The modern problem of social gender inequality has existed since the advent of civilization. Its origins are so deep that it is almost impossible to trace their beginning, but their consequences live on and exist to this day. What began as simple social and biological differences between men and women, resulting in different roles in families and tribes, has changed a lot over time. The emergence of civilization and, as a consequence, socioeconomic institutions not only consolidated the position of men and women but perversely and radically divided them. Thus, a patriarchal society was formed, which existed worldwide, and is firmly entrenched in many modern human societies. It is about patriarchy and feminism that is worth talking about when reading three works that are so significant for Western culture, namely “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin, “Pudd’nhead Wilson” by Mark Twain, and “Ruth Hall” by Fanny Fern.
However, it should be explained what patriarchy is and, accordingly, the opposing feminism. Women in the patriarchy occupy a subordinate position, and public institutions act as instruments of control over them. However, at the end of the 19th century, this society outlived itself, being destructive and archaic for the modern industrial capitalist society at that time. Industry and capitalism did not care about who worked in factories and bought the goods they produced. Regardless of origin, nationality, race, or gender, capitalism influenced the West, giving people the opportunity to achieve a more just social position. Thanks to this, many communities, movements, and political parties have arisen, consisting of people who earned their freedom with their own hands and not by the grace of noble gentlemen, as it was before. One of these phenomena was feminism, which emerged on the basis of the powerless and oppressive pressure of ancient patriarchal foundations and traditions, and flourished thanks to humanism and capitalism. Thus, feminism has at its origins history of thousands of years of oppression and intimidation of people based on their gender, namely the sexist attitude of men toward women.
The ideas of feminism, as well as the reasons for its necessity, are revealed in three works written by the classics of the past at the junction of the death of the old traditional and new industrial societies. One of the most essential and illustrative pieces in this context is “Ruth Hall” by Fanny Fern. The story is the autobiographical history of the author, Fanny Fern, whose real name is Sara Payson Willis. From early childhood, a woman suffered from her father’s stinginess, both in providing for her financially and emotionally. Her older brother also ignores her sister and only casually throws her off every time she tries to mend a relationship. However, Ruth marries a loving and understanding, wealthy man Harry Hall. However, his family, which by its very nature embodies the conservative society of those years, poisons the lives of the young couple and their children out of hatred for Ruth, eventually leading to the death of their child (Fern 54). Thus, it could be seen that oppression has been entailed in society and ruined the lives of not only women but also men.
In the further narration, it is seen that Hall loses her husband, Harry, who contracts typhoid fever and dies. Thus, she is thrown to the outskirts of life, remaining in poverty for a long time, hated by her family, as well as by the relatives of her late husband, who blames her for everything. Living first in a boarding house next to a brothel and then in a cheap attic, eating milk and bread, she survives. Sending a letter to her brother with several samples of writing for the newspapers and sending them to her brother Hyacinth, who is an influential publisher at this moment, she is rejected. As a result, thanks to diligence and overcoming patriarchal social pressure, Ruth gets her to be published under the pseudonym “Floy” (Fern 54). Thus, “Ruth Hall” demonstrates the struggle of the feminist unconscious in a strong woman striving to achieve happiness despite the opposing world of patriarchal traditions and prejudices.
A look from the perspective of internal liberation of female sexuality and freedom suppressed by patriarchy unfurls the work “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin. In the piece, young mother Edna Léonce strikes up an affair at a resort with a young man named Robert Lebrun (Chopin 54). However, he understands what shame and social condemnation his beloved will be subjected to if he openly shows his love for her to a married woman.
The main character tries to open up throughout the novel while her husband leaves for a business trip. She analyzes herself and her life, her desires and aspirations, but all this only leads to a short-term romance with a man unfamiliar to her. Feeling uncomfortable, Edna tries to contact Robert through her friend Adèle, but in the end, he comes to her, confessing his passionate love (Chopin 54). However, the man leaves her, leaving a note where he talks about the consequences of continuing their relationship and that he cannot subject Edna to such a thing. The result of the story is the death of the character who committed suicide. In addition to the direct and visual symbolism of the work, revealing the ideas of internal liberation, the very essence of the story speaks of how heavy and high the price of freedom from society’s prejudices is.
An essential part of the theme of feminism is also the history of a more ancient and brutal society than the traditional pre-industrial, which was discussed above. Of course, it is worth mentioning here slavery, which, despite its terrible nature, also put pressure on women even more, complementing patriarchal oppression. The story of such a desperate, almost suicidal woman slave named Roxana, referred to by those around Roxy, is the subject of the book “Pudd’nhead Wilson” by Mark Twain. In it, a slave girl, who in everything does not differ from her light-skinned southerners-masters outwardly, being only by one of sixteenths drops of blood black, is faced with the fear of losing her son at the will of the masters. Her infant son, Valet de Chambre, may be sold to other owners for the edification of slaves (Twain 54). As a result, the story becomes dramatic, and Roxana faces hatred and prejudice from his son, including his gender. Thus, the story of the slave Roxy demonstrates the alienation of women in such a low class and racial position of the society of oppressors, of which her son became a part.
The works demonstrated above and their essence, morality, and ideas inherent in their plot show the reasons for the emergence and necessity of feminism and its illustrative examples. Examples of strong will, independence, and courage are demonstrated in “Ruth Hall” and the flip side of the despair, fear, and oppression of women by patriarchy. Even a loving mother, faced with the fact that her life does not belong to her because of the foundations of society, Edna Léonce, whose life ended due to desperate attempts to gain freedom. And also sad is the poor slave girl from the distant South of the United States, Roxana, who, at the cost of her happiness, tried to give freedom to her son, who eventually rejected her. All this finds its essential role in the struggle for the social rights of the present.
Works Cited
Chopin, Kate. The Awakening. Freeditorial, 2019.
Fern, Fanny. Ruth Hall. Freeditorial, 2013.
Twain, Mark. The Tragedy of Pudd’nhead Wilson. Freeditorial, 2014.