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Feminism and Oppression of Women in Trifles and Raisin in the Sun

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Jessica Sanders
Feminism and Oppression of Women in Trifles and Raisin in the Sun

Trifles by Susan Glaspell and Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Vivian Hansberry are two different works, but both of them are rather popular among the American population as they reveal the oppression in the 20th century. That time was difficult for both African American and white women as during that period white men tried to be the rulers of the world. A woman was perceived as a housewife. Her main job was taking care of her husband and looking after the house. She had no freedom and no rights. African American women had also a difficult time. It should be stated that both plays express the feminist vision of the events. These two different plays reflect the time when the U.S. was poised by the social upheavals. The works Trifles by Susan Glaspell and Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Vivian Hansberry contain various elements of feminism and oppression of women.

Trifles by Susan Glaspell: The main theme of this work is a female oppression that existed in USA at the beginning of 20th century. Women were treated as if they were servants. There is one phrase in the text that proves it. Nothing here but kitchen things. At first sight, it is a neutral statement, but it contains negative connotations. Author of this phrase considers that the kitchen things are not important at all; thus, it might be assumed that he simultaneously minimizes women’s place in the society. They are just women. Stupid creatures used for creating and raising the children and cooking supper. It is their main mission in this world. Men could not imagine that women might have their own interests, hobbies and viewpoints. This story shows that women had their own wise thoughts and opinions, though nobody took them into account. It should be emphasized that through the depiction of women’s oppression and true female nature, the author allows her progressive feminist political views to come to the fore. The plot of the play depicts the men who investigate the murder and their wives who come with them to the victim’s house. Men consider themselves to be the first class detectives. They inspected the house in order to find the details of the murder. Their wives came in order to take some things for the wife of the victim, who is suspected to be the murderer. Sheriff and attorney examined the kitchen, and after that they inferred the only thing: Mrs. Wright was a horrible housewife. Dirty towels! Not much of a housekeeper, would you say, ladies? After that they went upstairs, which allowed women to penetrate that situation better. They noticed such nuances as the rotten fruit, unfinished quilt, half clean and half messy table, bread, left out of its box, and empty bird cage. They also discovered a fancy little box with a dead canary inside. There were thoughts that Mr. Wright killed the poor bird as he did not like its singing. Author deliberately used such an image in order to show how pejoratively women were treated in 1920s. This bird symbolizes desire of a woman to be free and happy. It should be noted that the main heroine was truly happy when she was a girl and her name was Minnie Foster, and after she got married, her husband oppressed her and she had changed greatly.

Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Vivian Hansberry: this drama is marked as a peak in black feminist playwriting that depicts the African American working class family. After the death of one man, his family comes into money and decides to change its life. The author portrays the differences in characters through the differences in their dreams, plans and wishes. The main difference between this play and Trifles is that the first one depicts the racial inequality. The author emphasizes those difficult conditions of living experienced by African American women. One should pay attention to the Hansberry’s depiction of Lena’s character. Lena is a complex heroine rather than a simple embodiment of the Black matriarchy myth. Hansberry managed to show what significant role Black mothers played in the African American home. Through the Lena’s character, Lorraine Vivian Hansberry expresses her feminist position. She depicts Lena not as a passive Mommy, who chooses the safe path, but as a rebellious woman, who is courageous enough to change her way of life in order to achieve a better life for her children. It's just a plain little old house but it's made good and solid and it will be ours. Walter Lee it makes a difference in a man when he can walk on floors that belong to him.

It is worth noting that in this play woman is a militant. She takes that step into the struggle, offering a fuller depiction of gender, which was simplified by other writers.

In conclusion, it should be stated that both plays Trifles by Susan Glaspell and Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Vivian Hansberry reveal a very important issue. It is an issue of gender and racial inequality. There has passed nearly a century, but these problems still remain a burning issue. Of course, today white and African American women have more rights than one hundred years ago, but the problem is that they still suffer from oppression and humiliation on the part of men.

About the author: Jessica Sanders is a bachelor in English philology and sociology at California University. Jessica is currently working as one of the best writers at the history by judith ortiz cofer summary She also studies feminine psychology.

 

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