writingwomen

Take Home

Okay, chickens. Here is a PDF copy of the take home exam, ready to print: download file

My Life in a Box

Reading the letters to Betsy from Gayland and Saving (Chapters 3 & 4 respectiviely) sent me on a journey through time in a rummaging session through my "old memories chest", which is a blue, musty trunk I keep stored in the basement. I thought I had safely locked all my skeletons in my closet (actually 1st drawer of my dresser) when I edited and locked up my old diary and stuffed it away where no one would ever look. However, I completely forgot about all my old letters, and as it turns out, even more journals, which I had shut away in my memory box of young love, best friends, early parenthood, frustrated relationships and dreams for a perfect future. It's funny that I went to all the trouble to lock away my teenage angst but left in the family room downstairs, for all the world to find, my life's story from my early adulthood. So, thanks to Eliza Haywood, and in particular those letters from her suiters -which reminded me of some old love letters of mine that I had shut away until today - I was led to spend time reliving my life as it is recorded, patchwork-style and out of sync in that box in the basement.

Aside from all the reminiscing, this sifting and exploring through the box in the basement made me really reflect on our discussion during our Burney class which centered around the reliability of Burney as narrator and recorder of her own life. I believe that if a person tried to piece together an idea of who I am from the contents of that box in my basement, they would have a very incomplete and skewed picture of the person that emerges. Although I did not consciously edit the contents of the box, I note significant gaps of time which passed unrecorded. I also found a lot of what seems like junk to me now; items that are unimportant to me and even pictures of people that I can't remember. I'm not sure where the unreliability rests; with my memory or in the initial recording stages in my journals.

Given my experience today, and with a view to all the editing that is evident in Burney's diary, does this mean that Burney was unreliable in the editing phase of her diary, or only unreliable during her initial recording? Originally, I thought that Burney was editing in order to influence the picture of herself that was being created for her audience, but now, after my own encounter with going back years later and seeing the picture that emerges, perhaps in retrospect she worried that the picture she created initially was just not true. For her, editing may have been a way to create the truth, which she felt she missed in her first writing, not just a process undergone to create a version of the truth that she thought would be more pleasing to her readers.

Early women writers

A couple of interesting links:

The first known piece of handwriting in Latin, by a woman (via Making Light).

"Jesus and Women." This is a site by and for Christian women who are interested in issues of gender in church leadership. They include some interesting historical material on women in religious culture (via feministe).

Burney

Francis Burney was a wonderful writer and a very strong willed woman. All of her entries emphasize her strength and determination to write even though she understood the position of women. When she was young she was insecure and doubtful of her writings, but she still had the control to do exactly what she wished. And as she came out of her shell, and married against her fathers wishes, she became much more confident with all of her experiences. I loved reading these journal and letter entries, although at first, I must admit, I had trouble getting into them.

In her younger years when she always attempted to withdrawal from her surroundings, she was still extremely strong and determined. She did however know what she wanted. I loved the beginning of her entries where she completely refused Mr. Barlow, telling him exactly what she thought without the slightest hesitation. Even though Mr. Crisp and her father were telling her that this man would make her happy, she still took her own stance and turned him away, right to his face. For her to have the courage to stand up for herself and her feelings proves that women did have control over their lives to some extent. I really liked this quotation, "though I was really sorry for the unfortunate & misplaced attachment which this Young man professes for me, yet I could almost have Jumped for Joy when he was gone, to think that the affair was thus finally over" (107).

As time progresses, near the end of her entries, during the period in her life that she suffered much pain in her breast, her transformation from a withdrawn and timid young woman, to a woman that is admired by other women, for her strength to undergo the mastectomy, shows her strong character. She is seen here as a completely different person, as she develops confidence and comes into her own. I enjoyed this quotation and although at the time it could not have been at all humorous, it is a bit now. "... The poor breast was nowhere discoloured, & not much larger than its healthy neighbour" (299). I cannot imagine the pain that she must have endured, and I find it hard to believe that after undergoing a surgery with such excruciating pain, she could write about it all. I really don't think that I could have done it, being in her position. I cannot even imagine... Her strength is amazing and I really admire her courage to go through with the procedure, fully aware of every move the doctors made. But, as would be expected, because of the acute pain, she did faint a couple of time, "twice, I believe I fainted; at least..." (305). She was definitely a changed woman at the conclusion of her entries, and to me her courage is incredible!

