World Literature. Sor Juana Reply. Murray. Neoclassical

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World Literature
Part 1:
a. Sor Juana Reply
In this, document, the nun clarifies her position on the writing and evaluation of Scriptures. She explains that her education has the sole purpose which is her own intellectual development. Moreover, she is not well-versed and the work related to scriptures must be handed over to the experts in the respective field (Cowell). She also admits that the urge of learning has been present in her personality from the beginning. She elaborates this point further by stating that she does not know about the nature of this urge whether it is a curse or a blessing. However, she surely knows for a fact that if she tries to stop or fight the urge of learning a chain reaction takes within herself which makes her read and learn by making more efforts than before (Cowell).
b. Murray
Sargent Murray is considered as one of the founding members of the modern American Feminism movement. The author’s inspirations were her own life experience and the objective of the writing was to promote awareness regarding female education at that time. The American society at her time was considered as a male dominant culture with females having no access to the educational and professional resources (Cowell). Most of the writings by the author focus on promoting the female education and she claimed that in order to formulate good citizens and a reliable Republican structure, women must be given equal opportunities to the educational resources.
c. Neoclassical
Neoclassicism was the movement comprising of all forms of art (literature, theatre, poetry) in which the characters and actors play the role of classic Greek and Roman models. The Greek and Roman civilizations were considered to be ideal for the people involved in this movement. During the 16th and 17th centuries, the civil wars and unrest interrupted the sustainable development of the French Arts (Gossip 16). Most of the literature produced during that time was depicting the misery and unidentified medieval customs. The French Literature focused on portraying modern ideals according to the ideal societal framework of ancient Greeks and Romans (Gossip 16). An interesting feature observed in these literature pieces was the fact that most of the French artists knew only two forms of drama as tragedy and comedy and both cannot be mixed.
Part 2
1 Discuss the roles of women in Moliere’s play, Tartuffe. How do Dorine and Elmire display both intelligence and independence?
Answer: The play was written by Jean-Baptise Poquelin can be regarded as one of the plays which challenge and support the traditional roles for women. The play was written in the year 1664, and in the seventeenth century, the roles of women were quite different as we observe in today’s world. The women at that time were considered to be an assistant or subservient to their male counterparts (Gossip 16). The characters selected for this answer are Dorine and Elmire which portrayed opposite characteristics making the conventional roles of women as ‘conflicting’.
Then the role of Darien is selected as it gives a highlight of the conventional roles of the women in the society during those times. The role was written to challenge the traditional role of women in society. The character was considered Mariane’s servant, and the character’s attributes in the play are ‘honest’ and ‘blunt’. Unlike many women of that time, Dorine was not able to hold back any thought and had no problems at sharing her insights with other characters of the play. These characteristics were orthodox for women belonging to that time in the history, especially, when she is only a servant (Gossip 16). The characters interrupt the discussion between Orgon and his daughter. The character openly discusses here thinking about the marriage of Mariane with Tartuffe.
ORGON. “Daughter, I mean it; you’re to be his wife.”
DORINE. “No, don’t believe your father; it’s all a hoax”
(2.2. 12-14)
In those times the women were not allowed to talk to men in such blunt manner. Moreover, it was considered as impossible scenario when the woman’s role was nothing more than a servant. This rebellion is observed in the coming scenes of the play, and at one time Dorine is outraged at Mariane’s inability to stand up for herself (Gossip 17). The Dorine is not only blunt and honest in the conventional male/female encounter but also in the female/female interactions throughout the play. The following script is selected to elaborate the bluntness of Dorine.
DORINE. “Well, have you lost your tongue, girl? Must I play
Your part, and say the lines you ought to say?
Faced with a fate so hideous and absurd,
Can you not utter one dissenting word?”
MARIANE. “What good would it do? A father’s power is great.”
(2.3.1-5)
The Mariane’s role in the play portrays the conventional role of women in those times. The society was ruled by the concept known as ‘Patriarchy’. The concept in which the male members of the society have the ultimate powers and women are largely excluded from the decision making processes at political, administrative, and household levels. Women were not given any significant role in society and their sole responsibility was to serve their male counterparts. Once they reach the age of 20, it was expected from them to get married and immediately start producing children. The arranged marriages were common and practically women had no control or independence to decide anything for themselves. The roles of Dorine and Elmire were written to discourage such thinking in society.
The Elmire’s rol...