[...] Martha Ostenso writes in the realistic tradition, leaving behind the idyllic Romances of the turn of the century and applying modern psychological assumptions to the conceptions of her characters. In this respect Wild Geese combines on the one hand an authentic social picture of rural prairie life, and on the other hand the mystical spirituality embodied by the female heroine. The questions raised in this work focus on the relationship between man and women in the novel and on their symbolic presentation as struggling forces of contrasting natures. Most critics perceive the prairie landscape itself as a symbol of femininity mirroring the rebellion of the heroine against the domination of her father. The central question to be examined will be that of Ostenso’s understanding of the female and the male. In section 2 of this work, realistic aspects of the novel will be analysed in order to gain an insight into the narrative structure of the novel. Three aspects are of special importance for this paper starting with the authentic description of the prairie as habitat, turning towards the disfiguring of the Romantic hero in realistic writing and finally focussing on the emancipation of women in the Canadian West. Since the characters in prairie realism are presented as the extension of the landscape, this section is the indispensable preparatory step for the closer analysis of the male and female gender descriptions. The third section deals with the main characters ofWild Geeseand their relationships among each other, investigating, in particular, those traits of character, which Ostenso presents as typical for their gender. Furthermore, the influences of Modernism on Ostenso will become obvious in this analysis, as she makes use of psychological conclusions of Sigmund Freud and the intertextual reference to classical mythology. In section 4, the two alternatives of female liberation shown by Ostenso are set into context with the preceding plot and narrative structure of the novel completing the question about the relationships among men and women. In the conclusive section, the gender-typical features as perceived by Martha Ostenso should have become evident, so that the battle between the sexes as well as its symbolic level of nature against domination will be fully unfolded in the end. All citations from Martha Ostenso’s Wild Geese are gathered from the 1989 edition by McClelland and Stewart and are endued with the corresponding page number.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Prairie realism
2.1 Realistic depictions of the prairie
2.2 The disfiguring of the hero
2.3 The emancipation of the New Woman
3. Psychological character studies: Sexuality and gender bonds
3.1 Caleb Gare – male misapropriation of power
3.2 Natural instincts of the feminine
3.3 The prairie as female nature
4. Two ways of female liberation
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Core Topics
This work examines the struggle between masculine and feminine principles in Martha Ostenso’s novel Wild Geese, focusing on how the prairie landscape mirrors the tension between patriarchal domination and female liberation.
- Analysis of prairie realism and its departure from romanticized agrarian myths.
- Investigation of character psychology through the lens of gender bonds and power dynamics.
- Exploration of the symbolic representation of nature as a feminine, resistant force.
- Discussion on the transition from patriarchal control to female self-determination.
- Evaluation of the influence of early twentieth-century psychological theories on the narrative structure.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Caleb Gare – male misapropriation of power
The primary conflict in Wild Geese lies in the battle between men and women, or between the male Logos and the female Eros principles. In psychological terms, Caleb seems unable to cope with his unconscious and the Eros-ruled aspects of the self. His domination over his wife and children as well as of the land and the whole living community indicates his fear of loosing control. This control, as he states himself, is merely a rational one, which results from Amelia’s love for her son Mark Jordan. Caleb failed to gain Amelia’s affection as her love has always stayed with Mark’s father, who had died before the boy was born. Thus, Caleb had to experience after their marriage, that he could not reach her emotionally and sexually, which caused a deep frustration and turned his focus to the part of his personality which still had an effect on others – the Logos.
Amelia loved the boy’s father, that he knew. The knowledge had eaten bitterly into his being when he was a younger man and had sought to possess Amelia in a manner different from the way in which he possessed her now. In that earlier passion of the blood he had found himself eternally frustrated. The man who has been gored to death by a bull on his own farm in the distant south had taken Amelia’s soul with him, and had unwittingly left her bearing in her body the weapon which Caleb now so adroitly used against her. His control over her being one of the brain only, although it achieved his ends, also at moments galled him with the reminder that the spirit of her had ever eluded him (p. 19).