Uploading Pics

Hey. If you guys want to put up some pics just find the ones you want and save them to a file you store pictures in. Then go in and create a new entry. On the left-hand side of your screen is a column of tasks, just pick the one titled "Upload File". Hit browse, find your saved pic, then type in the first box below the browse option "Image". Then hit upload. Its easy.

Wonder women

Posted by George H. Williams: "From Catherine Rodriguez, who organized the SHARP panels at this year's ASECS, I learned that eighteenth-century authors Fanny Burney and Hannah More made appearances in Wonder Woman comics as 'wonder women of history.'"

I would LOVE to see those issues.

Cross-posted to scribblingwoman.

Haywood questions

What, if anything, do our two texts have anything in common? How do they differ? How can we explain the fact that the same writer penned both?

Picturing women

A link via Blog Sisters: Picturing Women, a site that "explores how women are figured, fashioned, turned into portraits, and told about in words and pictorial narrative."

Cross-posted to scribblingwoman.

Frances Burney

I was really impressed with yesterday's presentation on Frances Burney. It was really insightful and helped me understand the woman behind the work. It is too bad that she burned her writings when she was fifteen. It really makes me wonder what was in those writings to make them bad enough to burn. It difficult to decide whether her father helped or hindered her in her writings. I know she probably was not as explicit or free as she would have been without her father's influence. However, I can't help but think that her farther influenced her to stride for excellence in writing. Also maybe the fact that her father took an interest in her writing encouraged her all the more to write.

I'm just a Blog Machine

Yeah I like that picture, must be from the dorm at Yale. Anyway, that's my tasteless input for the day. Well I'm blogging at the speed of light here. For those of you reading, I must say you are experiencing a viscious assault of productive input from yours truly. If this were a musical starring John Travolta the theme song would be "Blog Lightening". If this were a recently Oscar nominated Ben Kingsley film it would be titled "House of Sand and Blog", and so forth. Well this is my last one for the day. But it will appear to you first on the screen. Maybe I should have entered them in reverse order.
In pre-school I was "A Known Dribbler". I kid, I kid. Anyways the Frances Burney text, "A Known Scribbler" was an enjoyable read, and is a good text for us to be covering right now. I personally have begun to make connections and see how each of the writers has achieved certain goals and opened doors for those who would followed. I think Burney's text does well to show that growth. It also illuminates the borders of the literary canon, and how so much more can be studied to understand literature than just plays, stories and poems.
I think what Burney makes most evident in her writings is the need she feels for equality. She seems to be in a constant search for a society that is equal. As mentioned in the Blog "Scribbler", Burney blurs the lines between the sexes, but does not percieve the male as being beneath her, but goes on to endorse the respect she heralds for those males who are willing to act upon thier intutitions that are typically regarded as feminin. Burney certainly seems to want the lines between gender to fade.
What I really like about Burney is the way, through her journals and articles, she proves that she is growing as a writer as she gets older. She proves herself to be well read, and a learned person by allowing the reader to see her expanding mind and evolving philosophies. Her confidence in challenging Homer does well to prove this.

It's me....again!

