Final Draft of Research Paper

Kim Rolin

English 1B

Knapp

The Puritan Society and The Scarlet Letter

            Puritan beliefs have had a strong influence on the roots of early American History. Nathaniel Hawthorne briefly touched upon the lives of puritans in his novel, The Scarlet Letter, and the trials and tribulations they shared in their faith. Their strict set of principles and controlling faith has most famously led the puritans to be tied to persecution. Puritan morals set a guideline to all of those in their faith, and those who crossed the line faces humility, scorn, punishment, isolation, and even death. All of the restrictions imposed on this group of people foreshadows the horrific events taken in early American history. It is important to realize what these restrictions were and how they affect the characters in Hawthorne’s, The Scarlet Letter.

            As The University of Notre Dame states, Puritans believed in “conversion not repression.” Those outside of the puritan faith were acceptable, but unless converting to the Puritan faith was wanted by these outsiders, many of them had to leave the Puritan colonies. The Puritans were formed in America. Those who dissented the Church of England created a new faith that could only be acceptable away from the church and its leaders. The puritans believed the Church of England was a “product of political struggles and man made doctrines” (University of Notre Dame). They decided to immigrate over to America, where they could practice their pure belief in God. The Puritans believed in predestination, the idea that God had a destined plan for every person, usually before they are born. Work ethic was an important part of puritan society, as puritans believed that work was an honor to God and that work could be a reward to get into Heaven.

            It was a strict lifestyle that kept most Puritans grounded in their faith. However, with a no forgiveness policy, extreme precautions and consequences were taught and given to those who were seen to disgrace their faith. Hester, the protagonist of Hawthorne’s novel, receives an “A” for her sin of adultery and is scorned for the duration of her life for her sin. In 1692, the Salem witch trials took place. A series of trials that took place in Salem, Massachusetts by the Puritans. A mass hysteria swept over Puritan society, accusations and disapproved behavior led many women to be judged on whether or not they were witches. Although men were sent to the gallows as well, it was mostly women being accused of being coerced by the devil. Nineteen were hung, one man was pressed to death, and another four died in prison (University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law). At least, that was what was recorded.

            In Puritan society, men were the most elite figures. Patriarchy played a heavy hand in the Puritan lifestyle. Women were wives and mothers, and without the leadership of a man, women were expected to stray from their pure belief in God. Education was a very important cornerstone of the Puritan faith. In fact, Puritans established the first formal school in America, the Roxbury Latin school in 1635(University of Notre Dame). Four years later, Harvard college was established by the Puritans as well. Women were seen almost as a reward to men, but certainly not treated as one. The professions of women in puritan society consisted of mother, wife, and especially if you were a widow, a teacher. These were the only honorable positions for women to upkeep, and if they did not fulfill these duties to the highest expectations, usually from men, they were scorned. Hester, who was abandoned by her husband for seven years, clearly had an affair with the birth of her daughter Pearl. Though her affair remains unknown by the public of Salem, Hester has failed her role as a woman in puritan society. Overlooked however is her husband, known in the novel as Chillingsworth. He abandoned his wife in a different country for seven years, and yet there are no repercussions given towards his behavior.

            Hawthorne expands upon the puritan system and its workings in The Scarlet Letter. Hester’s sin of committing adultery affects every aspect of her life. Just as she is isolated by the townspeople, her isolation becomes physical. Hester lives on the outskirts of the village, apart from everyone else. Even her daughter Pearl seems to be isolated by her Mother’s sin. For example, Pearl has become so accustomed to seeing the A on her mother, that when it is not upon Hester, Pearl demands the sin to be replaced. “Pearl, without responding in any matter to these honey-sweet expressions, remained on the other side of the brook. Now she fixed her bright, wild eyes on her mother, now on the minister, and now included them both in the same glance; as if to detect and explain to herself the relation which they bore to one another… At length, assuming a singular air of authority, Pearl stretched out her hand with the small forefinger extended, and pointing evidently towards her mother’s breast. And beneath, in the mirror of the brook, there was the flower-girdled and sunny image of little Pearl, pointing her small forefinger too” (Hawthorne 142). To pearl, the sin defines her mother. Hester can no longer be a person in this society, without her sin defining her.

