Question 1
Cynthia Griffin has identified Edna Pontelliers lack of language in attempt to express her sexual desires as the central theme, however he has also established female sexuality as part of the general theme in the essay “Un-Utter able Longing: The Discourse of Feminine Sexuality in Kate Chopin’s The Awakening” . In this novel, Cynthia looks at the way issues of sexuality are being presented and how people use varied means to explain or to present their position on the issues of sexuality. Cynthia has established that lack of language is a major blow to feminine sexuality and instead the females have resorted into different ways of showing and proving their sexual desires (Wollf 376a). Cynthia looked into different theoretical perspectives which are important in understanding female sexuality and they include new historicism, deconstruction, feminism, gender studies and psychoanalytic criticism. Cynthia introduces the arguments on the female sexuality by insisting and stressing on the fact that the parrot lacks the language of its own. In this case Cynthia is puzzled that the parrot is willing to communicate and is more than able to communicate but just can’t communicate. In a similar way, Cynthia realizes that Edna can’t put forth her needs even though she is willing to express them (Wollf 380a). Thus, the central and key summary of the Cynthia’s essay is the lack of communication, language by Edna in particular and female sexuality in general.
Question 2
The first point noted by Cynthia in the essay is the way females presented themselves in attempts to show their intimacy and sexuality (Wollf 5b). Cynthia noted that in the 19th century women lacked language to completely express their desires for intimacy and sexual needs. A closer look at the existing studies on women sexuality then revealed that women didn’t have desires and sexual needs of any kinds so they didn’t see the need to talk about issues that were not of interests or of any benefits. However, Cynthia in the essay criticized this point by establishing that it was misleading. In fact Cynthia indicated that it’s this kind of literature that could have contributed into women’s lack of language and their inability to show their desires which they were more than willing to express. Cynthia further states that women are sexual beings and there are no ways sexual beings can lack desire on issues of sexuality. Cynthia particularly criticized the literacy of Acton which misled men of that time who misplaced the language of intimacy and sexuality with the vernacular of motherhood. This implies that the society hindered women to have a language of their own. For instance when Edna noted that something’s are forbidden to be talked about, and they do not have language of expressing them, but later Cynthia realized that Edna could indeed speak these words meaning she overcame the forbidden discourse, thus the problem was not language but lack of narrative.
Question 3
According to my understanding language and vocabulary of showing intimacy and feminine sexuality was existing those days but women were not allowed to use the words to express their sexuality and intimacy. These words were not used because of oversights, absences, denials, exclusions and prohibitions.
Question 4
This essay has enhanced my understanding on the reading of Awakening by realizing that could be Edna failed in her desires to express her female sexuality but Chopin has succeeded by giving a narrative for women to express their intimacy and female sexuality.
Work Cited
Wollf, Cynthia Griffin. Un-utter able longing: the discourse of feminine sexuality in ‘The Awakening.’ High Beam Research. 1996. Web. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-18439275.html
Wollf, Cynthia Griffin. Un-utter able longing: the discourse of feminine sexuality in ‘The Awakening. 1996. Studies in America Fiction, 24.1. http://www.questia.com/library/1G1-18439275/un-utterable-longing-the-discourse-of-feminine-sexuality