I never got around to Blogging about Margery Kempe, and for this I apologize. Looking back, two months later, I have developed a Romanticized vision of the book being a phenominal, nights spent by candle-light, can't put the damn thing down kind of a book. However, as I pinch myself I realize that simply was not so.
Now if this blog was actually the "Book of Margery Kempe", I would no doubt be weeping, or fainting, or walkinf to Jeruselem right about now. Which leads me to my main point of centention with the text. It really is a bit much. A little over the top.
The heart of the book, however, is something I see as being very important. This being her devotion, and her strength. It is also a book that breaks the borders of genre, and is bold in presenting a woman who provided her own income, and made her own decisions, with a little help from religious visions. But hey Mel Gibson is making the same claims of guidance by visions, and no ones mocking him.....actually....yeah, ok, they are being a little harsh. Anyways I though the movie was alright and respect his convictions. Which is my point about Margery Kempe, though I think she was a little over the top, she lead a devoted life, and I respect her strength in her own beliefs, despite what I think.
What is important to note is that Margery's text has been seen by many, and her message was recieved. With that in mind, she certainly achieved some goals, and whether intentional or not, created more opportunity for the evolution for women in literature.

"The Yellow River" by I.P. Freely

Hey Hey Hey,

As far as I can tell Afro Behn was a success. I mean uploading it anyways, it is in fact a terrible picture. I can do better, I promise.

So, that Pope poem was something else eh. I too did not really get into the poem when I read it. In fact I think I had covered other parts of it in the past, and If I recall correctly it had left my head as quickly as it had entered then as well. But after we had a chance to discuss it I found that I got a better handle on it. And upon discussing it I have come to the conclusion that it was fairly entertaining. That whole peeing competition bit, now that was funny, rude but funny. Took me right back to those camping trips, singing the ghostbusters theme and waving a stream in the air.
But on a serious note, I think entertainment is the best way to look at Pope's poem, and hopefully it is the best way to insult what he probably considered to be a witty attempt at defacing female literature. I can honestly say that the bits in which her compared women to livestock, and insulted those whom her had never read were not even entertaining. It was just rude, and if anything was a step backwards for any male artists. But if we are to keep in mind that we are studying women's literature as an evolving process, all Pope did was assist in speeding up that process to the point that less than two weeks ago twenty students sat in a classroom and mocked the man for being a short-sighted and egotistical jerk.
Popes poem and the attacks in it are childish and seems to be a last mine of defence from an artist who is lacking confidence and feeling threatened. All his poem did was prove pope was a Jack Ass, and just as the modern film "Jack Ass" riminds viewers not to swim naked with crocodiles, Popes writing reminds readers not to create literature that will immortalize you as a sexist fool.

Ok. Mr. McDade here. I have been playing around a little, and I hope it worked. I created a little picture entitled "Afro Behn". If it uploaded properly it will be right above this entry. If not, then it will go through history as nothing more than legend.

Aphra Behn's "The Rover" was a very entertaining read. Aphra proves her confidence in her abilities by creating this highly sexualized and humerous text. The cross-dressing is as entertaining now as it was then, I think for different reasons, but funny just the same. I do, however, feel the rape scenes are a bit concerning.
Whether or not Behn incorporated these sexual themes as a way to comically address hot issues of her day, I am not totaly sure, but I am assuming that they are created and incorporated with a certain context in mind. This is one of Aphra's more popular texts and has launched her into centuries of popularity as a leading figure for women. Her educated and witty writing has maintained her status as one of the more studied female writers of her time. There is obviously a reason for this. It is probably safe to say that she incorporated what some would call smut, into her works for just that reason. It kept her works in a forum in which they would be discussed, and has opened many doors for those who followed her.

My Mary Astell Blog

I've not a whole lot to say about Mary Astell. Only that she was a very strong woman and by making her views public, particularly her opinions on the topic of marriage, she is direct and does not bury her intended message. There is no smoke and mirrors. She proves herself to be a realist in admitting that women are at times at fault, and that men can not be accused for every gender related problem in society, but that they should own up to what they are accountable for and adjust it accordingly. She is an advocate for women expressing and expanding their minds. I personally found that Mary Astell didn't carry some of the contoversy around with her that other author's we've studied have, which actually made me a little less interested, but she is very important in mapping the growth in women's literature.

