Oppression of Women
The Oppression of Women
Women have been oppressed since the dawn of human civilaization, reminding us that people naturally segregate and mistreat one another.
Antigone
"We are only women We cannot fight with men, Antigone!"
Antigone
"Gentlemen, I beg you to observe these girls: One has just now lost her mind: the other, It seem, has never had a mind at all."
Antigone
"There are places enough for him to push his plow. I want no wicked women for my sons!"
In Antigone, women's oppression is a major theme. Ismene does not believe women can go against men, a common idea at the time. Creon mocks Ismene and Antigone and dehumanizes her as a sex object when he says "There are places enough for him to push his plow."
Antigone
"For they are women, and even brave men run When they see death coming."
Antigone
"Not to lose your head over this woman. Your pleasure with her would soon, grow cold, Haimon."
Antigone
"If we must lose, Let's lose to a man, at least."
Antigone has many more examples of sexism being the norm. Creon refuses to believe a woman could be equal or better than a man, as can be seen through his comments. He seems to think Haimon would get bored with Antigone regardless. He also refuses to lose to a woman.
The Story of An Hour
"There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with witch men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature."
The Story of An Hour
"What could love, the unsolved mystery, count for in the face of this possession of self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being!"
The Story of An Hour
"It was only yesterday she had thought with a shudder that life might be long."
In The Story of An Hour, a short story written hundreds of years later, women are still found in the same place in society. Mrs. Mallard's is told her husband died and she finds herself finally free to live for herself. It is her realization that self-assertion is more important than any other natural impulse. She only wishes to finally be free.
Chopin, Kate. "Kate Chopin: Complete Novels and Stories." Edited by Sandra Gilbert. New York: Library of America, 2002.
Sophocles. Antigone. F. Storr, Cambridge Massachusetts: Harvard University Press, 1912. Web.
Bio
Ainsley Rambin