The Minus Man Essay, Research Paper
Men and Women: Dogs and Sheep
The Wasp Factory is a novel that focuses heavily on the power of gender. It is a novel that associates masculine power and feminine weakness to animality. Within the novel, males are characterized as skilled, cunning, smart, and powerful; they are associated with dogs. On the other hand, women are viewed as stupid, docile, and frightened; they are associated as sheep. Each of these characterizations is made clear by viewing what Francis Cauldhame is (sheep), and what she desires to be (dog).
Women are one of two of Frances Cauldhame’s greatest enemies. According to Frances, women are weak and stupid. Because they are weak and stupid (pg.43), they will always be inferior. In Frances’s mind, women posses no power.
In regards to animality, this same view about women is directly associated with sheep. Frances believes that sheep are also stupid and weak. He claims that he “used to despise sheep for being so profoundly stupid”(pg.145). Since both women and sheep are stupid, weak, and powerless, then it is clear to presume that women are sheep. Each creature contains the same attributes, and in the mind of Frances they are no different (other than appearance). So therefore, women can easily be viewed as sheep.
Frances hates sheep. Since sheep are women, then this partially explains Frances’s hatred toward women. This hatred is the cause of great conflict. Frances is a woman. Therefore since Frances is a woman, then because of the similar characteristics then she is a sheep as well. She becomes associated with weakness, therefore becoming associated with sheep. Being both a woman and a sheep, Frances is what she hates. So therefore, Frances not only hates women and sheep, but she hates herself as well.
In regards to Frances being a sheep, it is clear to state that the island in which Frances is confined is a pasture. It is a place that she can gaze, wonder, and explore, but still remain in confinement. The idea of a pasture is such that it is a place in which something can grow and develop until its desired goal is reached. For sheep, they graze and eat so as to develop suitable wool. For Francis, her home, her pasture, is a place of struggle. It is a place that confines her true desire. A desire focused on the power of becoming a man.
According to Frances, to be a man is the most honorable and greatest power one can posses. Men are smart, cunning, brave, and most of all, powerful. These characteristics are also associated with those of dogs. In order to become a man, Frances must become as dog-like as possible.
Francis’s mission in becoming a dog is directly related to territory. All dogs mark their territory by urinating on trees, bunkers, plants, and etc. This gives the dogs a sense of boundary and power. In becoming a dog, Frances adopts their natural instinct. On his island, Frances urinates on his sacrifice poles so that he can gain the same sense of power that is associated with the dog. Frank says, “I didn’t need a pee because I’d been pissing on the Poles during the day, infecting them with my scent and power”(pg.16). This act clearly demonstrates Frances’s view on how powerful it is to become a dog and ultimately to become a man.
Within The Wasp Factory it is easy to see the power of gender as it affects the mind and the actions of an individual. More importantly, it is the relationship with animals that relates feelings of inferiority and power with femininity and masculinity.
The Wasp Factory is about how an individual views his/herself and how that same individual views other aspects of society, mainly animals. In examining how Frances views his own identity with how he views certain animals, it is easy to conclude that his feelings about sheep and dogs are identical with his feelings about men and women.
Bibliography
McCreary, Lew, The Minus Man
Другие работы по теме:
Логарифмические уравнения
Данная система упражнений может быть использована в качестве дополнения при изучении темы «Логарифмические уравнения» к любому учебнику по алгебре для 10-го класса.
Товароведение книжных товаров
080402.51 « ». « - ». « », « », « », « » . . . 1. - « XIX XX . , , , , , ), , , .
Станчик
(ок. 1480 − ок. 1560) (польск. Stańczyk) − придворный шут польских королей: Александра Ягеллона (1501−1506), Сигизмунда I Старого (1506−1548) и Сигизмунда II Августа (1548−1572).
Совет экономических консультантов
План Введение 1 Председатели совета 2 Члены совета Список литературы Введение Совет экономических консультантов (англ. Council of Economic Advisers) — группа академических экономистов при президенте США; часть системы исполнительной власти Соединенных Штатов.
