The Castration of Eloisa in Popes Eloisa to Abelard :: Pope Eloisa to Abelard Essays

The Castration of Eloisa in Pope's Eloisa to Abelard If Pope's intent in writing an Ovidian heroic epistle is to show the entire range of his protagonist's emotions from meekness to violent passion, then he was wise to choose the twelfth-century story of Eloisa and Abelard as his subject. Eloisa and her teacher Abelard retired to different monasteries after her family discovered they were lovers and brutally castrated him. Years later, Eloisa by chance intercepted a letter from Abelard to a friend chronicling their love affair. The letter reawakened Eloisa's long repressed passion for Abelard, and she struggles to reconcile her sexual passion with her religious vows. As she has taken a vow of silence, the only mode of expression left to Eloisa is her emotion, which she often expresses by weeping. She tells Abelard in her mind: Tears still are mine, and those I need not spare, Love but demands what else were shed in pray'r; No happier task these faded eyes pursue, To read and weep is all they now can do. (lines 45-48) Eloisa thus lives in her mind, communicating mentally with God and now her former lover Abelard alternately. Pope's poem is his idea of what Eloisa would write to Abelard in a letter, albeit a letter whose writing would have spanned several years until her death. In his seminal 1969 article "The Escape from Body or the Embrace of Body," Murray Krieger states that "the poem represents at once a finished letter and a letter that, apparently finished, is actually in the stormy process of being written" (34). The richness of Pope's language juxtaposed with the rigidity of his couplet form have suggested to critics both the depth of Eloisa's emotion and the restraints placed on her by the Church and her vows. This juxtaposition has troubled some critics (including Krieger) as a mismatch. These critics argue that a writer in Eloisa's emotional state would produce writing that is much less polished and constrained than Pope's perfect couplets. In fact, that Pope records Eloisa's emotional l anguage in the confining couplet verse structure is precisely what Krieger calls the poem's failure. I propose that Pope intended Eloisa's emotional outbursts to strain against his own exacting poetic form. I believe Pope constricts Eloisa's florid language within the couplet in order to emphasize the severity of the imprisonment she suffers in the monastery. Further, I would argue that Eloisa's imprisonment in a monastery, combined with the vow of silence and marriage to the Church required of her as part of her religious confinement, is a symbolic act of

