Representation of the Female Gender in Novels of Sappho and Du Fu - Essay Example

In both Du Fu and Sappho's works, they assume a degrading perspective in representing the female gender despite the latter poet being a woman. The representation of the female gender in both works appears as vessels to satiate men’s desires, which this essay seeks to ascertain besides identifying other comparisons.
Women and gender representation by both poets in their works bear the same perception, though using diverse perspectives (Sappho, 2010). Sappho’s work utilizes a young man who is proving his prowess by winning the affection of an older woman, regardless of the latter initially showing hesitation. Sappho’s work implies that women are weak regardless of the principles, which they seem to esteem or desire in maintaining their dignity. This is evident in the way the older woman tries to advise her pursuer that he ought to find a woman of his age. She contends, “Go, choose for thee a younger bride” (Sappho, To a youth who wooed a woman older than Himself, 2010, line 6), but the pursuer maintains his stubbornness until he wins her affection.
Du Fu like Sappho holds the same perception in his work regarding the female gender. However, his depiction bears more exaggeration whereby the woman seems to offer herself to the officer instead of the latter pursuing her. Du Fu depicts the woman imploring officer to take her by stating, “Old woman strength though decline” (Du Fu, Official at Stone Moat Village, n.d, line 17), “Ask to follow officer night return” (Du Fu, Official at Stone Moat Village, n.d, line 18), “Urgent should Heyang work” (Du Fu, Official at Stone Moat Village, n.d, line 19). According to him, women do not have morals and principles that they can live by where they yield to offering themselves freely to satiate men’s desires (Du Fu, n.d). This is an archaic perception despite having exaggerations, which probably was evident during Du Fu’s period and in his society. Since, despite the husband being in hiding and the woman is aware he has heard, where she shameless implores the officer to follow him.
Besides, the two poets have elevated the superiority of the male gender contrary to that of the women. Men in these works seem to degrade the dignity of women whereby the latter is there for their service, hence no respect for them (Sappho, 2010). This is evident in Sappho’s work where the woman says, “Friend, woo me, not so earnestly” (Sappho, To a youth who wooed a woman older than Himself, 2010, line 1), “Vain is thy prayer” (Sappho, To a youth who wooed a woman older than Himself, 2010, line 2). The young pursuer does not have respect for the older woman, whereby after warning him, redoubles his persistence despite the woman being older than he is. However, the poet does not state exactly the woman’s age, but probably this was a big gap to the extent being the poem’s title (Sappho, 2010).
In contrast, the level of gender’s degradation by the two poets differs significantly, whereby Sappho’s male protagonist besides seeing his victim as easy prey, intends to be her suitor (Sappho, 2010). Besides, the man besides not having respect for the woman, his fondness is strong to the extent of deciding to pursue her, which is divergent to Du Fu’s work. Probably, maybe this is the reason he does not hearken to her advice of going for a woman who is of his age, though it is contrary to society (Sappho, 2010). Since, during Sappho’s era, it may appear a taboo in Greek culture, which is contrary to the present world. Conversely, Du Fu’s depiction of the female gender encompasses utter degradation to the extent of implying they do not have morals (Du Fu, n.d). This is evident from the hiding man’s wife offering herself and imploring the officer to take her to where he is heading (Du Fu, n.d). Du Fu’s degradation of women is also apparent from the way he utilizes the woman to expound about her grandson’s mother. The woman while explaining about her daughter she says, “Come and go without whole skirt” (Du Fu, Official at Stone Moat Village, n.d, line 16), which is almost similar to a harlot. Therefore, according to Du Fu, women exist to satiate men’s desires whereby due to their degradation, they have given in to society’s perception about them (Du Fu, n.d). This is because society has made them deem they are there for the male gender; hence, the woman offers to be making breakfast for the officer.