Fanny Burney

I have been really enjoying the book. When I first started reading it, I could not believe that a sixteen year old would be writing such works. The first passage, when reading it, reminded me of “The Diary of Ann Frank.” Anne needed to name her journal or at least have a name to write to. Burney did not really have a specific name, she just decided to write to Nobody. It surprised me to read about some of her earlier topics. I don’t think I have ever written about books I have been reading or what they were like. At that age, my journal mostly consisted of what guy I had a crush on or how mad I was at my parents for something they did. I can understand why she was so mortified when her father found part of her journal. I wouldn’t know what to do if my parents got a hold of my journal. Even with my writing, I’m very shy about letting other people read the. I think that any author is always worried about what other people would think of their writings.

When I was reading the letter she wrote to her sister about her mastectomy, I could not imagine the pain that she went through-- let alone staying awake through the majority of it. I could not even imagine going through that. I remember freaking out about getting my wisdom teeth taken out and being put under. That would be nothing compared to what she went through. What struck me most about the letter was the detail she was able to recount especially at one point “I then felt the knife rackling against the breast bone-- scraping it” (p.304). Just reading that line made me shudder at the pain.

I must commend Burney on her writings. She was writing at a time when women writers were getting such harsh criticism. She was well aware of this but she still went on with her writings. She was not going to let the public stop her from doing her passion.

Rivella

I thought this was an interesting book. Espcially because it is the first NOVEL on the course. See i think it is a novel because of the narritive structure. In a lot of ways it reminds me of the style Dickens uses in his novels. I also think that a novel can be autobiographical and that the two dont neccisarily have to coincide. It seems to me there are enough ironic moments, and metafictional moments in the novel to make it a contrived peice of fiction rather than a straight autobiographical account of the facts.

Blogging questions

For Pope and Polwhele: what do their attacks share? how do they differ? (you could address issues of genre and style here as well as the more concrete issues).

For Burney: what stresses, or contradictions, between the roles of woman, and writer, are evident in her writings?

What sorts of shifts do we see in her writings over time? Between genres (letters vs. journal entries, for example)?

How does audience affect Burney's writing?

Web pages; marks

I understand that some of you are getting anxious about marks and apologize for my delay with the webpage marks. I figure that if I am flexible with deadlines, students should be flexible with getting marks back, but of course you are getting marked and I'm not and I do appreciate the difference.

The marks for the web pages are posted on WebCT. I have some printed comments for you, which will be available tomorrow in class and after that in the Hum. and Lang. office on the class shelf.

The marks for the presentations will appear shortly; we only have one more to go. I'll let you know here.

The marks for the papers will of course be delayed a week.

Re. the blogs: they will be marked at the end of term, and as far as many of you are concerned the more time the better. Remember, I am asking for an average of one (substantial) blog entry a week. Most of you are already in a position of having to play some catch-up by the end of classes.

Re. the exam: as I mentioned at the beginning of term, I will be offering you a choice of writing the in-class exam or doing a take-home, which will be due the day of the exam (April 14th at 9 am). I'll distribute the take-home next week.

See you tomorrow!

Scribbler

"A Known Scibbler" has been a complete joy to read. This is the most indpeth, bold , and open piece of work we have had the oppurtunity to read thus far. The openess is most likely because it is written for "nobody", therefore Burney cannot be persecuted for her work. Burney is obviously very well read and it would be interesting to read some of her other works. By reading a journal I guess we are also expanding our ideas on what literature is. This is comforting because after giving up on poetry my only remaining art form has been online journaling (not that it will be published or anything).
In Burney's Journal for 1768 , August tenth she discusses the role of the male. " I have just finished Paulus Amilius, whom I love and honour most particularly for the fondness of his children" ... "At an Age , when almost all Heros and Great Men thought that to make their Children & Family a secondary concern, was the first proof of their superiority and greatness"(62). Intrestingly Burney sees the traditionally female role of caregiver as not soley female. Burney is pursuing a certain degree of equality between the sexes within the family. This is a very modern idea I suppose. Burney is cherishing a man for traditionally feminine qualities and expanding upon and blurring the roles of the sexes.
Burney goes on in her next entry in September to discuss her contempt for Homer's opinion on women. "Homer proved his opinion of our poor sex, that the Love of Beauty is our most prevaling passion. It really grieves me to think that there certainly must be some reason for the insignificant opinion the greatest men have of Women. .... But I don't in fact believe it" (63).She is not only questioning Homer's opinion, but also rexamining most men's opinion on women. It is nice to see Burney questioning and refusing to believe the concept of women as shallow inferior creatures.