Poem Fading Away Essay Research Paper as
Poem: Fading Away Essay, Research Paper as i gaze at the falling rain trying to get away from all the pain som uch tension rising in the air dying inside does anyone care
Romeo An Juliet Essay Research Paper hi
Romeo An Juliet Essay, Research Paper hi i need an essay about a character in romeo and juliet that demonsrtated maturity. in a well developed multi pagraph essay and say why you think the character’s maturity was greater than the other characters in the play.
Math Portfolio 2
Math Portfolio #4 Essay, Research Paper Math Portfolio #4 Part One. Zoe. 322p Using the formula p r2 we will find the area of the main circle. 1024p This is the area of the circle. 45. + 90. Let s find how much of the circle we need to remove, in order to subtract the barn. 135. This is how many degrees we need to remove from the circle. 135/360 We need to find an actual fraction for what we don t need. 3/8 This is how much we don t need. 5/8 This I how much we do need. 5/8 + 1024p This is the area of the circle minus the barn. 640p This is the area of the total circle. + + 152p We had 2 parts that Zoe could get to subtracted when we subtracted the barn.
Multi Strand Science Essay Research Paper NAME
Multi Strand Science Essay, Research Paper NAME: DUE DATE: YEAR 12 MULTI-STRAND SCIENCE Choose ONE of the following local industries and prepare a resource management case study for that industry.
Oh Really Essay Research Paper Oh Reallyyou
Oh Really? Essay, Research Paper Oh Really, you think i am a lark, the dogs they run and bark, but when i say to them, shut up shut up shut up, you say to be nice to them,
Guys And Girls Essay Research Paper WELL
Guys And Girls Essay, Research Paper WELL here’s a few reasons why guys like girls 1. They will always smell good even if its just shampoo 2. The way their heads always find the right spot on our shoulder
Violence Essay Research Paper Apr 8 1996Vol
Violence Essay, Research Paper Apr. 8, 1996 Vol. 4 – No. 68 Poll blames many ills on, what else, TV A new poll blames television for many of society’s troubles. It found that more than two-thirds of Americans believe TV contributes to violence, erodes family values and fosters a distrust of government.
Shane Essay Research Paper Sometimes I need
Shane Essay, Research Paper Sometimes, I need you more than I need air And sometimes I miss you more than I will forever, never forget the times that we have shaared. The are priceless
Poem Belong Essay Research Paper Where I
Poem: Belong Essay, Research Paper Where I belong I am weak, I am strong I will fit where I belong don’t know where it is for now but it will come, if I allow tomorrow, I start a brand new day
Him Essay Research Paper I think about
Him Essay, Research Paper I think about him day and night The though won’t go away And, oh, how I would hold him tight every second of the day He is perfect, that is true, not an average me or you
Poem She Sat Essay Research Paper She
Poem: She Sat Essay, Research Paper She sat… helpless in her room praying to whatever god there may be to let her call to him. could god ignore such a painful cry?
School Essay Research Paper School Where
School Essay, Research Paper School! Where did they come up with that name? I guess because it rhymes with lame Now this rhyme you read will be quite corny Please don’t get upset, mad, or horny
Ode To Boys Essay Research Paper We
Ode To Boys Essay, Research Paper We like them But do they like us The ones we do never fuss They don’t stop in And we wonder why We stress, we bitch We sometimes cry
Crying Again Essay Research Paper The Sky
Crying Again Essay, Research Paper The Sky is crying again And i am crying again. When did it start? When will it end? How’d i wind up with out a friend? Tears from my heart cling to my soul.
Life Is Like Essay Research Paper Life
Life Is Like Essay, Research Paper Life is like a car. When it?s new, it usually works all right. As time drives by, it breaks down and needs repairs. Life is like a leaf. In its youth, it
Dare Essay Essay Research Paper What DARE
Dare Essay Essay, Research Paper What D.A.R.E Means To Me Dare has prepared me to say no to drugs in eight different ways. If anyone asks me to do drugs I will know what to do, such as- just ignoring the person or just
The Playground Essay Research Paper I have
The Playground Essay, Research Paper I have a friend I used to know who had a playground where we would go The times we had are fresh in my mind but they are from another time