Gender boundaries Flashcards
“bloofer lady”
- lucy perverts maternal expectstions
- “white figure” connotes purity, which is deceptive just like the vampire brides.
- “held something dark at its breast” is a peversion of motherhood. Significant because motherhood was viewed as zenith of womens emotional and spiritual fulfillment.
- contrasts minas maternal instincts
Mina has mans brain and womans heart - voluptuous wantonness
- wheras mina has a mans brain and womans heart, lucy has a womans brain and a mans heart as she is lustful. men were viewed as incapable of controlling their sexual urges and therefore it was the eomens responsibility to do so.
- lucys sensuality is clearly a transgression of the gender boundary as women were viewed as incapable of experiencing sexual gratification. Because women were deemed responsible for a mans sexuality, lucy exerting her sexuality can be interpreted as lucrative and manipulative.
- This transgression of gender boundaries is seen as sinful.
” yet come again”
olivias’ interactions with cesario subvert the traditional gender framework.
it is portrayed as comic because of the dramatic irony. Shakespeare is avle to portray a situation of serious gender role subversion as humorous because olivia is not really acting this way towards a man. It is a genre convention of a tragicomedy.
olivia also has power over her uncle, someone who is an older man.
this subversion of power is associated with the 12th N celebrations from which the play is named.
olivias length of terms and use if imperatives “come again” “ be not afraid” “ i bade you never speak if him again”
Furthermore, Olivias interest in love is capricious and signifies moral weakness.
viola
Viola is played by a boy who is playing by a girl who is playing a boy- comedic. Dramatic irony.
Not only does the disguise itself transgress the gender boundary physically, Viola transgresses the emotional gender boundary by being pragmatic and independant which were qualities not associated with women.
