying prologue, it is possible to draw out a comprehensive understanding of the articulation of feminine desire in the text.…
even be tied with restraining his desires towards her – instead treating her as an object whose value…
In a journal entry from July, 1910, E. M. Forster wrote, "However gross my desires, I find that I shall never satisfy them for the fear of annoying others. I am glad to come across this much good in me. It serves instead of purity." Although Forster wrote this passage some two years after he published A Room with a View, it could have been written at almost anytime during his long life. However much he understood the "holiness of direct desire," the emotional purity one achieves by following the heart rather than social orthodoxy, he spent his youth and young adulthood, as Lucy Honeychurch nearly did, repressing his sexual desires to adhere to the expectations of society.…
Often, figures may seem ahead of their times, yet further analysis reveals that the appearance of being revolutionary is a charade. “The Canterbury Tales” by Geoffrey Chaucer tells the story of a group of characters who go on a pilgrimage during the Middle Ages. Pilgrimages lead to either a shrine or a holy place, and in this story, the pilgrimage leads to Canterbury. In the tale, one of the characters on the pilgrimage, the Wife of Bath, has sparked a debate among people about whether Chaucer addresses modern ideas about women or if he enforces gender stereotypes. However, Chaucer’s characterization of the Wife of Bath proves that he fortifies stereotypes rather than diminishes them.…
“I hate purity, I hate goodness! I don’t want any virtue to exist anywhere. I want everyone to be corrupt to the bones.” – Winston and Julia, page 144, 1984 (part 2, chapter 2 end)…