Gandhi’s Impact on the Liberation of Indian Women

India has the world's largest number of professionally qualified women. It has more female doctors, surgeons, scientists and professors than the United Statesi. This is a remarkable accomplishment for Indian women. Despite all of this, for thousands of years Indian women have been treated unfairly and unequally. It has taken years for women to gain respect in society; it did not come over night. Not one single event has emancipated women, instead it has been a series of events which has led Indian women to their liberation. Many riots, protests and powerful leadership have taken place in order to overcome this rigorous struggle. Due to the leadership of one man India changed from being controlled by the British Commonwealth to becoming and Independent Nation. This leader was Mahatma Gandhi. In is efforts to develop an independent country he also paved the path for Indian women to rise and speak against the social norms, which excluded them in society. During the time of Gandhi's leadership he observed many instances in which women were suffering. For instance, the average life span of an Indian was 27 years as both babies and pregnant women ran a high risk of dying young. Child marriages were very common, widows were in high numbers, and only 2% of the women had any education. In addition, specifically in North India the women practiced the purda (veil) system, in which they had to keep their faces covered if they were to go outside. Gandhi recognized and attempted to change the terrible suffering of Indian women and therefore, he initiated women to step out of their homes and participate in the protests by his use of Satyagraha philosophy, which resulted in several women leading their own movements. The harmful treatment toward Indian women was profoundly due to societal and religious sacraments. Many societal and religious customs subordinated women and made them inferior to man. A hundred years ago it was common for child marriages to occur, and for it to be completely legal. Child marriages were considered important in Indian society especially in the Hindu religion, since it was crucial to be married to someone of the same caste and therefore should be arranged at a young age. However, this invariably led to a high number of child widows since the men the young girls were marrying were much older. Gandhi stated â€Å"not only consider it uncivilised but a crime against God to call the union of children a married state because it undermines morals and induces physical degeneration†ii. He recognized that child marriages were immoral and also contributed to the high number of child widows. Gandhi believed that if young girls were not married at such young ages then the number of child widows would decrease. Although, Gandhi was married at a young age of 13 he â€Å"vehemently† condemned child marriages and argued that ancient Hindu scriptural texts laying down â€Å"barbaric† and â€Å"degrading† rules regarding women should be revisediii. Gandhi proposed the idea that child marriages should not occur and that there should be a minimum age at which a girl can be married. This proposal by Gandhi initiated women to take action on this issue. At the first session of the Women's Conference they adopted a resolution urging the government to make marriages under 16 a penal offence. Although, this did take time to enforce eventually in 1929 the Sarda Act took place fixing the age limit to 15 iv. This was the first legislative enactment the women had won, and a substantial part of this was due to Gandhi's realization that women were equals. Gandhi strongly believed that women and men were of equal sex and women should not be treated any differently. Gandhi stated, â€Å"Woman is the companion of man, gifted with equal mental capacities. She has the right to participate in very minutest detail in the activities of man and she has an equal right of freedom and liberty with him†v. Gandhi had a strong sense of respect for women in society and believed they needed to be treated equally. Another societal and religious pressure that was considered essential for Indian women to practice was the purdah (veil) system. Purdah was more of a tradition to areas of Islamic rule. Women were to keep all parts of their body covered in public, except their eyes. Gandhi witnessed the effects purdah had on women, and believed that chasity came from within and that it could not be protected by the purdah. Gandhi stated, â€Å"It must grow from within, and to be worth anything it must be capable of withstanding every unsought temptation†vi. The purdah system restricted women to the household and even such tasks as shopping were the responsibility of the men. Gandhi encouraged a campaign to be sought out which would educate both the men and women, â€Å"If the campaign is well organized, and continued with zeal, the purdah should become a thing of the past†vii. Although the purdah system has not been entirely eliminated it has significantly decreased among women in South Asia today. However, Gandhi found that even those who were educated did not have the courage to reject the purdah customviii. The suggestion by Gandhi to educate young women was made early in the nineteenth century to eliminate practices that subordinated women. The education of women was poor at the time of Gandhi, and this was because of their low status in society. As the Nationlist movement developed a high magnitude base in the 1930's attention began to be directed toward the education of the crowd. In 1973, Gandhi organized a conference which came to be known as the Wardha scheme, a system of basic education for India. Girls basic education was to concentrate on domestic courses. However, Gandhi emphasized that men's and women's education should differ. This idea is one that does not necessarily contribute to equality. Gandhi states, † We shall accept equality of rights for women, but I think their education should differ from men's as their nature and function do†ix. Gandhi did want women to achieve equality, however; he still believed that women had a different role. The fact that there are different roles due to gender does not necessarily support women's liberation. This contradiction in Gandhi's work is due to his belief that, â€Å"It is women's right to rule the house. Man is master outside of it† x. Gandhi certainly believed that the education for women was extremely important, however; he did not believe that the methods for education should be identical in both cases xi. Once women became educated according to Gandhi they would no longer put up with â€Å"glaring inequalities to which they are subjected† xii. Gandhi emphasized the importance of education and after independence came a constitutional guarantee to establish free and compulsory education for all children xiii. Gandhi's insightful observations on Indian women have initiated substantial changes to their lifestyle and status in society due to his encouragement of education. To get women out of their homes and participate in the freedom for Independence Gandhi introduced his philosophy of Satyagraha. Gandhi's philosophy of Satyagraha is one that appealed to women and contributed to their emancipation. In South Africa Gandhi developed the technique of Satyagraha or â€Å"soul force† which proved effective in resisting political control that the British demonstrated. Truth (Satya) implies love, and firmness (Agraha) engenders and therefore serve's as a synonym for force. Gandhi adopted what he