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Introduction
The novel, ‘City of Thieves’ by David Benioff, presents an opportunity to analyze the concept of masculinity under the circumstances of war. What is significant in this literary work is that manliness emerges under extreme adversity, which is often considered as the very test of being a man. Although Benioff’s ‘City of Thieves’ is fictional, the circumstances are realistic and is based on a historical incident that happened around six decades ago in Leningrad, which is the present day St. Petersburg in Russia. Becoming a man is one of the most confusing rhetoric there is. Men often struggles to live up to different standards and the definition of what makes a man ‘a man’ that they often find themselves confused on what the real meaning of manhood really is. The confusion of man’s manliness may have originated from the different social opinions regarding what it takes to become a real man. Some people, for instance, believe that in order to be considered as a man, one must be assertive and brave. The Merriam Webster dictionary, for instance, define man as someone who shows qualities that are traditional to men such as strength and courage. Back in ancient Rome, men are expected to play certain roles in society. Routines, however, vary among the rich and the poor. Rich men, for instance, often socialize while poor men work all day. But despite the difference in social roles, being a man is not judged on such criteria. There are also those who believe that a man does not necessarily have to be dominating because real men must be caring and loving. Others, on the other hand, go through rites of passage by physical mutilation just to prove that they are already a man (McKay & McKay). Generally speaking, manhood is a relative concept and there is no exact formula or metric wherein a real man can be measured. But there are certain standards that every man should possess so that he can be considered as a real man and these qualities do not necessarily have to be positive. There are, for instance, masculine traits and qualities that are commonly identified with the men, which undeniably characterize the male gender.
About the Author
David Benioff is an acclaimed American novelist, screenwriter and producer. He is noted for being the co-creator of the hit HBO movie series, ‘Game of Thrones,’ and a producer of the feature length films, ‘25th Hour’ and ‘Troy’. Born as David Friedman on September 25, 1970, Benioff was the youngest among Barbara and Stephen Friedman’s three children. David changed his surname to his mother’s maiden name, Benioff, during his teen perhaps to avoid ambiguity with other writers that has the surname of Friedman. He attended Dartmouth College wherein he graduated in 1992 and earned a master’s degree in Ireland at the Trinity College. He also took another master’s degree in creative writing in 1999 at the University of California . Benioff started his career as an English teacher at a high school in New York. While teaching, Benioff wrote several short stories, novels and screenplays. His first book was the 25th Hour, which he later adapted into a screenplay and eventually made into a film. He also wrote screenplays for several featured films such as Troy, X-Men, Stay and The Kite Runner among many others.
Novel Summary
‘The City of Thieves’ is Benioff’s second novel, which he published in 2008. It tells about the adventures and struggles of two young men who were caught in the in the siege of Leningrad during World War II. The City of Thieves is told as a narrative as seen in the perspective of the important character, Lev. It is a comic work that mocks the taboo and disturbing account of the German siege of Leningrad. The story is set in 1942 when Germans placed Leningrad and its citizens under siege. Together with his friends, Lev Benioff decided to stay in the city, to help defend it from the Germans. At seventeen, Lev was too young to join the Russian army, but he was determined to help in any way he can. One night while sitting on the rooftop of their apartment, Lev and his friends saw a body of a German paratrooper falling from the sky. Lev and his friends abandoned their posts and looted the dead German’s possessions. Unfortunately, Lev was caught and imprisoned while his friends were able to escape. In prison, Lev met a talkative young soldier named Kolya Vlasov, who was arrested for desertion. Kolya, however, vehemently denies the allegation. Lev was surprised that he and Kolya was not immediately executed. However, it was revealed later on that they were spared because Colonel Grechko of the NKVD has prepared a tasked for them. Colonel Grechko told Lev and Kolya that they will be pardoned if they would be able to find a dozen eggs for the Colonel daughter’s wedding. As the city suffers from extreme hunger, a dozen eggs is not only a luxury, but finding even a single egg is almost close to impossible. Lev and Kolya, however, are left with no other choice, but to agree. In their struggle to find a dozen eggs, Lev and Kolya spend the