Burney speaks out more than once through out her journals on stereotypes about men and women, and equality , but I found these two journal entries the most striking because she is looking at Classical pieces. Women were not traditionally trained in studying the Classics, but Burney is has the oppurtunity and capacity to study the classics and apply them to her own time.

Pope and the cows

Reflecting on last weeks' readings of Pope and Polwhele I realize that the imagry in Pope's poem was still haunting my brain. It is vulgar on so many levels to both the sexes, but especially degrading and diminishing to women. The imagery of the utters brings forth POpe's opinion that women merely exist for their purpose and are not whole beings. Secondly Pope wishes to degrade a female writer because this is not part of her designated job as a female. It is almost as if Pope believes that women cannot still bear children, be mothers, and wives while being writers. Pope wishes us to consider Eliza writing, the same as if cows were writing (obviously foolish and obsurd). In our minds cows simply exist to give milk and Pope wishes to tie this into a woman's role of bearing children. Pope makes Eliza not only look foolish, but rips away her identity as an individual and human being. At first in class I thought Pope was also degrading men slightly by having them partcipate in a peeing contest, but as I reflect further he only does this to make Eliza look more foolish and worthless. The foolish men are simply an instrutment to degrade.

Pope and Polwhele

Our class discussion on Pope and Polwhele was quite interesting. When I was reading Pope's poem, I did not quite understand what was going on. When we discussed it in class, I was quite surprised to find out what he was really talking about. I can't understand how he could put Eliza in such a degrading situation. What makes it so much worse is the fact that Pope did not read her works. If you are going to criticize someone, it should be about their writing not anything else. It is one thing to say that she was a bad writer after reading her works, but it's completely another if you are just slandering her because she is a "morally" bad person. You could also look at by under who's standards is she "morally" bad. In today's society if anyone wrote that kind of criticism, they would be dealing with a nice lawsuit. I can only come to one conculsion I can make about why he wrote this, was he just wanted to throw more dirt on her already tarnished character.No other reason comes to mind.
Polwhele is just as bad as Pope, but just not to the extent. He still judged women writers without reading their works but he also did like a few women writers. His reasoning behind liking this writers isn't really the best. The main reason that he liked these writers is because they wrote about "gentle" topics-- nothing serious or anything that men would normally would write. But some of these writers did write about political movements. Hester Thrale Piozzi mostly did write about "women's" issues but she did also write about potitical movements. Here is one of her writings on the French Revolution:

I see we are not yet decided as to public Matters; L’Invasion tire en longueur, & that will make our Spirits flag: I wished them to come forward directly, while we were all ready & in good humour—and while we recollected that the Ministry did make peace, but Buonaparte would not keep it; whilst hopes of Plunder stimulated him & his Banditti to War. Now we shall have another howl about Taxes, & high-prized Provisions; and the people who would willingly enough defend thbir own Coast, will hesitate when called out to assist Pichegru or Dumouriez to set up the King of France: altho’ unless he is once again set up, there will be no lasting Quiet for Europe. Something gives hopes just now of a Revolution at Paris; but those poor Creatures are so sick of all Revolutions now, & so hopeless of good Effects from any; it will be difficult to put them into Motion. See Page 211 of this Volume—perhaps the fancy there express’d, is going to be realized:—People like the King of France’s Letter to Buonaparte very much, & the young Princes behaviour seems pretty, & well-timed—nous vetrons: but I am impatient. (found on www.thrale.com)

These women were just not know for writing "men" topics. Others who were writing outside the women's realm were criticized. I don't think I'll be able to understand why these men thought it was okay to degrade these women.

