In the 19th century, when both Moby-Dick and Joaquín Murieta were written, a separation of gender roles was common. Whereas men were responsible for work and money, women usually accounted for the domestic sphere and did not have much of a voice. At first glance, both Moby-Dick and Joaquín Murieta seem to support this view as women play a rather passive if not invisible role in the novels. However, an examination of the role of femininity shows that it is indeed a major part of both stories. In Joaquín Murieta, Ridge regards the love of a woman as support and refuge for men. Women show such a strong affection towards their men that they would never leave them alone and vice versa, men appreciate the loyal love of their woman which they can also count on in miserable times. Ridge also uses femininity to describe both Murieta’s appearance and his gentle character, for he is loved by women and treats them with respect. Melville, on the other hand, does not allow women an active role in the story. He puts emphasis on the ideal relationship between men on a whaling ship where they depend on each other and are in some way wedded. Women, on the contrary, are left behind by the sailors and represent the domestic sphere which mostly exists in the sailors’ memories and forms a sharp contrast to the adventures at sea. Whereas Ridge generally allows women a more active role in his story and at times presents them as almost equivalent companions of men, Melville ascribes a domestic role to the dependent widows and substitutes women for men, whales, and nature - all of them turning into symbols of femininity. In his novel Moby-Dick, Melville creates a generally male world. A striking fact is the frequent use of the words “he”, appearing almost 2000 times, and “man” or “men”, being used over 800 times. Words connected to “woman” or “wife”, however, only appear about 35 times in the book. On the whole, Melville does not allow women an active role, but commonly refers to them as “sailors’ wives or widows” (p. 43) being left behind by their men when they go on a long journey across the sea that might be their last. Melville repeatedly underlines women’s abandonment and dependence; for example, when he asserts that the Pequod is held by Captain Bildad and Captain Peleg but also “by a crowd of old annuitants; widows, fatherless children, and chancery wards; each owning about the value of a timber head, or a foot of plank, or a nail or two in the ship” (p. 73). [...]
Table of Contents
- Representations of Femininity in Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick and John Rollin Ridge’s Joaquín Murieta
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper examines the representation of femininity in Herman Melville's Moby-Dick and John Rollin Ridge's Joaquín Murieta, analyzing how gender roles are portrayed within the context of 19th-century societal norms. It compares and contrasts the roles and significance of women in both novels, exploring the authors' use of feminine imagery and symbolism.
- Gender roles in 19th-century literature
- The portrayal of women in Moby-Dick and Joaquín Murieta
- The use of feminine symbolism in both novels
- Comparison of male relationships in both novels
- The contrasting depictions of nature and its relationship to femininity
Chapter Summaries
Representations of Femininity in Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick and John Rollin Ridge’s Joaquín Murieta: This paper analyzes the contrasting portrayals of femininity in Melville's Moby-Dick and Ridge's Joaquín Murieta. In Moby-Dick, women are largely absent or relegated to passive, dependent roles, often symbolized by widows and wives left behind by the whaling crews. Melville uses female imagery to represent nature, both as a source of beauty and a dangerous force. In contrast, Ridge's Joaquín Murieta portrays women as more active participants, often depicted as loyal companions to the male characters. The paper explores how these contrasting depictions reflect the authors' perspectives on gender and societal roles, examining the symbolic use of femininity in shaping the narratives and themes of both novels. The analysis explores how the absence of significant female roles in Moby-Dick contrasts with the more active presence of women in Joaquín Murieta. The study highlights the different ways that femininity is used symbolically in both novels, including representing nature, domesticity, and even the characters' moral compass. The juxtaposition of the two novels allows for a nuanced understanding of how gender roles were depicted in 19th-century literature and the different ways that authors utilized the concept of femininity to shape their narratives.
Keywords
19th-century literature, gender roles, femininity, Melville, Moby-Dick, Ridge, Joaquín Murieta, symbolism, nature, domesticity, male relationships, masculinity.
Frequently Asked Questions: Representations of Femininity in Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick and John Rollin Ridge’s Joaquín Murieta
What is the main focus of this paper?
This paper examines how femininity is represented in Herman Melville's Moby-Dick and John Rollin Ridge's Joaquín Murieta, analyzing the portrayal of gender roles within the context of 19th-century societal norms. It compares and contrasts the roles and significance of women in both novels, exploring the authors' use of feminine imagery and symbolism.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include gender roles in 19th-century literature; the portrayal of women in Moby-Dick and Joaquín Murieta; the use of feminine symbolism in both novels; a comparison of male relationships in both novels; and the contrasting depictions of nature and its relationship to femininity.
How are women portrayed in Moby-Dick?
In Moby-Dick, women are largely absent or relegated to passive, dependent roles, often symbolized by widows and wives left behind by the whaling crews. Melville uses female imagery to represent nature, both as a source of beauty and a dangerous force.
How are women portrayed in Joaquín Murieta?
In contrast to Moby-Dick, Joaquín Murieta portrays women as more active participants, often depicted as loyal companions to the male characters.
How do the portrayals of femininity in the two novels differ?
The paper highlights the contrasting depictions of femininity in the two novels. The absence of significant female roles in Moby-Dick contrasts sharply with the more active presence of women in Joaquín Murieta. The study also emphasizes the different symbolic uses of femininity in both novels, including representing nature, domesticity, and the characters' moral compasses.
What is the significance of comparing these two novels?
The juxtaposition of Moby-Dick and Joaquín Murieta allows for a nuanced understanding of how gender roles were depicted in 19th-century literature and the different ways authors utilized the concept of femininity to shape their narratives.
What are the key words associated with this paper?
Key words include 19th-century literature, gender roles, femininity, Melville, Moby-Dick, Ridge, Joaquín Murieta, symbolism, nature, domesticity, male relationships, and masculinity.
What does the paper conclude?
The paper concludes by analyzing how the contrasting portrayals of femininity in Melville's and Ridge's novels reflect the authors' perspectives on gender and societal roles, examining the symbolic use of femininity in shaping the narratives and themes of both works.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Julia Deitermann (Autor:in), 2004, Representations of Femininity in Herman Melville's "Moby-Dick" and John Rollin Ridge's "Joaquín Murieta", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/61095