succeeding days going around Leningrad and the surrounding areas searching for eggs, but they could not find one. They experienced several misfortunes along the way, such as their encounter with a cannibal who tried to lure them. Kolya, however, saved Lex, who realized that despite Kolya’s provocative attitude, Kolya also have something good in him. At this point, Lex and Kolya’s friendship and respect grew for each other. In their search for the eggs, they happen to come into a farmhouse wherein four Russian girls are being kept as a prostitute. Lex and Kolya plotted to kill the German officers that are keeping the girls captive, but before they can attack, a group of Russian partisan came and killed the German officers. Lex became attracted to one of the partisans; a girl named, Vika. While resting in a safe house, Lex’s group was attacked by the Germans. While trying to escape, one of their companions was shot dead. To avoid being detected, they tried to blend in with German prisoners as they are being marched into a prisoners’ camp. In the camp, Lex challenged the notorious German officer, Abendroth, for a chess match for the chance of winning their freedom and a dozen eggs. Lex won the match and killed Abendroth as Kolya and Vika fought with other German soldiers and they escape into the woods. Vika, however, left the group to find another partisan group while Kolya was shot and bleed to death after being shot by a Russian as the two were mistaken for being German in their journey back to Leningrad. Lev completes his task, but ironically, after all that they have gone through; he found that the Colonel was able to acquire another three dozen eggs by airlift. In the end, Lev and Vika were reunited after the later fulfilled her promise to find Lev after the war.
Male and Female Perspective on Masculinity
Man, as defined by Societies have stereotyped the male gender based on widely accepted masculine traits. Although these stereotypes may not be necessarily exclusive, it is, nevertheless, an important measure of the level of masculinity or manhood of an individual. Maleness, for instance, is defined by the rules that society expects a male individual to play. These roles are a set of standard behaviors that males should follow from cradle to grave. As observed by scholars, “Beginning at birth, the self-meanings regarding one's gender are formed in social situations, stemming from ongoing interaction with significant others such as parents, peers, and educators” (Stets & Burke, 2). In the early formative years of a male individual, he is already expected to live by certain rules that are generally accepted by society as normal male behavior. Any diversion from these accepted standards or rules is not lightly tolerated. Males, for instance, that shows behaviors that are commonly identified with women will most likely experience discrimination and even hostility. Gender stereotyping is not uncommon and most often, it is the opposite gender who defines the desirable characteristics of a particular gender. In defining the desirable characteristics of being a man, for example, it is often the woman who voices out her opinion. And when asked what it makes a man a man, women will most likely enumerate the traits that they want their ideal man to have. Women’s attraction towards men are often based on the latter’s behavior display and physical qualities. In the physical aspect, the tall, dark and handsome is often the preferred criteria for most women. Most women are also attracted to that are intelligent. Moreover, women want their men to possess behavioral characteristics they find ideal such as being caring, thoughtful and funny. There are some people, however, that does not agree to the idea of women setting standards for what a real man is. Apparently, the problem with believing women as an authority on man’s maleness or masculinity is that their ideals lacks credibility. According to the author, Quintus Curtius, “No woman can offer a man advice on how to be a man”. Despite the fact that there are women who really wishes well in their perception of what a real man should be, Curtius believe that “the art of being a man is a subject outside of her range of experience”. Men, for instance, could not discuss with integrity and credibility things that pertains to women since he does not know exactly what it means to live in a woman’s world, in a woman’s body. A man, for instance, does not suffer the pains of childbirth, nor will he be able to make out of a woman’s feeling during her monthly period because he does not experience it in the first place. The same line of thought goes for the women as well. A woman, for instance, could not fully understand the meaning of peer pressure and ego in the level of understanding of men; nor will she be able to understand the social pressure of being able to successfully provide the financial needs of a family, which is a burden that society have associated with the male gender. For the same reason, if there is an authority on what it means to become a real man, it is no other than man, himself.
