WH + ATSS Flashcards
How does Judith butler link to texts using appropriate quotes?
Catherine Earnshaw defies Victorian gender norms through her wild, untamed nature and desire for freedom, yet she ultimately conforms to societal expectations by marrying Edgar Linton for status. Demonstrates Judith butlers theory on gender preformativity.
“I wish I were a girl again, half savage and hardy, and free.” she has a desire for freedom, infantality comes with no expectations and responsibilities as a woman, downwards mobility, to become more priminal
“I’ve no more business to marry Edgar Linton than I have to be in heaven; - marrying for social status and pressures to comform as a traditional woman
ATSS
Judith Butler’s theory of gender performativity can be linked to A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, particularly in how Afghan women are socially conditioned to perform their gender roles under patriarchal expectations. Butler argues that gender is not an inherent identity but rather a set of repeated behaviors and societal norms imposed on individuals, which aligns with the way women in the novel are forced into submission and specific roles
“You will wear it. […] I want you to remember that only one thing matters now: your duty to me.” the role of a woman is to conform to patriarchal dominance
“This was the first time that she was deciding the course of her own life.” taking control, transgress the roles of oppression by killing rasheed, disruption of socio-political veiws.
Gilbert and Gubar
“I am Heathclif” - mad woman and protofemanistic veiw point of women rebbeling standards, that passionate women are seen as threats to the patriarchal order, she is able to resist the role of a passive victorian woman. Her tragic decline can be read as the novel’s punishment of a woman who refuses to fit into the “angel” or “madwoman” roles neatly, by embracing societal expectations of marrying Edgar.
ATSS
Mariam: The Oppressed “Angel” Who Becomes a “Madwoman”
Initially, Mariam is conditioned into submission, told by her mother:
“Like a compass needle that points north, a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman.”
She passively accepts her forced marriage to Rasheed, embodying the traditional “angel.”
However, she ultimately rebels against Rasheed’s abuse, killing him to protect Laila
death and self sacrifice is the only means of female power
“It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now; so he shall never know how I love him.” sacrificing personal happiness for social standing
“they were all there for the common offence of running away from home. As a result, Mariamgained some notoriety” - idolise Mariam as killing for freedom is universal for women but they could never do - martyr suffers or sacrifices their life for a cause, often religious causes
religion is weaponised
Catherine’s death is framed in religious terms, suggesting that only in death can she escape patriarchal oppression and reunite with Heathcliff: “I’m wearying to escape into that glorious world.” implies that salvation for rebellious women is only possible through death, reinforcing the tragic consequences of resisting societal norms.
“you will not speak unless spoken too” Taliban weaponises women belief in religion and faith in order to oppress them, modal verb “will” suggestive of a power dynamic highlighting conformity is expected