Alexander Pope/Richard Polwhele

Hello Everyone,
Ever since class on Wednesday, I have been thinking about what we discussed in Pope and Polwhele’s texts. I cannot believe the stance that Pope takes in "The Dunciad". I find it absolutely outrageous that he critiques Eliza Haywood in this way, and associates her with such a disgusting game. Having men in this contest to compete for Eliza, not only proves that he wanted to degrade her personally, but in doing so he also insults men. I guess that like we mentioned in class, this is a prime example of why many writers in this period may have written anonymously because of such critiques, and satirical remarks that are very uncalled for. And the same can be said for Polwhele. What right did he have to critique Wollstonecraft in such a way? Really, what business does he have to make such comments? Her personal life should have no effect on his, so what would be his purpose for writing such remarks, other than the obvious fact that he wanted to degrade her and prove that in general women are inferior beings. Like we said in class, he had not even the slightest remark critiquing her literary works, but instead he attacked her personal privacy and alluding to such issues, I believe is very low on his behalf. I believe that he must feel that it’s a fair game to do so, because if not he would not have written such comments. It really drives me crazy because he automatically assumes that her literary works do not deserve praise, because she had many negative occurrences in her personal life. It would be a totally different issue if her critiqued her works. I just cannot believe the nerve that these two writers have to mock such female figures in this way. It really annoys me, because to me, it's like they are on a power trip, just to make themselves look better, and once again prove that women are the inferior beings.

Class Discussion

Am I the only person that is still shocked by what Alexander Pope wrote about in the poem we discussed in class? In class I thought it was a rather funny poem. However, today the more I thought about it the angrier I got. I thought the purpose of an education was to learn and become less ignorant to issues. By attacking women in The Dunciad he looks like a pompous arrogant stereotypical male. I am sure that in the time that it was written it was perfectly acceptable to treat women with blatant disrespect. It is literature like this that reminds me that women have fought long and hard to be appreciated as writers. I think it is great that the women writers that were not appreciated in their time are being recognized now. The women writers of the past are in reality getting the ultimate revenge on the men that slandered them when they were alive. The male writers like Pope are being seen for the arrogant twits that they really were and the women writers of the same time are emerging as literary geniuses.

Paper

I have a question about citing quotes in the paper. I'm not sure how I'm suppose to cite them. It usually varies from prof to prof. I'm writing on The Rover. Do I just put the quote in and the end of the quote put the page number in brackets? or is there another way?

c18th clothing

from Plep:

Eighteenth-Century European dress at the Metropolitan Museum in NY. Lovely photographs and commentary that makes the palms itch to stroke some silk.

(cross-posted to scribblingwoman)

Manley

Hey all!
I have to say, I really had a difficult time following the novel as many have noted. However, I found that it was a great novel, but at times I felt really frustrated because I found myself constantly flipping back to the previous pages to make sure that I didn't miss anything. It just seemed really confusing because I was constantly trying to figure out which character was which and so on. However, it is definitely evident that Manley wanted to portray women as incredibly strong and independent as well as very intelligent. I think that Rivella's strong character is really portrayed though her relationship with Lovemore, as she did not wish to marry Lovemore because her feelings towards him were not exactly on the same level as his. In fact, his love for her came off as a bit childish to me. I admire her strength to chose to not marry him, and I think that at this time, this really emphasizes her determination and will to take her life into her own hands, regardless of the societal expectations that surrounded her. Her love for Lysander was shot down in a way, and it was interesting to see that as an alternative she chose to focus on her intellectual abilities rather than engage in love again. She definitely did not lack men, as there were two who loved her, which is a prime example that appearances are not the determining trait when it comes to loving someone. Because Rivella was depicted as beautiful when she was younger, I believe that Manley's desire is to show her readers that Rivella is a model and prime example that women do not have to be gorgeous to be attractive and intellectual, in any way. Although she may not have been all that attractive after recovering from her sickness (small pox), her weight gain did not affect her inner beauty at all, which is essentially all that matters. I think that this novel is a positive example that shows the extreme determination that women possessed in her time and Manley also shows us that Rivella's intelligence definitely proved to outweigh her physical appearances.