Contrasting Types of Masculinity
Males have a different perspective when it comes to determining the criteria on what makes a man a man as compared to the perspective of a woman. Most men, for instance, believe that in order to become a real man, one must act like a man and talk like a man. Such criteria, however, is only superficial. Any man can feign masculine traits in speaking and in acting, but it does not necessarily mean that he is already a real man. So what does it mean to be a real man in a man’s perspective? David Beniof featured at least two contrasting type of masculinity in his novel; that of Lev, which characterizes the silent and introvert type and that of Kolva, which characterizes the loud and extrovert type. Most people often characterize being a real man with the first type, which is the character of Lev. People, for instance, differentiate males from females by identifying that males are more reserved as compared to the loud and sociable attitude that is mostly associated with the female gender. Benioff, however, refrains from stereotyping real man based on their superficial traits. As observed in the novel, the characters of Lev and Kolva have many contrasting differences when it comes to male characteristics, but in the end, they also came to respect each other. Portrayed as a shy teenager; inexperienced when it comes to women; and who is extremely trusting and simple, Lev have qualities and characteristics that can be considered as being less than manly. But despite his young age, Lev already has a penchant for heroism. Lev, for instance, stood up to his mother when he decided to stay in Leningrad to defend the city from the Germans. In contrast, Kolya was an arrogant young soldier who voices out his opinion in an air of intellectual sophistication that amuses Lev. Kolya’s good looks and flamboyant personality have also made him popular with women. While the two have contrasting personalities, both are on a quest to find what it means to become a man in this growing of age, dark comedy novel.
The Meaning of Being a Man based on Ethical Theories
What’s remarkable in the way the novel portrayed what it takes to become a man is that it implies that being a man does not depend on a person’s personality. Nor does being a man depend on a person’s physical traits. Rather, being a man is determined by the ability of the characters to make ethical decisions and to stand by what they think is right. Just like the Japanese samurais, most men measure their being a man on their ability to stand by their word and uphold their honor more than anything else. Lev, for instance, has shown strength of character to stand for what he thinks is morally right and is even willing to sacrifice himself for what he believes in. A real man does not necessarily have to be fearless, but he needs to be courageous so that he can overcome his fears. To become a real man, one does not have to make the right decisions all the time. Lev and Kolya, for instance, have questionable decision making skills, but their resolve to do what they think is right is very much admirable. There are two major ethical theories in which the two major characters of the novel can be analyzed, the ethical theory of deontology and utilitarianism. Deontology is based on the ethical principle that the rightness or wrongness of a person’s action should be judged by his motive and not by the consequences of his actions (Hull, 1979, p.7). In comparison, some people judge the rightness or wrongness of their act based on consequences. These people are known as having a utilitarian ethical orientation. One particular difference between a deontologists and a utilitarian is on how they view the rightness or wrongness of their action. A deontologist, for instance, is often willing to kill or get killed for things that they believe in while the utilitarian will always think of the highest benefit for himself. When analyzed under ethical principles, Lev and Kolya’s decision making can be closely associated with Kant’s deontological ethics. Lev and Kolya, for instance, act compulsively without thinking about the long term consequences of their actions. Such compulsive behaviors have placed them in prison in the first place. Nevertheless, their motivations for doing what they did are based primarily on goodwill. For the German philosopher, Immanuel Kant, goodwill is the highest form of goodness, because it is good in itself. Kant believes that it is man’s moral obligation or duty to do what is right and to refrain from doing what is wrong. Lev and Kolya’s sacrifices are an indication that the author agrees with Kant’s deontological ethics. Lev and Kolya, for instance, is willing to risk their lives for the sake of what they believe is right. Although they have many lapses, under the theory of deontology, such lapses are not significant because their motives are intrinsically good.
