Literary Criticism
15th of December
Beautiful Minds
Literal analysis is crucial elements that help in critical analysis of the works of literature. In the context of the play ‘Goodnight Desdemona, good morning Juliet' is an indication of a play that can be applied with the help of the theories. A vindication of the right of women according to Mary is evident in the play. Critically, we seek to understand the cries of women in the play and their seeking to find out the root causes of their problems and the best way to curb them. Her thought indicates that women should have access to education to be able to commensurate their positions in the society. Mary advocated for education reforms that would ensure that both girls and boys were given education for free.
Indeed women are essential in the society; it is a paramount that women are viewed as crucial elements in the society and to the nation as a whole. Restating the argument of Mary with the play pinpoints at the scenes were women are portrayed as weaker being in that they are subjected to unfair treatment not similar with that of men. Constance tries to decipher the ruining manuscript in the play but faces the challenge; she receives bad news that , Professor Claude is taking a job at Oxford University. She had hoped to get that job for herself and hence the news hindered her progress in making hypothesis. She becomes the character. It is an interesting way of approaching literal work as the classical theories. For example, Mary Wollstonecraft, one of the feminist activists in an effort to persuade women to be strong, intellect in both body and mind since the weakness subjects them to mistreatment (Wollstonecraft 497). In the play, the characters, for example, Constance faced challenges in writing her dissertation as her male counterpart was a discouraging individual instead of encouraging her. Ideally, Professor Claude critiqued Constance topic (MacDonald 14). She laments on her issues as she showed signs of giving up since she started throwing her possession in the wastebaskets, hence found her sucked into it.
Women indeed are useful Constance saved the life of Othello's wife. She intervenes by showing that Lago was tricking Othello. The case of the play' good morning Juliet' is an illustration of showing canonical text. The western society criticizes the death of a woman; Desdemona died in mysterious and unfair manner. The controversy surrounding her death indicates the way the society follows up the cause of death of a woman. Focus need to be emphasized in an effort to addressing the concerns of women as pointed out by Mary in claims that women should not be traded in marriage. Instead women are treated as human beings who have the right to existence and similar rights like those of men. The society indeed is subjective, considering the encounter the women undergo. In the play, the characters portray a scenario where they are subjected to difficulties were their influence in decision making is tainted as the society is male dominated. Shakespeare sets a stage where one would see the scenario of love at first sight, the invocation of comedy. Professor' responses to Constance pushed her to declare her religion that 'it has fallen', and this could mean decisions she makes. It is essential that she considers apologizing to her or make up for her as the comments were degrading.
Arguably, the play surrounds on the power bestowed to men in expense of women. The professor looks down upon Constance; you have such a little mind' and unwittingly Constance response' Thank you for sir' ((MacDonald 21). It is critical to not that women power tend to be infringed. Since we expect retaliation from Constance concerning the degrading, the professor says of her. The pressure mounted on women to be submissive to men is evident in the play. The professor tells Constance that she is of lesser mind and would not handle the chores assigned to her. The society indeed is retrogressive in handling the concerns meant to encourage women become of good substance in the society (MacDonald 34). As a matter of fact, Mary indicates that the beauty of women and personality needs absolute encouragement. This will help them focus in the outward accomplishment and attain more. Mary's arguments, however, does not indicate that men and women are equal. It rather shows that men and women are equal in the eyes of God (Wollstonecraft 499). Therefore, it is not necessary to bring out the differences concerning their performance and achievements. The disguise that was portrayed by Romeo, Juliet, and Constance show the perception concerning love. Each tries to woo the other in the name of love. Betrayal is evident, since Juliet is supposed suitor to Romeo but still acts in each other's clothing in an effort to woo Constance. They storyline seeks to find out the real ‘wise fool' and yet Juliet had used this to woo Constance in disguise to give her a kiss. This brings out the illusion that exists between the characters since they portray betrayal.
The play pays close attention to sexism. Professor Night has exploited Constance ideas and efforts for years securing himself a position at Oxford University based on her writing and continuously belittled her by calling her names like ‘pet’ and ‘my little titmouse. These establish that the professor is bigoted and sexist as he is taking advantage of Constance on the basis of her being a woman. Wollstonecraft talked about women speaking their minds without worrying about being perceived as ‘masculine’. The play stresses on the importance of reevaluating historical attitudes towards women and changing it as Wollstonecraft advocated.
