’s Eye By Margaret Atwood Essay, Research Paper
Throughout the novel Cat s Eye by Margaret Atwood, Elaine Risley s relationships are almost always with people who need her more than she needs them. Cordelia, Mr. Hrbik, the drunken woman, and the boys Elaine dates in high school are all dependent on Elaine. Elaine depends on their need for her and is in fact drawn to neediness.
The boys Elaine dates in high school are her silent companions. She controls the relationships because she understands that what boys need is silence and she gives them that. Elaine acknowledges that she does not love these boys and she doesn t take the relationships seriously. My relationships with boys are effortless, which means I put very little effort into them. (254). The only part of the boys that Elaine claims to need is their bodies. She also needs boys to escape from the girls in her life, however. To Elaine, the boys she dates are a diversion, no more than something to take her mind off of her difficulty in dealing with girls. At this point, Elaine is innocent of the pain that men can cause because she only sees the pain that girls cause.
When Elaine reaches college, she begins a relationship with Mr. Hrbik, her Life Drawing teacher. She enters the relationship with innocence, and leaves it with an understanding of the complexities of adult relationships. In the beginning of the relationship, she respects Josef and lets him rearrange her. She recognizes early in the relationship that she is dependent on Josef s unpredictability in bed coupled with his desperate need. She is helpless in the face of this need. I am in love with his need. (315). When Josef s relationship with Susie is ended, the full burden of his need is transferred to Elaine. He is hurt by Susie s pain and ending of their relationship and he expects Elaine to comfort him. This proves to be too much for Elaine to handle. … he is too heavy for me. I can t make him happy… (342). She has realized that men are not always what they appear to be and so she is more mature. With her maturity, she is able
to leave Josef by simply walking away. Thus she ends the relationship with Mr. Hrbik.
When Elaine sees the drunken woman lying on the sidewalk she can t help but stop. She watches everyone else walk by, avoiding and ignoring the old poor woman, yet she can not bring herself to do the same. Elaine is weakened when she sees others in need. The woman calls out to Elaine weakly and Elaine can t escape- … she s got me now. (162). Elaine recognizes that
the woman is drunk and would be a burden but it is too late. Elaine helps the woman up and gives her money to fulfill her imagined obligation. The woman s desperation debilitates Elaine even as she tries to get away. Even though she helped the woman up and gave her money when no one else would, Elaine feels guilty because she walks away. She feels responsible for this stranger when in reality she is not. In this section, Elaine summarizes her powerlessness when
faced with others desperate need. In the clutch of the helpless I am helpless. (163).
Elaine is faced with a similar situation later in the novel when she is approached by a poor Middle Eastern girl who claims to be a poor mother of four, escaped from a war-torn country. She reacts in much the same way, giving the woman money and then walking away. This time Elaine points out that she has power over the girl and it makes her uncomfortable. She also, however, realizes that she does not have power over the situation, whether her story is true
or not, and this makes her no less uncomfortable. It s obscene to have such power; also to feel so powerless. (334). She sees the woman s hand as beautiful and her own as repulsive. Despite her own kind actions, Elaine views the poor woman as superior to and more deserving than herself.
All of the relationships that Elaine has stem from her relationship with Cordelia. She compares both the drunken woman and the poor mother to Cordelia. Of the drunken woman, she says Her eyes are not brown but green. Cordelia s. (163). When the poor Middle Eastern mother taps her on the shoulder, Elaine turns to the girl and calls her Cordelia. The basis for Elaine s association of dependency with Cordelia lie in her childhood. Cordelia is in control of the relationship. She tells Elaine what to do and how to feel. Elaine follows her because she is unfamiliar with female relationships. After Cordelia and the other girls they are friends with abandon her and she nearly freezes to death, Elaine reaches a turning point. In her own mind, she realizes that they needed her to be there so that they could mock her. In this way, they could feel better about themselves. They need me for this, and I no longer need them. (208). However, Elaine can t escape Cordelia s need. When they become closer again later in the novel, it takes time for Elaine to realize that she is in control. She becomes aware of this when they are in the cemetery. … energy has passed between us, and I am stronger. (250). Elaine develops a reputation for having a mean mouth and she takes particular delight in using it on Cordelia. Cordelia reaches out to Elaine when she is put in the asylum but Elaine deserts her. Instead of feeling guilt, she feels relief. It is a false sense of relief, however. Elaine is not able to fully understand that which she began to understand as a child until the end of the novel. She realizes all of the emotions that she felt when Cordelia was around- the fear and the need to be loved- when they were young were not her own. They are Cordelia s; as they always were. I am the
older one now, I m the stronger. (443). Cordelia needed to make Elaine feel insecure to cover up her own insecurity. Elaine always felt inferior, so she felt the need to be needed.