            Yet sins were cast out for everything. The Scarlet Letter gives a preface to the life and times of a displaced member of Puritan society; Hester. Notable “sins” in the Puritan society were punished, but what Hawthorne foreshadows in the relationship between Hester and Dimmesdale is just an insight to how far the Puritan society goes with defining sin. Soon accusations were being treated as fact, rumors were undeniable, and the townspeople of Salem turned on each other in such a tyrannical setting. With a society bound so tightly, freedom came with a price. It was as easy to disguise your sin or wrong doing by blaming it on another person. Eventually, seemingly harmless complaints became the go to excuse for these oppressed people. A neighbor with more land may be ratted out by another neighbor for being a witch. Once punished, that underprivileged neighbor becomes a better member of society. Punishment escalated quickly, from wearing a letter that represented your sin, to death by accusation.

            Hester represented Puritan punishment in its early stages. Though Hester committed a sin, and was out casted from society, she was still an active member; whether it was embroidering gloves for the governor, or helping the poor and disabled. The time after Hester, which included the Salem Witch Trials, showed the progression of Puritan restraint and control in their society. The actions that Hester partook in bore her the sin of adultery and the letter A. With Puritanism being Such a strict and morally righteous society, all of the characters in Hawthorne’s novel played a part in Hester’s sin. Sin did not define one person and as seen in The Scarlet Letter, an individual sin can engulf an entire society. Hester was accused of adultery, and in turn had to wear a letter A for the rest of her life. Dimmesdale, Hester’s lover and Pearl’s father, was guilty of the same sin, yet was perceived innocent by the townspeople for his job as the reverend. Mistress Hibbons was expected to know all along about the affair and who was involved, yet never revealed anything to the public. Hester’s display of her sin was seen as a warning to other townspeople, a kind of precaution that repercussion would find and follow sinners.

        Puritan society had many restrictions on puritans. In the beginning, these restrictions were not seen as restrictions, but as tools to purify their lives. As soon as their lives started to be threatened however, Puritan society went from a stable establishment to a prime example of chaos. The sets of rules Puritan society imposed on people were punishable if broken. Punishment was a factor of Puritan order, and in Hester’s case, her punishment was a public display of her sin. Punishment mixed with accusations would eventually turn sour, as many people were later hung for their sins of being “witches and wizards.” Hawthorne introduced Hester’s sin, which in modern light, isn’t considered to be a sin at all. Adultery is frowned upon, but modern society does not take the same measures as Puritan society did to scorn adulterers. Personal freedom was intervened in Puritan life; for the lives of individuals were primarily being lived for God and no one else One could argue that Puritan ideologies and restrictions in fact led Hester to commit her sin. Hester was allowed to only marry once to a man in Puritan society. With her husband presumed dead and gone for seven years of her life, the rest of Hester’s life would comprise of being a widow. If perhaps she could have re-married, her sin would have never been a sin, but since Puritan society knew of her past, the restriction was applied to Hester.

        In conclusion, Hawthorne shines a light on Puritan society throughout his novel. With Hawthorne’s grandfather being a judge in the Salem Witch Trials, the history of Puritan society was indeed Hawthorne’s family history as well. Understanding the background of the Puritan faith and society is crucial to understanding the severity of Hester’s sin as well as the Salem Witch Trials. The Puritan lifestyle did not match up with Hester’s lifestyle, and so followed her letter, her bastard daughter, and her secret affair. Soon the Puritan lifestyle would not agree with nineteen men and women, and result in a dark piece of American history. Hester is an individual example of the tyranny Puritan life had over her. Through experiencing the scorn Hester receives and her own internal struggle, Hawthorne portrays how the restrictions of Puritan society ripped apart one woman, and in turn, would continue to rip apart an entire town.

            

 

 

 

 

Annotated Bibliography

 

Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. New York, London: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1988       Third Edition. Print.

Hawthorne’s novel, The Scarlet Letter, is the base of this essay. It introduced the story of Hester Prynne and her struggle living in Puritan society. Hawthorne’s grandfather was a judge in the Salem Witch Trials as explained in the preface to the novel, The Custom House. The novel reviews a woman who committed the sin of adultery, and must wear a letter A on her chest to publicize her sin, and to humiliate her. The punishment leads in to a whirlwind secret romance, shame, and emotional turmoil for Hester. The punishment takes place in a Puritan society, where the severity of her sin is analyzed through Puritan history that Hawthorne had a tie to himself.  

