Introduction
The world’s view of the image of a woman is subjected to different directions due to cultural and perceptional variations. The women situation is not yet better even though the world has made a remarkable progress in terms socialization. At different geographical areas of the world, the position of women is always undermined (Johnson & Wilson, 1995). Without a respect to their various economic and political statuses, women always bear the negative consequences of being a ‘woman’. It is evident that no customs or cultural values that favor feminism. Even though some women fall into middle or upper echelons of the society, they continue facing similar social and perceptional challenges.
The difficult position women find themselves in is largely inherited from ancient norms and moral values. At the past, all the cultures of across the globe looked down up the true woman’s real position in the society. For instance, in the United States of America, both immigrants and native born women were frequently burdened with antagonistic cultural clashes. Chinese women on the other hand thrust into exploitation from the openly and stringent homeland values. The situation is not better in Africa, Middle East and most part of Europe. Men’s priorities become the first with women occupying the second space in any life situations.
Women groups with common objectives of liberating their condition have championed for a real moralistic society (Robinson, 1953). This is a society that identifies freedom and equal opportunities between men and women. This is the environment where the new woman has space to live as opposed to the common perception of the ‘real woman’ in the old ideological perception.
Abstract
Literature has been a useful tool of communication for all people from all over the world. This is because the genre has made it possible for many individuals to express their views and opinions about life challenges facing human beings. Specifically, the use of poetry has had a great impact towards the realization of certain goals and objectives. Moral values and knowledge from one generation is easily passed over to another generation through poetry and other artistic piece of work. Social challenges can also be voiced out through the work art and literature (Sui et al., 1995).
This paper will analyze the artistic work of iconic poets in distinguishing between the “new woman” and the “true woman”. It will include the works of Sui Sin Far, Edwin Arlington, Caroline Lockhart and James Weldon Johnson. Other associated poets are Willa Cather, Alice Duer Miller, Anzia Yezierska and John Steinback. The analysis is geared to address three main objectives. The first objective is identifying how the “woman” is portrayed in the identified poems in reflection to the image of the new woman. This focuses on how the poets represent the view of women in the society. This defines the real position of the new woman and the challenges they face in day to day social life.
Determining how the concept of the “true woman” is challenged and ridiculed as portrayed in the poems becomes the second objective. This involves the analysis of the themes and tone of the various poems. Some of the poets ridicule the position of the true woman. This does not mean that they may be against the revolutionary of the true woman but use poems as a tool to sympathize with them. The third objective is identifying a poem that expresses the writer’s intent in conveying the “autonomous, sexuality selfhood and voice”.
How women portrayed in the poems reflect the image of the new woman
The challenged concept of true woman in the poem contexts
The concept of a true woman faces a great challenge as explained in the contexts of the poems. A true woman is one who enjoys equal opportunities in social living. She carries her duties with no interference from anybody, not even men. True woman’s position in the society is to have all that human beings are entitled to (Sui et al., 1995). However, these poems oppose such perceptions. The poems even further ridicule the aspect of the true woman. For example, the poem “fragment” insists that women are to be owned and controlled by men. Men can even have as many as twenty women in their control like slaves. A woman is not entitled to any right. “The white witch” narrates how evil a woman is. The development of the poem is in a warning mood to all men. It suggests that women have red lips upon which goes into flames when a man kisses them. Man’s safety in only achieved when they avoid the burden of women. They are cautioned of the laughing and smiling faces which carry a vampire spirit in them. “O black and unknown birds” goes ahead to emphasis on the intimidation of roles of women in the society. The poem does not give a woman any significance in the world. The lives of women revolve around the decisions of men and have no distinctive role.
Alice Duer Muller suggests that women are not supposed to travel by train. This is because it is not a natural right to travel by train for women. Another reason given is that our grand mother never asked women to travel in train. Muller further explains that woman’s place is at home and not in a train. Muller’s book elaborates that it is unnecessary since every place reached by train can be reached by foot too. Furthermore, the team of engineers in a train will be overburdened if women are allowed to travel. These perceptions greatly ridicule the concept of a true woman. In my view, it is due to the nature of the ethical morals that denies women the chance to showcase their capacity and abilities in the society. According to the context of these poems, the life of a true woman will continue be miserable simply because the society believes that that is where they belong.
The poem that best express the writer’s intent to convey “autonomous, sexuality, selfhood and voice”
“The White Witch” by James Weldon Johnson best expresses the writer’s intent to convey “selfhood, autonomous, voice and sexuality.” Selfhood is expressed where Johnson specifically cautions all brothers, “men” to take care. On the first stanza of the poem Johnson tells men to trust their prowess and practice of safe grounds. Generally Johnson expresses the idea of selfhood to men as they interact with women. Autonomous is conveyed upon the mention of the different forms women put themselves in order to acquire and control men. Johnson elaborates how the white Witch may pretend to be good so as they achieve their objectives. They always smile, have blue water eyes, and always appear in youth mood but with all behind the laughing faces are the evil spirit in them. This makes men like living coals when they allow to be taken away.
Sexuality is conveyed by the aspect that the white Witch uses all sexual advantages in their looks to obtain whatever they want from men. Johnson explain that men get more attracted to sexual advances hence always falling in the tarp that women set for them. That is the reason to caution the “brothers” against the white “Witch”. Throughout the poem, Johnson raises out his voice of complain of men over their women. He takes the view of the negative consequences that women pose upon interacting with men in the society. Johnson suggests that there is nothing positive and even though it may be, it could be very little. Women cause chaos and disintegration of the society. Johnson urges to brothers to remain vigilant and careful. They are warned always of this white witch who can bring their lives down at any time.
Conclusion
In the modern world, the concept of the true woman has found some meaning. This is the spirit of socialization development. The roles of a woman have changed. The new woman is given equal opportunities with men. The adoption of modern values changes the face of human civilization that recognizes the important role played by the new woman in the society. This is what a civilized society entails although not all nations have accepted this very aspect of socialization.
References
Johnson, J. W., & Wilson, S. K. (1995). The selected writings of James Weldon Johnson. New York: Oxford University Press.
Robinson, E. A. (1953). Tilbury Town: Selected poems of Edwin Arlington, Robinson. New York: Macmillan.
Sui, S. F., Ling, A., & White, P. A. (1995). Mrs. Spring Fragrance and other writings. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.
