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Joanna Murray Smith suggest that women are burdened by the expectation that they are the perfect mother.

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Joanna Murray Smith suggest that women are burdened by the expectation that they are the perfect mother.

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WOMEN FEEL THAT THEY NEED TO BE AN OBJECT OF THE MALE GAZE

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WOMEN FEEL THAT THEY NEED TO BE AN OBJECT OF THE MALE GAZE

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Joanna Murray Smith explores Mary Odonell's pressure to be better than everyone else "no one can dance like me. no one in the whole school."

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Joanna Murray Smith portrays that idealised beauty can bring fulfilment to a woman

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Joanna Murray Smith portrays that idealised beauty can bring fulfilment to a woman

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quote: meryl- "never look put together, never look well groomed"

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Murray-Smith suggests that women are expected to be passive and domestic workers, however get nothing in return. This is evident when Tiggy says "They sit quietly...they crotchet and bake and occasionally tidy up...And it's too much, it's too much to honour that?"

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Murray-Smith suggests that women are expected to be passive and domestic workers, however get nothing in return. This is evident when Tiggy says "They sit quietly...they crotchet and bake and occasionally tidy up...And it's too much, it's too much to honour that?"

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pressure to be connected to somebody (if not you're dull and an object of sympathy)
"in our society, being alone can make one feel rather silly" pg. 28
have to cover up lonesomeness (if you appear busy you look better off)
"one insulates oneself from the foolishness of being one by creating inordinate amounts of ritual"
feels she has to suppress any feelings of love (not widow like to feel this way towards a man again)
"i embarrassed myself with the effort i was making, appearance wise"

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Joanna Murray smith suggests the need for male validation. We see this through Mary O'Donnell "Mr Burbridge knows that I am the talent of show."

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Joanna Murray Smith suggests that society pressures women to be the perfect wife and the perfect mother 

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Joanna Murray Smith suggests that society pressures women to be the perfect wife and the perfect mother 

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quotes: meryl- "lipstick, that way other mothers will think i'm on top of things"
"need to look glamorous for barry"

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Murray-Smith expresses that marriage is a crucial part of a woman's life. 'I'm going to belong to someone'

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Joanna Murry-Smith reveals the social pressures placed on a women to "belong to someone" in order to achieve a sense of fulfilment. 

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Joanna Murry-Smith reveals the social pressures placed on a women to "belong to someone" in order to achieve a sense of fulfilment. 

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"so fucking happy"
"i wanted to be ....owned"

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Margaret Atwood shows in Chapter 10 The Chorus Line, the maids state they they will eventually be killed by Telemachus and Odysseus. They are refer to themselves as "animal young"

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Margaret Atwood shows in Chapter 10 The Chorus Line, the maids state they they will eventually be killed by Telemachus and Odysseus. They are refer to themselves as "animal young"

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Pressure to be young and beautiful and that it is the most important trait. As Patrick is blind he is able to admire her for her traits and not her beauty.
'Winsome you read magnificently' pg 33. He appreciates something that she does and not about her looks.

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"except for Marylin who is pathologically mean...she's more than comfortable... Marylin spent 70 dollars on a ticket"

she talks about other women and
they are critical of each other. constantly judging each others decisions, way of life, actions, looks, etc.
They compete against one another, instead of supporting one another.

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''it will furnish the cactus with a very real chance to ....'' - possibility of transformation and a moment of hope that she is going to be okay

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Atwood exposes how women are pressured to resign themselves to patriarchal ideas about marriage, further demonstrated through Penelope being "handed over to Odysseus like a package of meat."

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margaret atwood suggests that women are expected to keep their opinions to themselves 

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margaret atwood suggests that women are expected to keep their opinions to themselves 

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quote: penelope- "death is too high a price to pay for the satisfaction of curiosity"
"I didnt contradict, i didnt ask awkward questions, i didnt dig deep. i wanted happy endings in those days"

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Although it is undesirable in societies standards, women require money and wit, in order to survive if one is widowed or a marriage breaks down. However, men are threatened by a powerful woman (with money and wit).

quote: "so what are ones weapons when one is a widow...Money. And wit."

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Murray-Smith explores how men are not held to the same beauty standards as women, as highlighted through Tiggy's declaration "As if a fat, balding, forty-nine-year-old, lactose-intolerant, fare-infringement officer is going to set anyone on fire."

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Murray-Smith explores how men are not held to the same beauty standards as women, as highlighted through Tiggy's declaration "As if a fat, balding, forty-nine-year-old, lactose-intolerant, fare-infringement officer is going to set anyone on fire."