 

Famous American Trials: Salem Witchcraft Trials 1692. University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. Web. 2 Dec. 2010. http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/salem.htm

This web page provided by the University of Missouri-Kansas City is a recollection of all things, people, and events held in and around the Salem witch trials. The Salem witch trials were a series of trials held against accused individuals in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692. Since Hawthorne’s novel, the basis for this research paper, was located in Salem Massachusetts and was a prologue to the trials, I found the information on the trials extremely insightful to the Puritan society that both the novel and the era encompassed.

 

University of Notre Dame. “Puritans.” University of Notre Dame. Web. 2 Dec. 2010. http://www.nd.edu/~rbarger/www7/puritans.html

Kay Kizer, the author of this web article, gave an in depth explorative essay on the Puritan religion and lifestyle. This was useful in my research to back up character descriptions Hawthorne used in his novel. Understanding the Puritan past and its history gave me better insight to fully develop my analysis of Puritan society and its direct connection with The Scarlet Letter.

Kim Rolin
Rough Draft: Puritanism and the Scarlet Letter

    Puritan beliefs have had a strong influence on the roots of early American History. Nathaniel Hawthorne briefly touched upon the lives of puritans in his novel, The Scarlet Letter, and the trials and tribulations they shared in their faith. Their  strict set of principles and controlling faith have most famously led the puritans to be tied to persecution. Puritan morals set a guideline to all of those in their faith, and those who crossed the line faces humility, scorn, punishment, isolation, and even death. All of the restrictions imposed on this group of people foreshadows the horrific events taken in early American history. It is important to realize what these restrictions were and how they effect the characters in Hawthorne’s, The Scarlet Letter.
    As The University of Notre Dame states, Puritans believed in “conversion not repression.” Those outside of the puritan faith were acceptable, but unless converting to the Puritan faith was wanted by these outsiders, many of them had to leave the Puritan colonies. The Puritans were formed in America. Those who dissented the Church of England created a new faith that could only be acceptable away from the church and it’s leaders. The puritans believed the Church of England was a “product of political struggles and man made doctrines.” (UND) They decided to immigrate over to America, where they could practice their pure belief in God. The Puritans believed in predestination, the idea that God had a destined plan for every person, usually before they are born. Work ethic was an important part of puritan society, as puritans believed that work was an honor to God and that work could be a reward to get into Heaven. This same principle was used in concentration camps in Nazi Germany. Above the concentration camp Auschwitz, there was an inscription over the gate reading, “Work makes you free”.
    It was a strict lifestyle that kept most Puritans grounded in their faith. However, with a no forgiveness policy, extreme precautions and consequences were taught and given to those who were seen to disgrace their faith. Hester, the protagonist of Hawthorne’s novel, receives an “A” for her sin of adultery and is scorned for the duration of her life for her sin. In 1692, the Salem witch trials took place. A series of trials that took place in Salem, <Massachusetts by the Puritans. A mass hysteria swept over Puritan society, accusations and disapproved behavior led many women to be judged on whether or not they were witches. Although men were sent to the gallows as well, it was mostly women being accused of being coerced by the devil. Nineteen were hung, one man was pressed to death, and another four died in prison. At least, that was what was recorded.
    In Puritan society, men were the most elite figures. Patriarchy played a heavy hand in the Puritan lifestyle. Women were wives and mothers, and without the leadership of a man, women were expected to stray from their pure belief in God. Education was a very important cornerstone of the Puritan faith. In fact, Puritans established the first formal school in America, the Roxbury Latin school in 1635. (UND) Four years later, Harvard college was established by the Puritans as well. Women were seen almost as a reward to men, but certainly not treated as one. The professions of women in puritan society consisted of mother, wife, and especially if you were a widow, a teacher. These were the only honorable positions for women to upkeep, and if they did not fulfill these duties to the highest expectations, usually from men, they were scorned. Hester who was abandoned by her husband for seven years, clearly had an affair with the birth of her daughter Pearl. Though her affair remains unknown by the public of Salem, Hester has failed her role as a woman in puritan society. Overlooked however is her husband, known in the novel as Chillingsworth. He abandoned his wife in a different country for seven years, and yet there are no repercussions given towards his behavior.
    Hawthorne expands upon the puritan system and its workings in The Scarlet Letter. Hester’s sin of committing adultery effects every aspect of her life. Just as she is isolated by the townspeople, her isolation becomes physical. Hester lives on the outskirts of the village, apart from everyone else. Even her daughter Pearl seems to be isolated by her Mother’s sin. For example, Pearl has become so accustomed to seeing the A on her mother, that when it is not upon Hester, Pearl demands the sin to be replaced. To pearl, the sin defines her mother. Hester can no longer be a person in this society, without her sin defining her.
    Yet sins were cast out for everything. The Scarlet Letter gives a preface to the life and times of a displaced member of Puritan society; Hester. Notable “sins” in the Puritan society were punished, but what Hawthorne foreshadows in the relationship between Hester and Dimmesdale is just an insight to how far the Puritan society goes with defining sin. Soon accusations were being treated as fact, rumors were undeniable, and the townspeople of Salem turned on each other in such a tyrannical setting. With a society bound so tightly, freedom came with a price. It was as easy to disguise your sin or wrong doing by blaming it on another person. Eventually, seemingly harmless complaints became the go to excuse for these oppressed people. A neighbor with more land may be ratted out by another neighbor for being a witch. Once punished, that underprivileged neighbor becomes a better member of society. Punishment escalated quickly, from wearing a letter that represented your sin, to death by accusation.