Rivella

This entry was made two days after we read Rivella, but I am big idiot and couldn't remember my password and then forgot my user name... anyway.

" As I read Rivella it often slipped my mind that the author was female. The male narrotor is truly effective at raising Rivella from her unfortunate reputation to a queen of wit. I think it was very important for the author to remove herself from the plot in order to make the appearance of an objective view about herself. (sorry if that sentence is confusing). I enjoyed the descriptions of Rivella the most, but grew rather bored and at times confused with the legal trials and disputes. OF cours parts were quite amusing, but the charecters were difficult to keep track of. I wish the book had gone further into the charecter of Rivella and concentrated less on the men around her. Although the men and the disputes reflected further on Rivellas charecter and gave reason for her reputation it did not quite reach into the core of the person. Of course if it did , perhaps this writing would have been considered much more gerogatory . It was interesting to note that Rivella's reputation does not seem to be blamed on her writing. Unlike many writers we have read she does not seem to defend her writing, but instead defends herself and refuses to tie her writing in with her personal life and reputation.

Hey Ladies.

Hello all,
First let me say that I thoroughly enjoyed Wednesday's class. It was alot of fun, and on top of that I learned some important things and I am now looking at all of the texts we have studied so far in a very different light. The discussion about Manley's Rivella was very productive, even if a bit distracted. The discussion opened my eyes to many aspects of the text, but mainly the way in which Manley created the text through well strategized character placement. I noted in class that I really liked that about the text, but I have to say the more I think about it the more I love that aspect of the text. It has also made me reconsider how I had read all of the other works we have covered to date. Particulary Behn, Cavendish, etc.
The reader really has to wonder how smart these women actually were. I, through my research for my Kempe paper, have discovered in numerous journal articles that scholars always are sure to note the restrictions and regulations placed on female writers, so for them to formulate strategy and manipulate characters and restriction, and still successfully get across thier message is need of applause.
I, like a few others in the class, tended to lose a little interest as the book went on. It incorporated many characters and made it a bit hard to follow who was who and who was doing what. (Next time I will not be so short sighted and look for the Key at the back of the book). Just the same I enjoyed the book, and I have to say that it is the text that has brought the course as a whole together for me and made me realize a few things that were probably hanging in front of my face to begin with.
Well that's it for me nut just a little trick you guys should try. It was sent to me in a forward, and it's hilarious. Go the the Google search engine and type in
Weapons of Mass Destruction
But then don't hit the search button, but rather the "I feel lucky" button. Then read the error page that comes up closely, its hilarious. Well I'll have a few more blogs coming on some authors I may have missed thus far in the course. So you'll hear from me soon.
Patrick

That Manley, pretty racy stuff>

Though my title may be a bit of a stretch, I have to agree with most of the Blogs that have been posted on Rivella so far, that it is a good read, and Manley seems to have fun presenting a fairly blunt and exciting female character. I enjoyed the beginning of the book, and the discussions amongst the male editors. I plan to blog about the text after todays class so that I have a better understanding of it, and Dr. Jones, I promise you that my blogs on Aphra Behn and Mary Wholstencraft are on the way.

Papers

I just got back a little earlier this evening and was catching up on the blogs. Lots of great entries!

Re. the papers: I am not a stickler for deadlines and am certainly open to granting extensions. Of course, this message is coming too late for most of you, I assume, but if any of you would like to take an extra week to fine-tune things, that would be okay with me. I want you to hand in something with which you are happy.

See you tomorrow!

Rivetting Rivella

Manley had to be pretty confident (cocky?) to write such a revealing text about herself. She left herself very exposed for backlash, especially considering her thinly disguised, sometimes scathing revelations about real people and situations.

Rivella is strong and sassy even though she makes her mistakes along the way.
By showing both Rivella's faults and gifts, Manley creates a likeable, humanized character.