Cordelia s dependence on Elaine s insecurity set the stage for most of Elaine s future relationships. Elaine needed to be depended on so that she could temporarily feel like she was worthy, but the feeling faded eventually. And then she walked away.
Другие работы по теме:
MotherDaughter Relationships From The Joy Luck Club
Essay, Research Paper The relationships between mother and daughter brought up in the film, “The Joy Luck Club” are very conflictive. They reflect a great deal of the way in which mothers act towards their daughters and viceversa. The film shows a very realistic view of the mother and daughter relationships in our modern world; which are very traditional in many ways.
Waiting For Godot Essay Research Paper Friendships
Waiting For Godot Essay, Research Paper Friendships come in many forms. Some friends are extremely close and rely on each other. And others are casual acquaintances that just say hello every time they see each other. In the play Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett, the relationships between Vladimir and Estragon and Pozzo and Lucky are similar, yet by their contrast and effect is created.
Parent Relationships Essay Research Paper In many
Parent Relationships Essay, Research Paper In many of the works of literature I have read in this particular class, I noticed that many of the characters are parents. Which leads me to ask the following questions? How are parent/child relationships represented in early literature and how do these representations compare with representations, either real or literary, in our society?
Mutual Reward Theory Essay Research Paper MUTUAL
Mutual Reward Theory Essay, Research Paper MUTUAL REWARD THEORY (MRT) Working relationships are a necessary part of life and the functioning of an organization. The quality of these relationships can be measured by the quality of communication that takes place. One of the more important relationships that exist within an organization is the interpersonal relationship.
The Nothing Cause And Effect Essay Research
Paper The Nothing Introduction: The Trial and Death of Socrates, Romeo and Juliet and Huckleberry Finn are all classic literary works that involve a theme that reflects miscommunication. Defined,
About Honesy In A Relationship Essay Research
Paper About Honesty in Relationships Most people would agree that honesty is a moral value and very important in many aspects of life, especially in relationships between people. Without honesty most of the relationships, such as friendships, love -, family – or business-relationships, wouldn t work in the first place.
Immigration Essay Research Paper Obsessivecompulsive disorder has
Immigration Essay, Research Paper Obsessive-compulsive disorder has a dramatic effect on a person’s life. The obsessions and compulsions cause marked distress because they take at least an hour each day, and can significantly interfere with the person’s normal routine, occupational functioning, or usual social activities or relationships.
Relations Essay Research Paper RelationshipsMost people believe
Relations Essay, Research Paper Relationships Most people believe that their relationship is not like others. They don’t have problems. These kinds of people also think that their partner won’t cheat on them or do anything wrong. But the truth is that almost all relationships won’t last forever. A few reasons relationships fall apart are one partner cheats, they lose interest in each other, lack of communication which causes problems, if you try to change someone and it backfires, and if you hide something you should have told the other person and then they find out about it later.
Araby By James Joyce Essay Research Paper 2
?Araby? By James Joyce Essay, Research Paper Love at a young age is just an obsession. As children, our first relationships are object relationships. The people we like aren’t people; they are objects of our obsession, and our obsessions are driven by vanity and narcissism. We are obsessed with what we consider an ideal, something we create.
Night Essay Research Paper There are many
Night Essay, Research Paper There are many themes in the novel Night, by Elie Wiesel; some of these include loss of faith, father-son relationships, food and hunger, and disbelief. One of the most interesting theme is the father-son relationship. This theme can be seen throughout the novel with many fathers and sons.
How And Why Australia
’s International Relationships Have Changed Through Its Participation In Overseas Conflict. Essay, Research Paper In this essay I will answer the question- how and why have our(Australia’s) international relationships changed by our participation in overseas conflicts ? The answer to this is that we have had changed international relationships, more independence, it ended Australia’s isolation, it gave greater social rights to women, it affirmed Australia’s alliances with the world powers and most importantly it gave Australia an identity.
There Is No Gain Without Some Loss
Essay, Research Paper Jason Brown 8th period 11-8-00 ?There is no gain without some loss?. This means one can?t go forward in life without losing some things along the way. Relationships, work, and school all require making sacrifices to gain something. For example working requires giving up free time to make money, school also takes free time to study, and in a relationship time with friends is lost, but a girlfriend is gained.
Should Marriages Be Arranged By Parents Essay
, Research Paper Should marriages be arranged by parents? Discuss.Relationships are the most important things in life. And marriage is oneof the most important relationships. Having said that, it becomes evenmore important who arranges the marriage, whether its ourselves or someoneelse like our parents or friends.
A Review Of Personal Relationships After Sexual
Victimization Essay, Research Paper A Review of Relationships After Sexual Victimization Abstract Flangan and Furman conducted two studies to examine the links between sexual victimization and perceptions of romantic, parental, and peer relationships. An attachment perspective is proposed for understanding the impact of sexual victimization on close relationships for both high school and college students.