http://www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/salem.htm
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/salem/salem.htm

http://www.nd.edu/~rbarger/www7/puritans.html

The Scarlet Letter

I love this book! Actually, I do not. I had to read both this book and The Crucible in high school and at least in The Crucible, the people were full blown crazy. I didn't however read the Custom house. Though I have been advised not to read this, because it is very difficult to get through and understand. Difficulties with the book are limited for me, since I have read it before. I just don't like the book very much. The ending is really great, and Hawthorne's character development is done well, especially with Pearl. I never understood why Hester's husband who was so distant from her in the past, and seemed to be a terrible husband, all the sudden becomes involved in her life again when he hears a rumour that she may have had an affair. OOH what a caring man. And then he goes undercover. It's a bit psychotic to me and i never understood this deep revenge he had. Hawthorne never really got into his character too much to give him a good background and make the story more powerful when we realize who Roger Chillingworth is. There's a lot of give and take in this novel and although I do like the ending in a way, it's terribly depressing and a bit disappointing to the rest of the story, but I like how Hawthorne wrote it, that is. His use of foreshadowing and other literary elements does define his work very well. I don't have many difficulties with this text, other than it can be painfully boring to read.

Exam

Part I

Protagonist: The narrator, woman, “Jane”

Plot: The narrator has been deemed mentally unwell, and must remain house/bed ridden until her “disease” is curable. She walks the reader through her day by day imprisonment, and her relationship with the yellow wallpaper. While being forced to stay in the house, she begins to hallucinate a woman inside the pattern of the old wallpaper in her bedroom. In the end, the woman trapped inside the pattern, represents her and many other women who have their problems silenced.

Character: The narrator of The Yellow Wallpaper is a very normal woman. Through her “prescription” to stay bed ridden, we see her morph into insanity. Her intense asphyxiation on the wallpaper engulfs her into obsession and the polite woman who laughed and joked and was in love, suddenly becomes a crazed individual creeping around her room.

Rising Action: The narrator discovers a woman/women moving within the pattern of the wallpaper. She wishes to free them.

Epiphany: She decides to release the women from the wallpaper when John is away. The narrator realizes that John and Jennie are distant from her and cannot see her sickness. She is going to try to prove that there are women trapped behind the wallpaper.

Resolution: The narrator no longer is trying to free the women from the wallpaper, but associates herself as being trapped within the pattern. She finds comfort in the wallpaper, as a new home, instead of fearing it.

The narrator’s sickness is overlooked because she is a woman. If we look back to the date in which this piece was written, 1899, women’s primary directive was to be seen and not heard. Women couldn’t even vote yet, until 1920, so who should listen to them? And their “made up problems.” Gilman definitely channeled the ignorance most displayed to women at the time. Even today, men can put down women in the same sense. Women are seen not to have any real problems, if we’re sad or angry it’s because we’re on our period. Gilman created a voice and a scenario for the silenced women suffering from a sickness paralleled with the narrator’s.

Part II

I go down.

Rung after rung and still

The oxygen immerses me

The blue light

The clear atoms

Of our human air.

I go down.

My flippers cripple me,

I crawl like an insect down the ladder

And there is no one

To tell me when the ocean

Will begin.