Animadversions on some writers who have women as objects of pity, bordering on contempt are one major issue that Wollstonecraft wrote about. In the play Constance has become the laughing stock of her university due to her obsession with a literal theory that is considered of the wall. Constance had decided that Shakespeare’s plays were comedies originally, and that an old alchemist’s manuscript will prove her right. At the end of it all Constance learns that only she is the author of her life. The manuscript truly belonged to an alchemist since it is Constance mettle is transformed at the end.
Mary pinpointed that all the writers who had written on the subject of female education and manners, had contributed to render women more artificial, weak character than they would otherwise have been, and consequently, more useless members of society. As illustrated in the play Constance is the mind behind Professor Night promotion yet she is shown as a weakling as she fringes against the professor’s degrading comments.
Wollstonecraft insists that it is time to effect a revolution in female manners, time to restore them their lost dignity and make them, as a part of the human species by reforming themselves to reform the world. As pinpointed in the play Constance insists on proving her theory that the Shakespeare’s stories were first written as comedies, despite the challenges she encumbered. Juliet insists on taking a lover as she is not satisfied with Romeo. All these shows on how women should take charge of their lives as well as the men do.
In Wollstonecraft’s opinion the most perfect education is such an exercise of the understanding as is best calculated to strengthen the body and form the heart. In other words, to enable the individual to attain such habits of virtue as will render it independent. In the play Constance is educated and hence independent as she is able to continue with her research even after the Professor left her behind by taking the job at Oxford University.
Wollstonecraft talked about prejudices clouding reasons among mankind. Men shrink from their tasks or only do it by halves and hence the imperfect conclusions that are drawn, are frequently very plausible, because they are built on partial experience. Professor Night took advantage of Constance by publishing her work as his own but once he gets a good job offer he leaves her behind. Mary advocated for gender equality and hence men shouldn’t be treated as mini-gods. As we can see in the play that Constance is as good as or even better than the Professor.
Wollstonecraft was pitting herself against closed-minded people who thought that men and women were two different beings. Men were considered freethinkers that could change and rule the world and that women were objects that should be pretty and as a bonus bear children. Mary insisted that women’s interest in looking pretty by dressing up was and still is a case of nurture and not nature. In the play we get to see Constance befriending Desdemona who is bold and fierce. Constance is accused of witchcraft, spying and adultery by Lago and still Desdemona believes in Lago naively.
Vindication of rights of women was about how being a mother could be made easier if a woman was given the opportunities of education the same way a man was. That way a mother could support her kids financially in case of anything happening to her husband. She could also have a say in her child’s education, because she would know something in the matters of education. In the play Constance is looking for her identity alone as the Professor is leaving her behind, this is so since Constance was educated and was in a position to find her path on her own.
Mary excoriates the reasoning that pleasure is the end goal in a woman’s life. She expresses the need for activity and duty in the public arena for women. She argues for the need of a good mother and citizen in a society, repeating on the need for education reforms for women to be good mothers and not tyrannize over or spoil their children. In the play Juliet is shown as a girl who is too young for marriage. In fact, both Juliet and Romeo appear too young and not ready for what marriage entails. The two quarrel in a childish manner on their first morning together leading to their pet turtle’s death. Mary cited that for a marriage to work that a couple has to be friends first and lovers second. In early years girls were married off too young and inexperienced.
Conclusively, it is apparent that women in the society are depicted differently. The arguments of Mary in her theories help understand the literal works in the sense that the issues highlighted concerning women and the struggle to achieve their rights is depicted. The play, therefore, acts as a good literal work that helps highlight the plight of women in the society. The feministic struggles by Mary have seen the establishment of gender equality and equality in collaboration with the human rights.
Work cited
MacDonald, Ann-Marie. Goodnight Desdemona (good Morning Juliet). New York: Grove Press, 1998. Print.
Wollstonecraft, Mary. The Complete Works of Mary Wollstonecraft. Ed. Janet Todd and Marilyn Butler. 7 vols. London: William Pickering, 1989, pp. (496-504).
