Women Seen Through Poems an Example of the Topic All Posts by

Women Seen Through Poems The poem entitled Lock of Berenice describes the behavior and attitude of ancient women as compared to the women emerging nowadays in the 20th century. Lock of Berenice examines the gender dynamics of the female characters in this poem. Their attitudes were given an emphasis that their extreme love for the opposite sex or their spouse may lead them into their own vulnerability and failure. In so doing, the poet would like to impart a message for women to be extra careful in their affairs so as not to regret their actions in the end. Moreover, the author of the poem discusses the danger for the impulsive kind of love among women. He implied that when women make use of their hearts and bodies more than their minds, it is more likely that they will get hurt and feel frustrated in the end so they should balance the three and live a happier life with less expectations and stronger ego with the sense of independence. It was also stressed that women should realize that true love is more tha n the need of bodily pleasure. It extends to the absence of the body, and it is more on loyalty, faith, hope, and trust beyond distance. Need essay sample on "Women Seen Through Poems" topic? We will write a custom essay sample specifically for you Proceed Introduction This paper focuses on analyzing the poem Lock of Berenice by Catallus, Lombardo, and Rayor. It seeks to examine the gender dynamics of the female characters in this poem and how these women are described to depict the attitudes and behavior of most women in reality during the ancient times and even at present. Readers are therefore expected to learn the characteristics of women in the past to understand why women display certain kinds of behavior today. Gender Dynamics in the Poem Lock of Berenice is a poem describing the behavior and attitude of ancient women. During the ancient times, women were known to be so submissive, dependent, and extremely faithful to their husbands up to the extent that they are willing to make sacrifices just to be with their loved ones and keep them around. Be it a queen or a peasant, women are known to stand by their loved ones side no matter what it costs them (their life, virginity, even their selves). Women stand with conviction and struggle to maintain their pledge with their husbands in marriage upon believing their exchange of vows that nothing could put them apart, the vow otherwise known as Till death to us part. Relatively, with respect to the poems gender dynamics, the following was extracted from the poem: This Conon has also observed in the velvet night sky, / yours truly, a lock of hair from Berenice's head,/ glowing serenely, which she dedicated to All Goddesses,/ stretching out her slender arms in supplication,/ wha t time the king, her newlywed husband, sated and proud,/ sallied froth to annex Syria to his realm,/ displaying, I might add, on his royal person the marks,/ of the previous nigh's struggle for virgin spoils. This stanza describes what Conon the astronomer observed from the constellation that represents and resembles the lock of hair that former Berenice offered in place of the assured safety of her husbands travel going home. Thus, this instance showed the dynamics and characteristics of women being strong with conviction, of being a fighter, and being sacrificial at best and aggressive or impulsive at worst for those whom they love. In addition, it was showed in the poem that Berenice was willing to go up to the extent of sacrificing and offering herself to the gods in place of her husbands safe trip. Importance in Understanding Ancient Women In this poem, the attitudes of women were given an emphasis that their extreme love for the opposite sex or their spouse may lead them into their own vulnerability and failure. In so doing, the poet would like to impart a message for the women to be extra careful in their affairs so as not to regret their actions in the end: So this is my plea: You virgins blessed by the bridal torch, / before offering your bodies to your ardent husbands, / before you even pull off your dress to bare your nipples, / offer me some ointment from your onyx jar- / but only if you're devoted to what a chaste bed allows. Conclusion Lock of Berenice is a poem which describes the attitudes and behavior of women in the ancient times and even at present. As women were depicted in the poem, when in love, they are shown to have the tendency for aggression and impulsiveness at worst. Women at their best on the other hand, could sacrifice everything just to fight for their love and be with their loved ones for the rest of their lives. Moreover, the author of the poem discusses the danger for the impulsive kind of love among women. The author implied that when women makes use of their hearts and bodies more than their minds, it is more likely that they will get hurt and feel frustrated in the end. Further, it was also stressed that women should realize that true love is more than the need of bodily pleasure. Therefore, true love in this poem means extending to the shallow meaning and significance of intimacy in relationships and implies the readiness to face the absence of the body mechanisms. In Lock of Berenice, the a uthor relayed the message by putting together some of the women characters who showed that real love is more on loyalty, faith, hope, and trust beyond distance rather than concentrating on personal satisfaction and impulses. Reference Fantham, E., Foley, H.P., Kampen, N. B., Poeroy, S. B., & Shapiro, H. A. (1988). Lock of Berenice. Women in the Classical World (pp. 1-93). New York: Oxford University Press.

Roaring 20s essays

Roaring 20's essays Jazz clubs and bobbed hair, isolation and revolution, all of these were things that, in one way or another, made the 1920s roar. The twenties were a time of economic and social growth for many Americans, but it was also a time of great hardship for many. The 1920s were fascinating in the way that there were so many changes occurring in society. It is still difficult to decide though as to whether or not the 1920s were a time of rebellion or a time of conservatism. During the 1920s there were trends of both conservatism as well as rebellion occurring simultaneously. Many women from the middle to upper class were beginning to change their appearances and attitudes. Many of these women could be deemed rebels simply because of the way they began dressing. These women were wearing shorter skirts, cutting their hair short and even wearing mens pants. These new trends were seen as horrid and indecent. Women were also beginning to wear make up, which only a few years earlier was only worn by prostitutes. This was not the only way that women were breaking the mold though, women were now entering new fields in the work force. Women were now doing jobs that many people had felt women could not do. Not everything in the twenties was about pushing the envelope though. There was also a trend now where a woman was expected to keep up both her appearance as well as her home. Parents were now supposed to show more affection for their children and spouses as well. These are more conservative trends that were very prevalent throughout the 1920s. The economy played a huge role in all of the trends that occurred in the 1920s. People who were in the middle to upper classes were doing very well. The economy was doing well and many people becoming rich off of the stock market. When the economy rises people begin to worry more about fashion and appearance because they can afford to. This is what was happening during the twenties, people were doing...

Role of Reforms in American Society since 1877 to Present Assignment

Role of Reforms in American Society since 1877 to Present - Assignment Example According to the research findings, it can, therefore, be said that populism is perhaps the most serious reform movement which greatly threatened the two-party system in American history. Populism was established on the basis of the panic movement of 1873.in this regard, many farmers especially those in the Mid-West and South greatly felt the impact of the Panic. They felt sidelined from the recovery benefits, as the only ones who benefited were the financial and industrial class of the East. Basing on free coinage of silver and the government ownership of railways, the Populist Party was established. They nominated J.B. Weaver for the presidency, who became a major threat to the Democrats. This prompted the Democratic Party, under William Jennings Bryan to adopt some of the populist reforms agenda with the quest to garb the Populist vote in 1896.this witnessed the demise of popularism in the Southern states. Progressivism is the period between the 1890’s to 1920’s mark ed with social activists plus political reforms. The movement was majorly aimed at purifying the government by eliminating corruption. Many progressivism proponents advocated for major reforms in the local government, medicine, education, industries, churches, insurance, finance and several other areas. The movement initially began its operations at local levels and later penetrated the national arena. Its main supporters came from the middle-class people mainly business people, lawyers, physicians, teachers, ministers among others. The significant reforms championed by this movement include the direct election of senators, the Prohibition, the Women’s suffrage, the Sixteenth Amendments and the Nineteenth Amendments among others. The New Deal, on the other hand, is a progression of economic programs between 1933 and 1936, which were implemented in the United States.