Relationships 2 Essay Research Paper RelationshipsEvery person
Relationships 2 Essay, Research Paper Relationships Every person goes through relationships at some point in their life, whether it s with your parents, friends or the opposite sex. Some are quite successful, and then there are some that aren t quite as flourishing. What causes these associations to fail or thrive, especially affairs with the opposite sex?
Relationships In The Odyssey Essay Research Paper
Relationships in the Odyssey Essay Throughout the Odyssey, there are many relationships that represent love between two people. These relationships show loyalty, compassion, and the wanting to be near one another. Two of these kinds of relationships are between Odysseus and Telemakhos, and Odysseus and Penelope.
Pygmalion Essay Research Paper In the play
Pygmalion Essay, Research Paper In the play Pygmalion, by George Bernard Shaw, lessons regarding speech, relationships, and the nature of society are taught. It is intensely and deliberately didactic .
Factors Of Development For Relationships Essay Research
Paper Factors of Development for Relationships Relationships are a very important part of life. They tend to bring our lives happiness. In my opinion communication with a person, and honesty with a person are the main factors that play the strongest roles in developing good relationships.
Controlling Relationships Essay Research Paper Controlling Relationships
Controlling Relationships Essay, Research Paper Controlling Relationships Controlling Relationships Being engaged to a controlling person sometimes causes you to lose control in every aspect of your life. Passive people like myself usually find controlling partners. Controlling people like my ex-fianc usually find passive partners.
Relationships In Cyberspace Essay Research Paper Relationships
Relationships In Cyberspace Essay, Research Paper Relationships in Cyberspace The Internet, is an ocean of technology, a land where ease of use and instant gratification rules. It is out of this primordial computer-ooze that a whole new way of thinking and acting is forming. Lives are being built, and destroyed in this world of bits and bytes.
Samesex Marriages Essay Research Paper Legalization of
Same-sex Marriages Essay, Research Paper Legalization of Same-Sex Marriages The right to marry should be a fundamental human right. Same sex marriages being legalized would make health coverage and other benefit plans available to gay and lesbian committed couples, it would allow the simple right to a minority to form a committed partnership with a loved one, as well as contribute to the public acceptance of same-sex relationships.
Privacy Essay Research Paper As laws policies
Privacy Essay, Research Paper As laws, policies, and technological design increasingly structure people’s relationships with social institutions, individual privacy faces new threats and new opportunities. Over the last several years, the realm of technology and privacy has been transformed, creating a landscape that is both dangerous and encouraging.
Lord Of Fliez Essay Research Paper The
Lord Of Fliez Essay, Research Paper The Red Dress and The Day of The Butterfly are two very interesting stories, written by an exceptional Canadian author, Alice Munro. Both of these stories are well written and can be associated with what goes on in today s society. The principal characters, human relationships, and the importance of symbolism exist, in both of these stories, strongly.
Interracial Relationships Today Essay Research Paper Please
Interracial Relationships Today Essay, Research Paper Please cut and pastIn today?s society interracial relationships are more prevalent than ever before. When we view interracial relationships more closely we are able to create an individual opinion based on our own cultural upbringing. We will look at interracial relationships from a cultural relativists perspective, as well as, an ethno centrist?s point of view.
Great Gatsby Essay Essay Research Paper The
Great Gatsby Essay Essay, Research Paper The Great Gatsby Essay In The Great Gatsby, there are three illicit relationships: Gatsby and Daisy, Nick and Jordan, and Tom and Myrtle. In some ways they are similar, and in some ways each is unique. In this essay, I will compare and examine each of the couples, and try to give some insight as to why none of the relationships worked out.
Extramarital Affairs And Marriage Essay Research Paper
Do extramarital affairs help or destroy a marriage? A lot of people say that having such affairs helped them solve the problems they had with their spouses, while other people?s marriages are destroyed by them. Do partners feel more comfortable in relationships outside their marriage and what could be the cause of that?
How To Maintain A Strong Relationship Essay
, Research Paper ?How to Maintain a Strong Relationship? I have been in a relationship with a guy for almost two years. I know two years is not really that long, but it has been a true learning experience. Every relationship has its ups and downs and its good and bad times. Looking at other relationships, I have observed that to maintain a strong relationship you have to recognize if certain characteristics have been acquired.
Love And Lust Essay Research Paper Love
Love And Lust Essay, Research Paper Love and Lust Love and lust are two very strong words with very strong meanings. In this class we discussed whether or not the two are related. Love and lust are two words that go hand and hand in relationships. They are emotions that are interlocked with one another. Without one it is hard to have the other and it also seems that in order to be in and stay in love, one must desire or lust after their partner.