In Edgar Allan Poe's short story “The Black Cat”, gender roles are questioned. Being considered feminine before, the unnamed narrator quickly faces not being able to meet social standards, leading him to pointing out his hypermasculinity. By claiming that hypermasculinity is closely linked to restricting men in their individual development, this paper is answering the question if Poe's construct of hypermasculinity is still present today and in how far it limits boys in their process of becoming an adult. Researches have found that men who tend to be less masculine are seen as less likely to have success in work surroundings. This could also apply to boys growing up. This paper will focus on Poe's short story “The Black Cat” and on other scientific works that took up on the topic of gender studies, like Mosher's and Tomkin's “Scripting the Macho Man” or Faye Williams' “Consequences of Hypermasculinity”. After taking into consideration a brief summary of the central short story, it will be analysed in how far Poe used reversed gender roles and hypermasculinity. Furthermore, the topic of gender roles at Poe's time and today are touched through considering which character traits were and are seen as masculine or feminine. Hypermasculinity and its consequences will be explained to understand the dilemma of such. The conclusion will take everything found out into account and summarize what that means for society.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Poe's short story “The Black Cat”
2.1 “The Black Cat”
2.2 Poe's reversed gender roles
2.3 Hypermasculinity in Poe
3. The development of gender roles
4. Hypermasculinity
4.1 Hypermasculinity today
4.2 Consequences of hypermasculinity
5. Conclusion
6. Works Cited
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the construct of hypermasculinity as depicted in Edgar Allan Poe’s "The Black Cat" and investigates whether these regressive gender role dynamics remain relevant in contemporary society to limit the healthy development of boys and men.
- Analysis of gender role reversals in Poe's literary work.
- Exploration of the psychological and social origins of hypermasculinity.
- The link between alcohol consumption, violence, and masculine identity.
- Sociological perspectives on the development of gender roles from the 19th century to the present.
- The consequences of suppressing emotions in the socialization of boys.
Excerpt from the Book
2.3 Hypermasculinity in Poe
In the beginning of “The Black Cat”, the unnamed narrator is portrayed less masculine, but that quickly changes when he describes that his friendship with Pluto lasted for several years but his character changed for the worse, when he started drinking alcohol, which he calls here “the instrumentality of the Fiend Intemperance” (224).
This character turn can be seen as the so-called 'hypermasculinity', which means an exaggerated form of masculinity that is associated with traits like viewing violence as manly and the degradation of women and everything displayed as feminine (Britannica). The over-exaggerated form of behaviour can for example be understood when the narrator picks up Pluto who bites him as a consequence of being picked up. While common behaviour would have been putting Pluto to the ground, the narrator starts getting furious and pulls out a knife to cut one of the cat's eyes out (224). In addition, he does not leave the cat alone after hurting him, but hangs it from a tree because he cannot stand the thought that the cat had loved him. Ann V. Bliss has found out that he rejects his former feminine traits in favour of aggression (96) as well as there is a discrepancy between what the narrator says and does as found by Vicky Hester and Emily Segir (183). Here the degradation of women and feminine things becomes clear, because most people would not imagine harming anyone and much less loved ones or pets (Hester 183). Pluto is called his favourite pet, but is later hanged from a tree and his wife that he loved was killed with an axe by him and buried behind a plaster wall. The reader can sense this even more by the fact that after killing his wife, he just calls her “the body” (228).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the research focus on hypermasculinity in Poe's literature and its persistence in modern gender studies.
2. Poe's short story “The Black Cat”: Reviews the narrative plot, identifies reversed gender roles within the domestic sphere, and defines the narrator's descent into hypermasculine aggression.
3. The development of gender roles: Investigates the historical and social evolution of gender norms, contrasting traditional expectations with modern influences on identity formation.
4. Hypermasculinity: Critically analyzes the modern foundations of hypermasculine behavior and the socio-cultural consequences for boys and men in society.
5. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, confirming the link between the narrator's 'macho' violence and contemporary socialization issues.
6. Works Cited: Lists the academic literature and sources utilized for this study.
Keywords
Hypermasculinity, Edgar Allan Poe, The Black Cat, Gender Roles, Masculinity, Socialization, Domestic Violence, Femininity, Behavioral Science, Patriarchy, Identity Formation, Aggression, Socio-Biological Factors, Gender Studies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research paper?
The paper explores the concept of hypermasculinity by analyzing its literary representation in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Black Cat" and comparing these findings with modern sociological theories regarding masculine socialization.
What are the primary thematic fields addressed?
The core themes include historical and modern gender role definitions, the impact of alcohol on violent behavior, the influence of childhood upbringing on masculine identity, and the societal consequences of suppressed emotional expression in boys.
What is the main research question?
The paper asks whether the construct of hypermasculinity, as depicted in Poe's 19th-century work, is still prevalent today and to what extent it continues to limit the healthy development of boys and men.
Which scientific methods are applied in the study?
The research primarily utilizes a qualitative literary and sociological analysis, drawing upon existing studies and theories from fields such as psychology, forensic analysis, and gender studies.
What does the main body of the paper cover?
The main body moves from a literary critique of specific character shifts in "The Black Cat" to a broader sociological discussion regarding how society shapes gender norms through upbringing, education, and cultural stigmas.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The work is best defined by terms such as Hypermasculinity, Gender Roles, Socialization, Domestic Violence, and Masculine Identity.
How does the narrator’s behavior in "The Black Cat" reflect hypermasculine traits?
The narrator exhibits hypermasculinity by rejecting his initial feminine, nurturing traits in favor of extreme aggression and violence, ultimately viewing his own wife and pets as objects that threaten his sense of control and superiority.
What is the connection between alcohol and masculine performance in the text?
The paper argues that the narrator utilizes alcohol as a "manly instrument" to justify violent behavior, a phenomenon that mirrors real-world studies on how substance abuse is often linked to the performance of exaggerated masculine dominance.
Why does the author conclude that feminism is significant for boys?
The author argues that feminism protects boys as well as girls because it advocates for a societal structure that rejects rigid gender constraints, allowing for emotional openness and healthier forms of identity development for everyone.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Lina Kürschner (Autor:in), 2021, Hypermasculinity in Poe. Why hypermasculinity is a threat to the development of young boys, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1246727
