Gender Roles

Question 1

Starting quote + analysis
(Women-Keats pov)

Answer 1

In LBD John Keats through,”She took me to her elfin grot,” uses mythological allusion to convey his distrust in females. His fear of women is accentuated in The Eve of St Agnes through,‘ To the spirits of the air and visions wide.’ Through the use of visual imagery women are portrayed to be deceitful as they can ‘cast spells,’ on men hence perpetuating the discourse that women are a danger to men.

Question 2

Starting quote + analysis
(Women- Campion pov)

Answer 2

Whereas Campion explores and subverts patriarchal construction of female identity thus rejecting the ‘femme fatal’ notion. The Color brown is a motif representing societal contraints placed on women. Campion employs Browns sexual double standards to expose patriarchal ideologies used to discriminate against women. It is through Browns condescending tone,”my modest hope is that the cost of the lesson will not be the poet,” that Campion highlights the binary nature of patriarchal thinking of female identity as either submissive or transgressive. Campion depicts the disempowering nature of treating women as objects of infatuation.

Question 3

How does Campion prove the disempowering nature of treating women as objects of infatuation (continued analysis)

Answer 3

This is seen through Fanny’s silence during the forest argument scene which ironically renders her a passive victim of patriarchal notions. Jane Campion transforms the ominous ballad (LBD) into a tribute of Fanny’s devotional love by subverting the narrative voice. Thus, positioning Fanny as the one left on the cold hillside and Keats as the enigmatic faery who will leave Fanny.

Question 4

Conclusion

Answer 4

The composer empowers all female characters in BrightStar to challenge the objectification of women and aims to espouse the reader to reflect on preconceived notions about women in society and we can change if there hasn’t been any progress