Simon de Beauvoirs, Raines, O Shaughnessys,Mailers Views Concerning Male Domineering and Feminism - Literature review Example

? Textual analysis essay Times of her time Simon de Beauvoir, is a female feminist, who has strong and different views that make sense on the role that is played by a woman in society. Beauvoir believes that women are not born, but they become one. According to Beauvoir (785), women are deviant and abnormal. This attitude is discouraging, in that women are unable to maintain success because they have the perception that they are deviant and that they are trying to make things look normal. Beauvoir argues that, everyone has myths about themselves. These myths are seen as the past of each gender, male and female. In her argument, she describes males as dominant over women. Men always try to be powerful than women by using some myths, while, in reality, this is not true. Beauvoir seeks to show that the myths that talk about women are indeed false and that in, reality, these women are different. These myths are developed because men are trying to be dominant over women, but in the modern world, this is not the case. Women are termed as equal to men. While the myths of men have indicated that males have control over females, this is not true today, and this is because things have changed and men no longer have control over women. Everything in today’s society is equal, and the myths that exist are no longer recognized, and they are far forgotten (Beauvoir 785). According to the version of Raines (72), men are powerful creatures in society, and they always see themselves as violent, virile and vital people. This is depicted in the character O’ Shaughnessy. This character sees him in front of a saloon with a gun, and as a frontier, he uses his skills of bullfighting to impress the blacks. In her argument, Raines says that the character is performing some rituals, by taking advantage of the blond Irish appearance. By so doing, he is revealing his strong place in society as that of a domineering male character. In the end, he is reduced to the status of a woman by his successful challenger who uses a knife to carve labium marjoram on his cheek. According to Raines the characters sex life has all the qualities of a fighter at war. This is further explained by the encounter O’ Shaughnessy has with Denise. The two are described as making love as fighters with physical violence and physical abuse. O’ Shaughnessy sees Denise as masculine in appearance and behavior. She is given the qualities of a kind lean force with muscles of a young boy who is aggressive (Raines 72). Raines further describes the character as one who admires the qualities that Denise has like; pride, intelligence, one with the force of will and an independent individual. He further wishes to have these qualities because he believes by that he can acquire them by defeating Denise and turning her into a more passive and submissive woman. Raines further argues that O’Shaughnessy sees himself as a hero (73). He sees his sexual dominance as a force that is revitalizing and one which allows him to successfully, win in all the situations of life. He is seen quoting his penis as the avenger (73) because it serves as a symbol of weapon in the war. Raines continues her argument that, in a, sexiest society, the sexual power is the most valuable item in the social and cultural power. After the encounter with Denise, O’ Shaughnessy is portraying the quality of dominance. In that, he says he must make Denise dependent on him (73) by bringing her to her first orgasm. He believes this will make him sure of victory at last. He is quite startled by Denise when she proves that she is a skillful opponent. Denise reveals to him that he has a feminine side that he does not know. This is because O’ Shaughnessy action in mouth love was passionate. He is wounded by these words, and he allows the female in him to betray his victory and finally Denise becomes a victor (Raines 73). However, O’Shaughnessy is quick to make excuses that would justify his failure to win. He states that Denise had won because she told the truth and had accused him of being homosexual. This point according to Raines is clarified, such that O’Shaughnessy has fear of female sexuality accompanied by the knowledge he has of a female victim. Furthermore, the comments of Denise help us to understand of Shaughnessy over Denise. Shaughnessy sees himself as a man who is virile and, therefore; Denise becomes his female opposite (Raines 73). He is seen fighting Denise to acquire her qualities of masculinity and at the same time to reduce her to a helpless and submissive female. Raines further states that O’Shaughnessy believes that he has added his own masculinity (Mailer 478). He has assumed Denise attributes, and this will increase his power and, therefore, defeat any qualities of the female in him. According to O’Shaughnessy allowing the female qualities to appear, will make him independent, fearful and conquered (Mailer 478). The real reason while he thinks women must be conquered. Raines concludes that there is a close identification between Mailer and O’Shaughnessy. She sees their work as that of male domineering with ideals of virility, violence and vitality. She says that they think in this world a man must be a sexual master to maintain and achieve the social power and because the female is inferior and to be female means to lose. On the other hand, mailer is entirely living in his own world, to unfold the events of times of her times. Mailer is a sexual adventurer. He is a lonely person who refuses to conform to norms. He behaves like an artist who has his own creativity and image. Mailer is an orphan and because of this he justifies his behavior by living on the teachings of the society (Mailer 478). According to Mailer the society is purely masculine (479). Mailer is fearful of the androgynous, the female and male duality. He is, therefore, forced to degrade women and dominate them. He acts to submerge the female character theta he may poses in his own personality. Mailer argues that if he allows any female characteristics to emerge will be risky and this will mean that he is weak and powerless in society (Mailer 500). He believes that the male traits are a mark of success, power and privilege. According to Mailer, masculinity is achieved through sexual dominance. He, therefore, equates life with sports and war in most of his work. He further envisions the world of today a one with images of violence and sex, the hostility among blacks in the neighborhood and ferocious gangs of tenement children (Mailer 501). Works cited Beauvoir, Simone de. Woman: myth and reality. A world of ideas. 7th ed. New York: Bedford’s/St. Martins. 2006. Print. Mailer, Norman. Times of her time: in advertisements for himself. New York: Putnam’s sons. 1959. Print. Raines, Howell Helon. Norman Mailers Sergius O’ Shaughnessy, villain and victim. Journal of women studies. Vol. 2(1) University of Nebraska press. 1977.71-75.Print. Read More