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Although Penelope tries to take control of the narrative once she is dead, she still doesn't have the power to make her words heard.
quote - "the difficulty is that I have no mouth through which I can speak."

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Tiggy who was betrayed by her husband shows that she will survive.
quote - "dead or diseased roots should be hacked off with a sharp instrument"
Tiggy verbally executes him, voicing her powerfulness and that she has the ability to transform.

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'It's all about the dress'

Murray-Smith explores how women put expectations on each other to look a certain way and for Thersea this, caused her to rush into getting married and making the biggest mistake of her life but no one stopped to question her about Ted just about the dress.

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'i'm not going to be floating on that endless ocean of singlehood'
In Theresas mind her beauty saved her from being alone but it has also trapped her in a relationship she doesn't want to be in.

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Murray-Smith suggests that some men feel that women are no longer beautiful once that surpass youth.
Quote: "The fascination...diminished...But it's not like anything stays the same!" Reveals that Tiggy was no longer loved by Harry after she aged.

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"Now he was competing for what was at best only second prize."
Atwood suggests that women are objectified and their value is lessoned if they lack beauty. Reveals that women must constantly compete with each other over things out of their control.

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"We're not talking about fancy schmancy orchids here or big bossy showoffy lillies-"
Author suggests that some women create unnecessary competition for the affections of men. This reveals that women who are victims of being neglected by their male partners blame the other women who has stolen his attention away.

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Women compete to be 'better' [i.e prettier, reproduce first, get good husbands]. "They seemed to enjoy the reports they brought, especially when I dissolved in tears..." Reveals that some women put each other down to lift themselves up.

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Women are expected to marry at a young age. Most women are forced into arranged marriages.
Penelope states "my marriage was arranged" highlighting how marriage is an exchange between men.

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Helen who is the most beautiful is abused and kidnapped because of her beauty. She feels the pressures of staying young and beautiful.
quote - "divine beauty is such a burden. At least you've been spared that!" Helen

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Mary Atwood reveals pressures impeded on women to comply to ideal beauty standards 

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Mary Atwood reveals pressures impeded on women to comply to ideal beauty standards 

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- intelligence is disregarded over beauty "had something better to offer than beauty"
- devalued of aren't pretty "old bitch" - "it was as if i wasn't there"
"pretty enough white flowers but. a. person gets tired of. them after a while."

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Helen is never punished because her beauty has men on their "knees and drooling" giving her more power snd self worth

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Helen is never punished because her beauty has men on their "knees and drooling" giving her more power snd self worth

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Theresa feels this burden to belong to someone which she believes with "rescue" her from an "endless ocean of single hood." In spite of this it leaves her unhappy as she compromises her worth to the idea that being "owned" will bring more fulfilment to her life.

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Atwood exposes the manner by which women frequently compete with one another to prove they are better, especially when it comes to motherhood. This is clear with Eurycleia and Penelope: "You'd have almost thought she'd given birth to him herself."

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Atwood exposes the manner by which women frequently compete with one another to prove they are better, especially when it comes to motherhood. This is clear with Eurycleia and Penelope: "You'd have almost thought she'd given birth to him herself."

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Penelope has no way to voice her opinions. She is forced into a marriage that she does not want to be in.
quote - "since it wasn't up to me to choose my husband - which one I preferred."

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Joanna Murray Smith suggests that women are regarded for their age and beauty. We see this when Tiggy explains how Harry leaves her "I cared for you.. and all this time.. you were planning an escape" for a someone young and pretty "i've seen her with her midriff and her pierced belly button!"

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Joanna Murry-Smith explores the strength to persevere in challenging situations.
Mary's performance has been taken from Angela McTerry but in spite of this the "show must go on" as she builds strength to come up with a new performance.

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joanna murray smith conveys that although women struggle to overcome societal pressures, they try the best they can to fight back against injustices

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joanna murray smith conveys that although women struggle to overcome societal pressures, they try the best they can to fight back against injustices

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"zoe, you can crawl into the gutter and give up or you can look yourself square in the eye and stop feeling sorry for yourself. so i fought"
"but what doesnt kill you makes you stronger right"
"im not defeated at all"

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Through Meryl's declaration of "if Barry dies I'm dying too, CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT BARRY", Murray-Smith demonstrates how marriage is perceived to be the ultimate fulfilment for women, without which they cannot be content.

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Through Meryl's declaration of "if Barry dies I'm dying too, CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT BARRY", Murray-Smith demonstrates how marriage is perceived to be the ultimate fulfilment for women, without which they cannot be content.