Conclusion
Becoming a man is not an easy task primarily because of the different social standards of what an ideal man should be. Women are among the most vocal when it comes to setting the standards of what makes a man a man. For most women, men should also possess desirable qualities physically, intellectually and emotionally in order to be considered as a real man. However, most of the common qualities that women expect real men to have are based on feminine qualities such as being loving and caring. While these qualities are desirable, women are not an authority when it comes to things that pertain to men. If there is someone who can tell what it takes to become a real man, it is the male, themselves. One of the male gender and author of the novel ‘The City of Thieves,’ David Benioff, provides an interesting perspective on what it takes to become a man. Based on Benioff’s portrayal of his characters, becoming a man is not about the superficial qualities. Rather, it is about making decisions and standing by on what is right. The ethics of being right, however, is subjective. A person, for instance, can say that he is right while another may disagree with him. However, when analyzed under ethical theories, a person’s conception of what is wrong and right tells a lot about his personality. The ethics of a person may hold the key to knowing if he could live up to the standards of being a man or not. The characteristics of real men based on the novel are more consistent with deontological principles, which posit that man should do what is right out of duty and goodwill. In contrast, utilitarian principled individuals have more flexible or changing sense of morality, which contradicts with the widely accepted notion that real men are men with honor. Real men, as what Lev and Koyla portrayed in the novel, have strength of character and have the guts to stand for what they believe in even if it means risking their lives.
Works Cited
Benioff, D. City of Thieves: A Novel. New York: Viking, 2008.
Benioff’s City of Thieves tells the story of two young men beginning on New Year’s Eve, 1941. It is a historical fiction set in World War II. It captures the adventures of two young men in Leningrad during the German siege of the city. The time period of World War II ties into my history studies and the novel setting takes you across cannibals and the black market side of war. A piece of American literature provides a journey to becoming a man during a familiar yet turbulent time in history.
Curtius, Q. “Art Of Manliness” Is Poisoning The Concept Of Masculinity With Disney Lifestyle Advice. 2014. May 2016 <http://www.returnofkings.com/25876/art-of-manliness-is-poisoning-the-concept-of-masculinity-with-disney-lifestyle-advice>.
Kantian ethics. n.d. May 2016 <http://www3.nd.edu/~jspeaks/courses/2008-9/10100/_LECTURES/26%20-%20kant.pdf>.
This article talks about Kantian ethical principle of deontology. It provides basic and important information about deontology, which can be used to educate people. Kant developed the ethical theory of deontology. This source provides an understanding of why deontology is superior than any other ethical standards.
Marzell, T.L. Novelist and Hollywood Personality David Benioff: He’s a Former English Teacher. 2013. May 2016 <http://chalkboardchampions.org/education/novelist-hollywood-personality-david-benioff-hes-former-english-teacher/>.
This source talks about a short bibliography of 'City of Thieves' author, David Benioff. All the remarkable things about Benioff was mentioned in this article. The article, for instance, revealed that Benioff was a credible writer because he was once an English teacher. It also traces major milestones on Benioff's life.
McKay, B., & McKay, K. Coming of Age: The Importance of Male Rites of Passage. 2008. May 2016 <http://www.artofmanliness.com/2008/11/09/coming-of-age-the-importance-of-male-rites-of-passage/>.
The rights of passage to becoming a male can be formal or informal. The passage requirements and celebrations can vary depending on the culture, however, socialist have identified three phases. Examining characteristics of the three phases -- separation, transition, and re-incorporation show the journey of a boy to a man.
Merriam-Webster . Man. 2016. May 2016 <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/man>.
One of the most trustworthy sources of what something means is the dictionary. It is used to verify meanings in everyday life whether it be in an English paper, vocabulary homework or in word games. It is the source I look to provide the general definitions or accepted meanings of what it means to be a man.
Samurai. n.d. May 2016 <http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2127.html>.
Samurai are warrior’s class in known in Japan for centuries. They are well-known fighters that fought evil were the bravest of the men. They followed rigid code of living with a strict moral code that dictated how they lived. It may be insightful to understand what makes Samurais to be known as great men n understanding what it means to be a man.
Stets, J., & Burke, P. Femininity/Masculinity . n.d. May 2016 <http://wat2146.ucr.edu/Papers/00b.pdf>.
This article discusses about the differences between the male and female gender. There are, for instance, social stereotypes associated with men and women that are often used as a criterion for being identified either in the male or female gender.
Voyage Back in Time. Rome Roles of Men, Women and Children. n.d. May 2016 <https://sites.google.com/site/voyagebackintime/home/rome-roles-of-men-women-and-children>.