            The narrator clearly expresses that she has to do this alone. Yet, when the oxygen immerses her, she describes the air as belonging to more than one person. Our air. This stanza represents her struggle to discover the wreck. She is shrouded with fear, comparing herself to a lone insect and being without the knowledge or compassion of others. No one is by her side, and she starts to feel out of place. Her flippers “cripple” her, and her journey down the ladder seems torturous. “Rung after rung and still” is discussing how the narrator continues to descend, continues to search, yet her realization of being alone frightens her.

            The narrator of this poem is expressing this part of her journey as if she does not have a choice. She keeps repeating that she is alone, that she is in awkward equipment, that the place she is searching for is empty, like her. For example, why would she compare herself to an insect? Bugs aren’t the most pleasant thing to think of, and many people dislike them. Most insects will drown in water. Is she considering this journey to be her fate? The narrator is hesitant to continue down the ladder, comparing herself to an insect, and noting once more that she is alone. Through this stanza we can determine that the narrator is nervous about her journey and finds herself second-guessing the dive into the wreck.

Girl Response

Wear your hair down, unload the dishwasher, Can you make dinner? You're not making it right!, Use this lotion, Pluck your eyebrows, You look best in pink, Stop dying your hair, I think you'd look better if you lost some wait; you were so pretty when you did ballet; stop sleeping with guys, stop sleeping with guys who don't love you; stop selling yourself short; don't go into that career, but do what you want; let your nails grow; stop bringing strays home; don't smoke, don't don't don't But I do well then, fine; I'm sorry; vaccuum, feed the dog; listen to me and not your father; listen to your father; don't be out too late; call me; I'm so glad you're not like your brother; and why can't you be more like your brother? You eat too much; You never eat; Have faith; this is how you make bleenies; this is how you make artichoke sauce; this is how you decorate a tree; This is why I love you; have fun, be safe; Where the hell were you?; Don't talk back to me; grab a coat; This is how you make ambrosia; this is how it's supposed to be; those jeans are too tight; clean your room. clean your room. You need to clean your room; be the strong capable woman I know you are now, not like how you used to be years ago; Break up with him, keep him; call your brother; water the plants, don't drown them!; this is how you do laundry; my cookies are better than yours; I'm so proud of you; what are you doing with your life?; you need to help out more around the house; I'm so glad you're starting to look like me; you are so smart; don't talk like that; This is what happened last night and why i'm so mad; do your homework; do your best, always; I love you; I love you too Mom.

Final Paper

Kimberly Rolin

English 1B

Knapp

10/5/10

The Gender Roles of Women in The Flowers

                        In Dagoberto Gilb’s novel, The Flowers, all of the female characters are objectified as property under the control of the men in their lives. The three main female roles, Cindy, Nica and Sylvia are scrutinized not only by their male counterparts, but by sociological factors and themselves. As different as the women are, all of them are commonly bound by their dependence on men. It’s the reasons why that individualize the women under the same male dominance.

                        Cindy for example, is a lonely, unhappily married woman. She got married too young, and craves the attention of other men. She is ignored by her husband, yet completely isolated in her own apartment day in and day out. Her constant need for physical attention is most likely stemmed from the fact that she believes she is much more of a sexual object, than a woman or wife to her husband. Paradoxically, she needs emotional support, but seeks it through casual encounters with various men. Being objectified as a lonely young housewife fuels her desire to be with other men. Her physical prow lace ironically stems from the fact that she is seen as a physical object by her husband. And yet, her dependence on men is just as strong as all the other women. Cindy is needy, alone, and scared. She is in an emotional trap that she is well aware she’s placed herself in. Even though she has a husband, she needs the constant approval of other men. For example, accidentally walking outside in her white bikini and begging Sonny, who is younger, to stay and make her happy. As damaged as her relationship is with men, she needs them to feel worthy.

                        This is apparent as well with Sylvia. Sylvia is portrayed as a beautiful Latina housewife, surrendered to her husband. Sylvia isn’t emotionally needy like Cindy, but her dependence on men stems from her financial instability. She married Clloyd for support, but desires freedom from her tyrannical husband. Sylvia would be very sufficient on her own. She’s young, beautiful, and a hard worker. Yet the benefits of being financed by her husband and having to go through less of a struggle to support her family, keep her tied to Clloyd. Sylvia is controlled by fear. Although she is Latina, she is not the stereotype that Clloyd thinks she is. Her “homemade salsa” is in fact store-bought, but she is too cowardice to tell him. Maybe it’s because she fears he will leave her, but she desperately wants freedom from him. So it could be the fact that she has developed the lowly woman role that all her fellow women seem to be under.