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"After a time I became more accustomed to my new home, although I had little authority within it..." (p. 71). Atwood highlights how marriage restricts women and renders them powerless in the patriarchal relationship.  o

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"After a time I became more accustomed to my new home, although I had little authority within it..." (p. 71). Atwood highlights how marriage restricts women and renders them powerless in the patriarchal relationship.  o

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Zoe believes that being in 'the terrible country of men' involves marriage. Zoe's marriage ended in her being betrayed like Tiggy.
quote - "Darryl, left me back in '99 for my stylist, Tiffany."

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stage direction at the very start of the text shows her to be insecure, tentative and cautious
"a woman tentatively moves ..."
"she is a picture of timidity attempting to overcome itself"

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Women told each other stories to make them feel bad about themselves - Penelope was told about her father throwing her into the sea -  "there is always some servant or slave or old nurse or busybody ready to regale a child with awful things done to it by it's parents when it was too young to remember." pg 9

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The penelopiad Chapter 4: The Chorus Line

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The penelopiad Chapter 4: The Chorus Line

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"We were set to work in the palace, as children; we drudged from dawn to dusk, as children. If we wept, no one dried our tears. If we slept we were kicked awake. We were told we were motherless. We were told we were fatherless. We were told we were lazy. We were told we were dirty. We were dirty."

This quote conveys that women not born into regal or high-class families were often employed as maids, or house keepers. From a young age, they were told that they were not good enough or ineligible for anything really. Their parents weren't in the picture and they were forced to work day in and day out, and were given the impression by society that sleeping or crying (normal functions in general) were entirely unacceptable.

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"if I tried to carry out any small wifely task she would be right there to tell me that wasn't how odysseus liked things done" - Eurocyleia and Penelope.
This quote is an example of how women were undermined and ultimately isolated by other women.

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Women often see their husbands faults however they turn a blind eye. 'I kept my mouth shut; or, if i opened it, I sang his praises'. 'I didn't contradict, I didn't ask awkward questions, I didn't dig deep'.
Women are expected to support their husband and even if they do the wrong thing.

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Joanna Murray-Smith's message is that a male gaze validates a woman. You aren't successful if you haven't experienced love from a man. Tiggy mentions with Harry how, "Your glance made me feel lovely"

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Atwood highlights how societal views and values of the time were that women were merely an object to men and that they only married to bare their children. Children were exploited to ensure the man's property and money are protected.
quotes - "marriages were for having children, and children were not toys or pets. children were vehicles for passing things along."

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"Silence...The baby cries. I open my eyes. It's darkish. Baby crying...six o'seven..."- Every day Meryl gets up and faces the challenges of parenthood again and again, never giving up or faltering.

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"These stories are untrue"
- Women are unfairly judged and aren't given a voice to fight back. Thus ultimately leaves them feeling outcasted by a society who wont hear to them.

"her silence is taken as proof"
"blame it on the maids!"
- Women of a lower class are not viewed as equals, leaving them as easy targets for accountability of another peoples actions.
"maids were overpowered"
"the other ones without names"

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despite being unloved by her husband she has survived through her resilience for herself (characterises herself as a cactus to show this)
she is able to be resilient and continue on even though her husband has put her through the worst type of pain (link to hostile environment and undaunted struggle)
"we regard the cactus as a plant which struggles to survive in a hostile environment and it's this notion of proud, undaunted struggle which enhances its appeal. It refuses to give in. It simply refuses to bow to circumstances"

notion to sex (she is capable to sexual love)
despite what her husband may think she is capable of being loved and being pleasured (resilience in the way she doesn't give this part of herself up)
"their spines are not poisonous ... i can flower again and again and again"

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margaret atwood suggests that marriage was only a privilege of the wealthy which lower class citizens couldn't experience

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margaret atwood suggests that marriage was only a privilege of the wealthy which lower class citizens couldn't experience

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"under the old rules only important people had marriages, because only important people had inheritances."

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Murray-Smith exposes the voicelessness of women through Meryl's "tell him about my day, try to think of something interesting...Nothing to say!", emphasising how women are led to feel that their stories are not worth telling.

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Murray-Smith exposes the voicelessness of women through Meryl's "tell him about my day, try to think of something interesting...Nothing to say!", emphasising how women are led to feel that their stories are not worth telling.

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The maids stated that the only time they get to rest and do not work or get chased by noblemen wanting to have sex with them is during sleep. "In dreams we all are beautiful, In glossy crimson dresses; We sleep with every man we love, We shower them with kisses" In their dreams there is no pain, only laughter and kindness, they are free from the strains of their social class and sexual violence.