Caleb’s urge to control his complete environment mirrors the lack of understanding for the irrationality or mysticism of the female instincts. He experienced early in his life that those remain out of man’s control and are ruled by unforeseen powers of instinct. He is utterly jealous for the illicit love Amelia felt for Mark’s father and is unable to accept her erotic past, as he himself is unable to live out any erotic passion with her.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the central themes of the novel, focusing on the conflict between traditional patriarchal authority and the emergence of modern female identity.
2. Prairie realism: This chapter analyzes how Ostenso moves beyond the romanticized garden myths of the Canadian West to depict the harsh, realistic struggles of immigrant settlers.
2.1 Realistic depictions of the prairie: This section details the harsh environmental conditions and the multicultural reality of life in the Canadian West during the early 20th century.
2.2 The disfiguring of the hero: This section discusses the evolution of the protagonist from an idealized Romantic figure to a flawed, authentic character shaped by psychological complexity.
2.3 The emancipation of the New Woman: This section traces the historical context of the suffrage movement and the emergence of the assertive "New Woman" in Canadian society.
3. Psychological character studies: Sexuality and gender bonds: This chapter explores the underlying sexual tensions and the symbolic power dynamics between the male and female characters.
3.1 Caleb Gare – male misapropriation of power: This section investigates Caleb’s obsession with control and his failure to understand the irrational, instinctual nature of those around him.
3.2 Natural instincts of the feminine: This section examines how female characters, particularly Judith, express their repressed desires and find identity in communion with nature.
3.3 The prairie as female nature: This section interprets the prairie landscape as a vibrant, symbolic entity that resists patriarchal exploitation and ultimately asserts its own power.
4. Two ways of female liberation: This chapter evaluates the different paths toward independence taken by the heroines and how they navigate romantic relationships in a changing society.
5. Conclusion: The conclusion summarizes Ostenso's achievement in bringing psychological depth and symbolic nuance to the prairie novel genre.
Keywords
Wild Geese, Martha Ostenso, Prairie Realism, Patriarchal Authority, Female Emancipation, Gender Dynamics, Psychological Literature, Eros and Logos, Canadian West, Symbolism, Nature, Modernism, Feminine Instincts, Identity, Caleb Gare
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic work?
This work analyzes the power dynamics and the struggle between masculine and feminine principles in Martha Ostenso's novel Wild Geese.
What are the central themes discussed in the book?
The central themes include the shift from Romantic prairie fiction to realism, the emancipation of women, the patriarchal obsession with control, and the symbolic role of the landscape.
What is the main research question?
The research examines Ostenso’s understanding of the female and the male, specifically focusing on how she depicts the battle between nature and patriarchal domination.
Which scientific methods are applied?
The author uses a literary-critical approach, applying contemporary psychological theories and intertextual references to classical mythology to interpret the character developments.
What topics are covered in the main section?
The main section covers realistic descriptions of prairie life, the deconstruction of the traditional "hero," the historical rise of the "New Woman," and in-depth psychological character studies.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include Prairie Realism, patriarchal authority, female emancipation, nature symbolism, gender dynamics, and psychological identity.
How does the author interpret the character of Caleb Gare?
Caleb is viewed as a patriarchal tyrant whose desire to control his family and the land through rational, materialist means ultimately leads to his own destruction by the natural forces he attempted to tame.
What is the significance of the "New Woman" in the context of the novel?
The "New Woman" serves as a metaphor for a changing nation, representing the shift toward equality and the challenge to traditional gender roles in both the public and private spheres.
How does the landscape act as a character in the narrative?
The prairie is depicted as a living force with its own spirit, which mirrors the rebellion of the female characters against the patriarchal structures that attempt to confine them.
- Citation du texte
- Ines Ramm (Auteur), 2006, Sexing the Prairie - Male domination over female instincts in Martha Ostenso's "Wild Geese", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/67603