                        Then there’s Nica. Nica is much younger than the other women, but is experiencing the same reign of male dominance. There is no physical desire or financial need for men, but her tepidness comes from her own father. Her father expects her to take care of her younger brother, like a mother she isn’t ready to be. He often scolds her, ignores her, and doesn’t ever appreciate all she does for him and her family. At a young age she is expected to care and somewhat provide for her family, and does not object because of the fear she has of her father, and the love she has for her younger brother. She is trapped by her own family, who she cares deeply about, yet can’t seem to shake. She is controlled by a man just as Sylvia and Cindy are, but can’t even imagine a different life.

                        The Flowers is a place of low income families, odd characters, and beaten down women. Primarily located in a Mexican heritage neighborhood, perhaps it’s the cultural aspect that has these women trapped. Dagoberto Gilb illustrates the hardships of these women through their common prison. Single moms, unhappily married women, neglected children, and lonely old women are all seen in this familiar run down low income place called “home.” Yet obviously the males run The Flowers and their dominance places the females in a position where they might as well be slaves. After all, they entrust men to carry their burdens, when men are the primary source of their troubles. As the “enslavement” of these women continues, the women fall into a role. Without the men, they may be emancipated, yet their gender, culture, and status remain as a warning to what their lives would be without the men. In The Flowers, it is better to be seen as inferior than not to be seen at all. This is the role these women face, and their subservient nature towards men is only the better option of the two. In conclusion, Female dependence on men is strongly stemmed by the economic pressures and cultural stereotyping present in The Flowers; a place for submissive women.

Rough Draft

Kimberly Rolin

English 1B

Knapp

10/5/10

The Gender Roles of Women in The Flowers

                In Dagoberto Gilb’s novel, The Flowers, all of the female characters are objectified as property under the control of the men in their lives. The three main female roles, Cindy, Nica and Sylvia are scrutinized not only by their male counterparts, but by sociological factors and themselves. As different as the women are, all of them are commonly bound by their dependence on men. It’s the reasons why that individualize the women under the same male dominance.

                Cindy for example, is a lonely, unhappily married woman. She got married too young, and craves the attention of other men. She is ignored by her husband, yet completely isolated in her own apartment day in and day out. Her constant need for physical attention is most likely stemmed from the fact that she believes she is much more of a sexual object, than a woman or wife to her husband. Paradoxically, she needs emotional support, but seeks it through casual encounters with various men. Being objectified as a lonely young housewife fuels her desire to be with other men. Her physical prow lace ironically stems from the fact that she is seen as a physical object by her husband. And yet, her dependence on men is just as strong as all the other women. Cindy is needy, alone, and scared. She is in an emotional trap that she is well aware she’s placed herself in. Even though she has a husband, she needs the constant approval of other men. For example, accidentally walking outside in her white bikini and begging Sonny, who is younger, to stay and make her happy. As damaged as her relationship is with men, she needs them to feel worthy.

                This is apparent as well with Sylvia. Sylvia is portrayed as a beautiful Latina housewife, surrendered to her husband. Sylvia isn’t emotionally needy like Cindy, but her dependence on men stems from her financial instability. She married Clloyd for support, but desires freedom from her tyrannical husband. Sylvia would be very sufficient on her own. She’s young, beautiful, and a hard worker. Yet the benefits of being financed by her husband and having to go through less of a struggle to support her family, keep her tied to Clloyd. Sylvia is controlled by fear. Although she is Latina, she is not the stereotype that Clloyd thinks she is. Her “homemade salsa” is in fact store-bought, but she is too cowardice to tell him. Maybe it’s because she fears he will leave her, but she desperately wants freedom from him. So it could be the fact that she has developed the lowly woman role that all her fellow women seem to be under.

                Then there’s Nica. Nica is much younger than the other women, but is experiencing the same reign of male dominance. There is no physical desire or financial need for men, but her tepidness comes from her own father. Her father expects her to take care of her younger brother, like a mother she isn’t ready t o be. He often scolds her, ignores her, and doesn’t ever appreciate all she does for him and her family. At a young age she is expected to care and somewhat provide for her family, and does not object because of the fear she has of her father, and the love she has for her younger brother. She is trapped by her own family, who she cares deeply about, yet can’t seem to shake. She is controlled by a man just as Sylvia and Cindy are, but can’t even imagine a different life.