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Penelope was emotionally disconnected from her parents and had to find her own way  - "I knew that I would have to look out for myself in the world. I could hardly count on family support." pg 11

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margaret atwood suggests that marriage is a transaction between men that women have little control over

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margaret atwood suggests that marriage is a transaction between men that women have little control over

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"i had an arranged marriage"
"contests to see who should marry the nobly born woman"
"since it wasnt up to me to chose my husband- which one i preferred"
"one story has it that i was the payment for a service odysseus had rendered to tyndareus"

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''all were agreed on one thing; it was not mine'' - she has no voice and burdened by over whelming sense of worthlessness

''I had no friends of my own age and station so these excursions were not very enjoyable'' - highlights her extreme loneliness and isolation

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Atwood exposes the power of words and the consequences it can have on a women's narrative.
'each of these sacks is full of words'. Often Individuals have experienced or heard rumours that are about them or what they've said about others at least one.
'What can a woman do when scandalous gossip travels the world? If she defends herself she sounds guilty.'

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Atwood comments on the Maids who were marginalised as they were left "dangling like clothes on a line" after doing nothing but remaining subservient to the needs of men.
In spite of death they wont give up as they "are here to serve you right" and keep going despite the anguish suffered at the hands of men.

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talks a lot about the betrayal felt by her husband (she has done everything right but her husbands the one who leaves)
"that's what they do. And it's too much, is it too much to honour that? To honour that? To feel something - anything - for that?"

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The term "Cactus" is used in a resilient way

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'I've always been of a determined nature. Patient, they used to call me. I like to see a thing through to the end' . Penelope's determined nature expresses how even though women may not have the power to speak, she knows she has the capability.

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The penelopiad Chapter 4: The Chorus Line

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The penelopiad Chapter 4: The Chorus Line

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"If our owners or the sons of our owners or a visiting nobleman wanted to sleep with us, we could not refuse".

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The maids show a glimmer of resilience when they imagine a life where they are swept away by noble man.
quote - "It's hope, and hope only that keeps us afloat."
Atwood highlights how even though the maids have suffered the worst injustice they still have a glimmer of hope.

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The penelopiad Chapter 4: The Chorus Line

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The penelopiad Chapter 4: The Chorus Line

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"If we were pretty children our lives were worse".

In this quote the maids are implying that being a pretty child, increases their chance of getting raped by owners, sons of owner of noble man; thus proving beauty is a curse.

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Double standards of society (injustice that he gets who he wants when she gets nothing)
"As if a fat, balding, fourty-nine year old, lactose-intolerant, fare-infringement officer is going to set anyone on fire"

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'how many men did Odysseus butcher for you?' Atwood suggests that the ancient times found it acceptable for men to kill for their wife.

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Women kept busy with rituals to cover up their loneliness - "One insulates oneself from the foolishness of being one by creating inordinate amounts of ritual" pg 28

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When Penelope and Telemachus fight, although Penelope has been the only parent in Telemachus' life, she still must evoke Odysseus in give herself authority. Odysseus is a patriarchal presence in the family even in his absence. "Then he defied my parental authority by saying he didn't need anyones permission to take a boat.."

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"I managed to keep up the appearance of cheerfulness and hope.." Here the author intends to say that whilst women were put down and faced numerous challenges, they still had courage and remained resilient.

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"And all is mirth and kindness, There are no tears of pain; For are decrees are merciful, Throughout our golden reign." - p126

The maids show their resilience. After their cruel deaths they still manage to dream of a world where they are well treated and happy.

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sisterhood isn't very supportive (judge you, give fake sympathy but don't understand)
"sisters don't get it, married friends don't get it. daughters don't get it"

even at an old age, youre still judges by those around you (sisterhood judged one another)
"marilyn spent seventy dollars on a ticket but baulked at paying five dollars for a chardonnay"

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"Despite all the busyness and responsibility, I felt more alone than ever." (p.89) Atwood explores how women often find themselves suffering immense loneliness in their isolation, as Penelope has no emotional support in her life.

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"Despite all the busyness and responsibility, I felt more alone than ever." (p.89) Atwood explores how women often find themselves suffering immense loneliness in their isolation, as Penelope has no emotional support in her life.

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Margaret Atwood explores how women are judged and talked about that are "completely untrue."

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"Telemachus was now of an age to start ordering me around" - Penelope stating her sons dominance over her, and she she is powerless and voiceless to stop that.