Verified Document

Mason/Allende Thomas King's 'Stories': A Comparison Of Essay

¶ … Mason/Allende Thomas King's 'stories': A Comparison of Shiloh and an Act of Vengeance

Our first analysis starts with the novel "Shiloh," written by Bobbie Ann Mason. The main binding story in Shiloh would certainly be the gender inequality featured right from the start -- Norma Jean is presented as being a reserved woman who highly depends on her husband, as such was the case during the 60's and 70's. The truth is otherwise; Norma Jean is working hard to become a strong woman, taking adult education courses at the community college and working at Rexall Drugstore to help out with the finances. This clearly shows us a stereotype from the era, the softspoken and uneducated woman of the 1960's. This gender inequality binds Norma Jean in a way that the perception of an outsider will always define who she is. No one will ever see her for the hardworking, independent woman that she is, thus she is bound to a major stereotype of the years she lived in.

This gender inequality can also be observed during the specific scene where Norma Jean decides to leave her husband: "Without looking at Leroy, she says, 'I want to leave you'…finally he says, 'No you don't'" (p. 280). This passage shows that while she decides to stand up for herself and become a person of her own away from Leroy, the man is still having the last word of the conversation.

It was mentioned before that Norma Jean had decided to get an education for herself in order to become a stronger woman; in those past years, this was an odd thing to do. Women did not need to get an education as they would be married...

"Something is happening. Norma Jean is going to night school. She has graduated from her six-week body-building course and now she is taking an adult-education course in composition at Paducah Community College" (p.277). Again, Norma Jean is being perceived as an odd number due to her gender and situation.
Her desire to gain more education can also demonstrates her willingness to make a place for herself in the society, a place other than the one she has at home as a wife. This could lead us on thinking that not only is society binding her to gender inequality but that she does feel the same way; she feels that the only way she can be a person and not simply a 'woman' is by engaging in activities that men do, such as getting an education.

Another example that would clearly demonstrate that Norma Jean herself feels bound to gender inequality is her interest in weightlifting. This type of activity is now popular amongst both men and women but, at the time, it was rather rare for a woman to engage in weightlifting and bodybuilding. Her interest in a 'manly' activity could suggest that she is trying to gain power, to inverse the roles in the relationship, as she knows deep down that a woman is only a woman in this society -- similarly to the education she is trying to get at the community college.

Finally but not least, it is important to mention the relationship that Norma Jean has with her mother, Mabel. The trip to Shiloh was Mabel's idea -- an idea that was supposed to help the couple reconnect and reunite with each other.…

Sources used in this document:
References

Allende, Isabel. "An Act of Vengeance." Short Stories by Latin American Women. Ed. Celia Correas Zapata. New York: Random House, 2003. 3-10. Print.

Mason, Bobbie Ann. Shiloh and Other Stories. New York: Random House, 2001. Print.
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Bodybuilding Body Building and Exhibition
Words: 1243 Length: 5 Document Type: Thesis

" It is obvious from this aspect of the research that body building can serve as an efficient way to assist in losing weight. Losing weight through body building is also efficient because of the metabolic benefits to the body that are derived. As such those that are trying to lose weight should implement weightlifting into their exercise regimens. Problems associated with bodybuilding One of the major problems with bodybuilding involves injury. Many

What Sort of Protein Supplements Are Good for Athletes
Words: 1177 Length: 4 Document Type: Essay

Products Whole Plant-Based Protein: Whole Greens Hemp from http://ergogenicsnutrition.com/products/WholeGreensHemp/ This product does work: it is a protein formula containing protein-rich plant-based ingredients, relying upon hemp for a protein basis that is comparable to that found in the human body. The product essentially meets the needs of the human body by providing a natural supplement. This is an excellent way to give the body what it needs. Not only does hemp have

Creatine or Glutamine As a Dietary Supplement
Words: 1407 Length: 3 Document Type: Research Paper

Dietary Supplement for Athletes or Bodybuilding Creatine is a dietary supplement that has been popular for more than thirty years amongst athletes and bodybuilders (Feldman 1999: 45). Its alleged benefits include enhancing muscle-building and recovery. The use of dietary supplements, particularly amongst adolescents and young adult athletes has increased in popularity and may even be endorsed by coaches and parents. Creatine is not recommended for young athletes because of questions

Masculinity, Gender, and Symbolism in
Words: 3014 Length: 9 Document Type: Essay

Austere diets are also common, and after winning his final title and announcing his retirement from bodybuilding, Schwarzenegger celebrates with a meal of 'real food' for the first time in many months. The ascetic as well as aesthetic nature of the sport is also underlined in the way that Butler's subjects, Schwarzenegger in particular, also embody femininity, however unconsciously in their physical obsessions and movements. Schwarzenegger even takes ballet

Human Body Is Made of 206 Bones
Words: 1775 Length: 6 Document Type: Capstone Project

human body is made of 206 bones and an estimated 500 muscles, most of which are skeletal muscles attached from one bone to another. While one end of the skeletal muscles attaches to a relatively stationary bone, the other attaches to a movable bone. Some of the major bones of the body and muscles attached to each include Tibia -- which is one of the bones in the lower leg

Character Development -- the Yugoslavian Bodybuilder Prologue
Words: 1269 Length: 4 Document Type: Essay

Character Development -- the Yugoslavian Bodybuilder Prologue Kristoff Savi-ic is a first-generation Yugoslavian-American (of Serbian descent) whose parents immigrated with their three children to the United States in the 1990, having narrowly escaped the Balkan Wars that ensued immediately afterwards in the early 1990s. At 29, he is the youngest of three much older brothers and he bore the brunt of considerably intense and somewhat cruel teasing on their part as a

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now