                The Flowers is a place of low income families, odd characters, and beaten down women. Primarily located in a Mexican heritage neighborhood, perhaps it’s the cultural aspect that has these women trapped. Dagoberto Gilb illustrates the hardships of these women through their common prison. Single moms, unhappily married women, neglected children, and lonely old women are all seen in this familiar run down low income place called “home.” Yet obviously the males run The Flowers and their dominance places the females in a position where they might as well be slaves. Female dependence on men is strongly stemmed by the economic pressures and cultural stereotyping present in The Flowers; a place for submissive women.

Sylvia Feminist Criticism.

Sylvia is the most dynamic character in The Flowers to me. I noticed a dichotomy between Sylvia as Sylvia and Sylvia with Clloyd. Sylvia still has many issues and insecurities, but less than the other women in the novel. For one, Sylvia knows she is beautiful. She was struggling supporting a family, but she was confident in herself. Just like Cindy, men made her feel appreciated, and the amount of attention she received from men definitely boosted her ego. Until financial stability became a more pressing issue, and she married Clloyd; who could provide for her and her family. As soon as she married Clloyd, her independence fell drastically. She was being objectified, and more stereotypically subjected by her husband. Clloyd desires control, but Sylvia desires freedom, and the once happy marriage starts to dissolve because of the mistrust and treatment of themselves. Sylvia who once started out fairly capable and strong, now is a trophy wife and desires the life she once had. Even though difficult, she realizes that Clloyd's control issues branch out to everyone around him.
Fear comes in to play as well. Before Clloyd, Sylvia didn't fear much about her own life. Granted, she wasn't the best mother, Sylvia didn't worry about her own well-being. Post Clloyd, fear has driven Sylvia into more of a reserved woman. She's definitely under the reigns of Clloyd, not just because of his demands, but because she now feels she needs him to live and be happy. Yet she's not happy at all and sneaks off from him. Yet, Clloyd feels like the big strong hero, the man of the house, but his insecurities on how important he really was to Sylvia begins to break him down. Typically in fragile relationships, we think of the woman as being the groveling one. Begging the man to come back into her life, being pushed around for not "doing the right thing," but clearly this is beginning to show in Clloyd. Clloyd realizes his demeanor around Sylvia is weaker. He tries to play up his manliness, but you can see him expressing worry and concern  when he is unaware of Sylvia's location. He is out of control, and will easily grovel back to her. More in an angry controlling matter, but still, Sylvia has an effect on Clloyd that she doesn't seem to see. The other women are basically weaker than Sylvia, which is why I like Sylvia as the female model. Sure, she isn't the best example of a dignified woman, but she has respect for herself. Her gender, status, and culture work against her however. She is a Mexican housewife by definition, but clearly she has no desire or capability to be one. And although her status effects her, we see that she can clearly be equal to her male counterpart by the way she chooses to harness that status and in turn, spin it around on him.

Critical Theory Questions

I'm really confused about the feminist critique. Well not confused, but it's just the one critical theory I am struggling with.

Themes

I'm not really sure if lonliness is a theme or not. It's the only real one that sticks out to me however. Everyone at The Flowers is plagued by some sort of emptiness or lonliness. The Flowers actually kind of reminds me of rehab. I've never been to rehab, but it just seems like all these people who collectively feel the same or have a common struggle are forced to be in this one place. I really don't think rehab is too helpful because of that reason, but I can't judge that. Anyway, everyone in The Flowers seems to be experiencing lonliness, even if they are in fact not alone, and even surrounded by a community. Sonny, for example is the prime carrier of this theme. He is very distant with everyone, and even though he brings a lot of it on himself, he is still lonely. Cindy binds to Sonny. It's kind of like a "You're unhappy I'm unhappy so we can make each other happy" kind of deal. But that's really the worst deal you could make. Cindy is very lonely and pines for the attention of others because she is unhappily married. Sonny's mom Silvia, who is also married, feels like her freedom is in danger and feels estranged from her husband and family. Nika's verbal abuse from her father seperates her from her family and because of the abuse she suffers, believes she will always feel unworthy and in turn, be lonely. Clloyd is even lonely. His constant control over Sylvia is backfiring in a way and he begins to feel like because he doesn't have control over her, he is distant from her. We can see him in the story being concerned about her, but it doesn't seem like it's for her well-being, but more for his own re-assurance. Lonliness seems to be a prominent theme between all the people in The Flowers.