However, in spite of Rivella's complex characterization, Manley couldn't free her entirely from the conventions of the time because Rivella still falls into some female stereotypical roles. She is SILENT when she's living alone in her mansion. She is CHASTE when pursued by her friend's lover. I'm going to write a bit more on how she is pigeonholed in a follow-up blog.

Anyway...I liked the text. BONUS - It was short enough to read while my son slept on the plane ride back from Vancouver.

Rivella

When I first started reading the book, I really enjoyed. It was interesting to see two men describing her in such admiration terms. Once he got into the part where he first met and fell in love with her, I was quite surprised. It was different to read sbout how much Lovemore was in love with Rivella. He took on the role of a "love sick teenager" by today's standards. It was interesting to see that for once it wasn't the female who was "love sick" rather the male. The roles had been reversed in this situation. Lovemore would have done anything for Rivella; but she didn't pay any attention to him. I really like this quote when Lovemore was describing how much he loved her "I would have kissed her, and embraced her a thousand times over, but had no opportunity" (p. 53).

I found it interesting that Rivella would not marry Lovemore because she didn't not love him as he did her. He wanted to help her in any way, and he believe that it would be good if she married him. She only saw him as a friend and wouldn't marry because of that fact.

As I continued to read, I also got confused as to what was going on. At times I had no idea how certain things had to do with Rivella. I would have to skip ahead to make sure that he was still talking about her, then go back and read it again. At times I would end up paying more attention to the footnotes and then I would forgot what that had to do with the story.

I have one question that maybe someone could tell me. Why do some of the words have a "k" added on to them ex. topick

great book

I know that this doesn't really have anything to do with our course but I wanted to let you guys know about it. I have been reading a really amazing book over the past week. I have been reading "The Autobiography of Malcolm X". I haven't been able to stop reading the book. It has opened my eyes on many different things involving the struggles that African Americans went through. I'm only about half way through the book, but I have learned so much just from that. If anyone has any extra time and wants to read a good book I highly recommend this one.

The Adventures of Rivella

Maybe my first analysis of this text was a little off. What I loved was the way that the males were describing this incredibly strong and interesting woman without degrading her (which would seem quite typical of the time). But as I continued reading, I discovered that this text is absolutely everything I dislike in a text. It was confusing and difficult to follow, very much like an 18th century "Beverly Hills 90210". The intrigue wasn't even all that interesting, if you could actually figure out who was doing what with whom. I didn't even realize that Rivella was even married until way late in the text and then had to go backwards and try to figure out what I had missed, something I HATE doing when I'm reading. The book was well written though, and was a highly imaginative way to present an autobiography (or semi-autobiography). It is always nice to be able to read a text written by a woman about a strong, independent woman, and in this case, they happen to be one in the same. Even amongst the many sections that confused me, I almost always found some line to make me smile or even laugh. I also absolutely ADORE the final line of the text: "[...] let us not lose a moment before we are acquainted with the only person of her sex that knows how to LIVE, and of whom we may say, in relation to love, since she has so peculiar a genius for, and has made such noble discoveries in that passion, that it would have been a FAULT IN HER, NOT TO HAVE BEEN FAULTY" (page 114). This quotation is even more impressive when you realize that it is men saying this about a woman, admiring her achievements AND mistakes, knowing that they make her into an incredible and complete,PERSON.

My oh my, what to write

I have finally realized what my problem with blogging is. I say all I want to say about the texts and women while in class, and this leaves me with nothing to blog about later when the questions are posed. I either don't remember the great points I made while in class, or I feel stupid repeating them to the people who were there with me in class. But I am going to try and make a more concerted effort. I am just starting the Adventures of Rivella and I have a good feelling about it. I can't wait to get into it further. I'm spending my March break in Toronto with my boyfriend, and since he has class, this book will be my distraction from his boring lectures while I attend class with him. I will attempt to blog more often as I get further into Rivella. Have a great March break everyone!