Mrs. Hubbard
English IV
25 November 2015
Images of Women In the literary works, “Spinster,” “Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers,” and “A Jury of Her Peers,” the authors exemplify the theme of negativity through the reoccurring negative connotations, dialects and dialogue presented. Throughout the works, the authors subtly point out the dilemmas between men and women in a relationship over a given amount of time. Though relationships may seem wonderful and heartwarming, in these particular works, the negative effects of male and female relationships are more apparent than the positive effects.
In the poem, “Spinster,” by Sylvia Plath, the effects that are present throughout the poem provide an underlying basis for the main idea: to avoid the …show more content…
Aunt Jennifer has the constant feeling that she is being weighed down and oppressed by her marriage, “Bright topaz denizens of a world of green” (Rich 2). The use of the word “denizen” implies that Aunt Jennifer is simply an inhabitant of her husband’s home. As time goes on, it is insinuated that Aunt Jennifer is being referred to as a piece of property, a slave to her husband, “The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand” (Rich 7-8). Just as someone would have a massive “weight on their shoulders,” referring to a burden they are bearing, Aunt Jennifer is bearing the burden of her marriage to her husband. To reinforce her beliefs about her entrapment, she continues to explain the only situation in which she would finally feel any ounce of freedom is when she is dead, “When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by. The tigers in the panel that she made Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid” (Rich 9-10). It is clear; the speaker envies the tiger’s fearlessness and freedom, both qualities in which she does not …show more content…
Many instances of neglect are apparent throughout the short story, whether it is from Mr. Foster, Mrs. Peters or from society in general. The situation that exemplifies the theme of neglect the most is illustrated through the relations between John and Minnie Foster. Mrs. Foster is a prime example of how neglect can affect a person’s well being, especially over an extended period of time, “She used to wear pretty clothes and be lively–when she was Minnie Foster, one of the town girls, singing in the choir. But that–oh, that was twenty years ago” (Glaspell 151). Throughout the novel While having experienced the traumatic loss of her only companion, Mrs. Foster seeks vengeance against Mr. Foster, the murderer of the innocent bird. The murder of the bird is not necessarily the only thing that set Mrs. Foster off, but rather a gradual accumulation of various negative events. Nevertheless, time is a key factor in the corruption of Mr. and Mrs. Foster’s marriage, “She¬¬–come to think of it, she was kind of like a bird herself. Real sweet and pretty, but kind of timid and–fluttery. How–she–did–change” (Glaspell