Personal comparison to The Flowers

I really relate to Sonny's desperation to go to France. For me, it's not just France, but to travel all around the world and see different cultures, and live how they live. What i relate to even more is the fact that no one quite takes Sonny seriously with his dreams. My family really does support me, but when I read a quote from Clloyd in response to Sonny it was almost like hearing it verbatim from others. Clloyd said with a smile on his face, "The boy don't think cheap, I give that to him." (Pg 14) The kind of mock behavior which is logically sound is disheartening. Both sonny and I have thought about the expenses and just how unattainable it may be for young people, but the dream far exceeds that aspect. In a reader response, Sonny's break-ins are kind of parallel to his dream of visiting France. He breaks in to other people's homes around him, in his neighborhood, to view their different cultures, relationships, etc. Since he can't escape to somewhere he desires, he settles for fulfilling a part of his curiosity and dream this way. While a lot of people think it's weird, and in a way it kind of is, Sonny's passion for France should be appreciated. Many teachers, counselors, and elders have told me to take advantage of my youth and see the world. I think Sonny may feel subconsciously trapped as well. With his mom being so young and beautiful, and witnessing the odd or seemingly damaged relationships of those around him, I believe he fears growing up in the same enviornment. Since Paris is such a different setting, he yearns for a place so opposite of the disfunctional establishment he calls home.

Character Description

Silvia

• Distant/detatched
• Confused
• Feeling of being "trapped"

My mother never

stops worrying. In the past, it was very troublesome. I felt constricted in comparison to all my other friends' families. But now i'm gaining insight to my mother's worrying. Her whole life she's been a caretaker. Growing up it was for her family, taking care of her younger siblings while both parents worked for the army. Then she became a teacher. Then a wife. Then a mother. Her whole life has always revolved around the safety, happiness, and well being of others. So much could go wrong. In a sense, she is very obsessive compulsive about habits, rituals, and the infamous 3 or 4 calls when I may be late by 10 minutes. As the years progress, i notice these traits in myself. I'm not entirely disturbed by them anymore. My mother worries because her compassion is overwhelming. And I'd rather have a mother who obsesses over my well being, than one who wouldn't give a rat's ass. My mother never stops worrying, and I secretly love that.
But sometimes I feel like slipping her a xanax. But only out of the deepest love I have for her.

Who Am I?

I am Kim. I'm in your english 1B class. I'm having an identity crisis.
My brother and I have the same birthday but we're exacltly four years apart. All my life I have grown up as the one and only sibling that ruined his peter pan party. The guilt tears me up inside.
I'm going to school to get a career to get paid to travel. What that is yet? I don't know.
My passions are poetry, art, music, travel, and the simple things in life.
I'm actually really interesting, supposedly, but I'm really terrible at these introduction things, and my taquitos are done. I'll see you in class!
So, I have to write more. Here it is! I'm currently 19 years old but about to turn 20. I live in Morgan Hill. I have a dog named buster who is really awesome, and I used to have a pet rat... sir edward... but he passed on a couple months ago. I work in retail. I am currently undecided on my major, and can't decide between the medical field, travel industry, screenwriting or some kind of writing, forensics, or becoming a pastry chef. Unfortunately for me, I have a lot of ambitions and I'm quite impulsive. So I guess I'm trying to figure out the who am I question myself. I was the one who screamed the other day in class about the pop up on the computer. I am easily frightened by sudden noises or actions. Once in a movie theatre, I accidently grabbed the guy's knee sitting next to me when something jumped out in a suspensful scene. His wife wasn't too happy. I tend to think of myself as a creative type. I'm a mash up of all different spectrums however. If I could sing or play an instrument well, I'd love to be a musician. I'm a cynical optimist. In general, I hate people, but really deperately and genuinely try to be the best human being I can possibly be and to better understand people. I'm actually really friendly. I just might be a bit too sarcastic for some people.
I'm a nerd. Not really a geek, but a nerd. There's a difference. I'm still struggling to figure out aspects of my new smart phone, but I can talk with you about star trek, Lord  of the Rings, and comic books quite well. I just tried a chalupa from taco bell, so I guess you can say I like to try new things. (By the way.. it's like a pita taco. I don't know) By now, I'm rambling on about stuff you probably haven't wanted to read, unless you really are that interested in me. So for pete's sake, comment on my blog so I don't feel like a total embarassment. =)