Issues affecting women have become a social phenomenon. By virtue of the fact that the society is dominated by male chauvinism, fighting for feminist issues has become a big problem. Therefore, many authors have been able to include these feminist issues in their literary works. Nella Larsen in her Story, Encounter has been able to bring out these feminist issues. From her story, an issue such as submissiveness of women arises. For instance, from the story, we can tell of Irene Redfield seeing a small girl being yelled at by her father. She is submissive to this act because her father is a “tall, powerfully built man” who hulled threats at her. The fact that the father is well built forces her to be submissive.
Racism has also been brought about in the story. Irene is the character that has been used to bring this theme up. She is characterized with internal racism. From the story, “She looked away, at the wall far beyond Clare. Well, she deserved it, for, as she acknowledged to herself, she was relieved.”
Women have also been facing racial discrimination. From the story, we can tell that Clare Kendry has been facing problems relating to her being a mulato. Clare Kendry is really eager to return to her roots (Larsen 1). This also brings about human relations as a major social issue. From the story we informed that for the first time ever, the African Americans were encouraged to have pride in blacks. Clare tells her Irene that “she can't know how in this pale life of mine I am all the time seeing the bright pictures of that other that I once thought I was glad to be free of?It's like an ache, a pain that never ceases." This shows that she is in need of embracing her own culture and identity as an African American.
Loss of identity has greatly been seen in the story. This is through Clare, who has to undergo scrutiny. From the story we it is stated that "you mean that you didn't have to explain where you came from? It seems impossible." Clare cast a glance of repressed amusement across the table at her. " Clare wonders why Irene did not go through the scrutiny.
In A Doll’s House, we can see women emerging as the superior beings in a male chauvinistic society. One important example is Nora who always wanted to make her husband accepts being referred to a little animal. She even seems to associate herself with it (Ibsen).
Works Cited
Larsen, Nella, and T N. R. Rogers. Passing. Mineola, N.Y: Dover Publications, 2004. Internet
resource.
Ibsen, Henrik. A Doll's House. [Waiheke Island]: Floating Press, 2008. Print.
