Natan

Question 1

Quote 3:
“The look on Natan’s face was not of derision but of scornful amusement. … ‘You’re a cheap sort of woman. I was wrong about you.’ … He dragged me down the corridor and pushed me over the doorstep. I tripped on the ledge, sprawling into the snow, naked. By the time I got to my knees, he had slammed the door in my face.”

Answer 1

Argument:
Under patriarchy, women are only of value when they reinforce the authority and needs of men.
Analysis:
- Characterisation of Natan as manipulative and cruel
- ‘scornful’ - suggesting uncaring- reveals Natan’s sense of superiority and lack of genuine emotional investment in Agnes, perceiving her as an object of amusement or disdain.
- ‘cheap’ – worthless and disposable- reduces Agnes to a mere object, emphasizing how Agnes’s value is perceived as dependent upon her conformity to his masculine desires, underscoring the absolute power that Natan holds. Agnes is not seen as an equal partner, but rather as someone who exists to fulfill Natan’s needs. When she no longer serves that purpose, he casts her aside, treating her as something to be discarded rather than a humane person deserving of respect.
- ‘dragged’ and ‘pushed’ – aggression and violence – Natan uses his physical power to assert dominance and power over Agnes. This physical aggression is a manifestation of the gendered power dynamics in their relationship, reinforcing the systemic power imbalance between men and women, where men exert control through both physical and emotional means, serving to degrade and disempower women.

Question 2

Quote 2:
“Natan always believed dreams meant something. … He built his church from wives’ tales and the secret language of weather. … When he caught me knitting on the doorstep, he accused me of lengthening the winter. ‘Do you think nature is not watchful of us’ he warned me. ‘She is awake as you and I.’ … ‘And as secretive.’”

Answer 2

Argument: Kent critiques the danger of relying on superstition to seek control and understanding in an unpredictable world, exposing how such beliefs can serve as a tool for blame and power over others.
Analysis:
- “wives’ tales” – superstition and folklore – Natan’s belief system is constructed not from religious doctrine, but from folklore and the patterns of nature.
- “secret language” - implies that nature and its forces are shrouded in mystery and hidden truths, allowing Natan to claim special knowledge and control over these mysterious elements.
- “accused” – blame and fault – Natan wields superstition as a tool to blame Agnes for natural occurrences and exert control. This demonstrates how the allure of secret knowledge can lead individuals to manipulate others and distort reality, often at the expense of rationality and accountability. By blaming Agnes for things outside of her control, Natan reinforces his authority and deepens her sense of powerlessness, using superstition as a means of domination.

Question 3

Quote 1:
“She said Natan had started giving himself some airs, calling himself Lyngdal, not Ketilsson, … not Icelandic in the slightest. María thought it was probably to make himself out to be a Dane, and I wondered that he was allowed to change his name at all. María told me that men might do as they please, and that they are all Adams, naming everything under the sun.”

Answer 3

Argument: Traditional gender roles enable men to freely shape their identities while women face stricter limitations and judgment, highlighting systemic gender inequality in 19th century Iceland.
Analysis:
- Allusion to the biblical story of Adam and Eve, specifically Adam’s role in “naming” all of God’s creations, aligns Natan with the authority Adam possessed. This reflects how men hold the power to shape their own identities and the identities of others, while women remain bound by societal restrictions and expectations.
- Natan’s decision to change his name to “Lyngdal,” a non-Icelandic name, reflects his desire to elevate his status by aligning with a foreign, more prestigious identity. Combined with the word “airs”, connoting arrogance or pretension, this highlights the fluidity with which men can navigate social roles with no fear of social criticism, a privilege afforded to them in contrast to women.
- Whereas, when Agnes changes her name to “Jonsdottir” she is regarded with judgment, revealing how society allows men the freedom to redefine themselves but scrutinizes women for doing the same, underscoring the gender-based double standards in 19th century Iceland.