learned in South Africa and demonstrated his political genius for the Independence struggle of India. Under his guidance a mass movement was created and eventually through his patience and his use of Satyagraha, Independence was declared in 1949. Gandhi seemed to direct an appeal specifically to women, telling them he had great faith in their capacity to sacrifice and endure suffering. This was a concept that women could easily comprehend since they have socialized to endure and sacrifice. Mahatma Gandhi speaks of this and explains why women are more able to self-sacrifice, â€Å"Woman is the incarnation of Ahimsa. Ahimsa means infinite love which again means infinite capacity in the largest measure. She shows it as she carries the infant and feeds it during nine months and derives joy in the suffering involved. What can beat the sufferings caused by the pangs of labour? But she forgets them in the joy of creation. Who, again, suffers daily so that her babe may wax from today? Let her transfer that love the whole humanity, let her forget she ever was or can be object of man's lust. And she will occupy her proud position by the side of man as his mother, maker and silent leader. It is given to her to teach the art of peace to the warring world, thirsting for that nectar. She can become the leader of Satyagraha which does not require the learning that books give but does require the stout heart that comes from suffering and faith† xiv. As one can see it was Gandhi's belief in women's strength that initiated them to promote Satyagraha and become a part of the movement. Millions of women both educated and illiterate, housewives, widows, students and the elderly participated in India's freedom movement because of Gandhi's influence. Gandhi set a unique example amongst Indian leaders by including women among the â€Å"masses† in a more natural way. Women participated in mass movements led by him in a natural course xv. The women of India used their new tool of passive resistance to fight for freedom and independence. During the march to Dandi in 1930, to break the salt law, women from all levels and walks of life came out into the â€Å"battle arena†. As the men were put behind bars, the women stepped out providing mature considered leadership, inititative, and resourcefulness, beyond all expectations xvi. At this time women were risking their lives in order to gain freedom. Women were held in jail, some of them pregnant and thus many died because of the lack of food. They did this all in the hope that one day India would be a free country, with little conception that these actions would help to free the women of India. Gandhi put women on a higher spiritual pedestal and expected them to be a real ‘divine power'. â€Å"Not only did he believe that women was man's equal, rather, he took her to be superior in her capacity to suffer and sacrifice† xvii. Gandhi's belief that women were more superior because they could endure greater amounts of suffering encouraged women to step forward and participate in such movements. There is not doubt that the most awakening event for Indian women was the battle for India's political freedom by the use of the non-violent action that Gandhi encouraged. During Gandhi's political movements he attempted to boycott all British made goods and instead assert the need for Indians to make their own goods. Mahatma Gandhi was indeed a pragmatic thinker and he realized that women were the fifty percent of human resources and it was essential to use them in the struggle for independence. â€Å"The chastity of women can be protected with the help of the spinning wheel. There is another occupation in which millions of women can engage themselves remaining at home. India must learn to be self-reliant†xviii. He believed that women were overwhelmingly concerned with the need for foreign cloth, and instead believed that women should start spinning the wheel in order to make their own cloth. This was an idea that started off to be for the benefit of reaching independence, however; it also benefited the emancipation of women in India. Women were now self-sufficient and began to feel much more confidant and independent because they did not have to rely on others. Gandhi has made considerable impacts on women and has motivated them to step forward and lead movements of their own. For instance the All India Women's Conference (AIWC) founded in 1927 tried to mobilize Indian women and build a national organization concerning social service activities xix. The AIWC gave women's organization a national leadership and achieved limited success in influencing government policy with regard to women's suffrage, education and healthxx. The Nationalist leader Sarojini Naidu was one of the first women to take the â€Å"pledge†. She held demonstrations in various cites and made special appeals to women of the land xxi. Under Gandhi's leadership thousands of women took leading roles in several movements. Gandhi never considered women to be unfit for any position or task. From the considerable support of Gandhi, women's groups were formed all over India and hardly a week passed where Gandhi did not address a women's group. Mary Fainsoid said in her article that leftist commentators argued that women's groups associated with parties have the potential of being more effective because of their connections with mass organizations xxii. Gandhi was a member of the Indian National Congress. He approved the declaration in 1931 that the Constitute would have to agree to for a free India. The particular clauses relating to women were those dealing with equal rights and obligations of citizens without any bar on account for sex, the protection of women workers and special adequate provisions of leave during maternity periodxxiii. The commitment that was made in 1931 was embodied in the Constitution of free India and was later adopted by the Indian Constituent Assembly of 1949 xxiv. It is safe to say that the women's contributions along with Gandhi's leadership in the Independence struggle were in a sense rewarded by legal equality. Women in Indian society have achieved great prominence. This has been achieved not only by one single event but instead by a string of events. Gandhi is an individual who started the emancipation of women due to his protests for an Independent India. He not only introduced women to Satyagraha but he was also a ceaseless crusader for women's equality. He brought the women of their homes and made them equal participants in the walks of life-social as well as political. The work of Gandhi has affected millions of people but the effect it has on women has changed their status forever. It is due to Gandhi's initiative and guidance that India now has more working women than any other country. This includes female workers at all levels of skill – from the surgeon and the airline pilot to bus conductors and menial labourers xxv. Although, there are still many social barriers facing Indian women today, hopefully people will look upon Gandhi's guidance and be motivated to abolish and prejudice that still occurs today.

Gandhis acts of civil disobedience Essay - 2654 Words

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi In 1757, Great Britain extended its empire into India. This occupation would not fully end until 1947. In the time between, there were many movements by the Indian people to gain independence from the British. The movement that finally succeeded in winning India’s independence was led by one of the most influential figures of the 20th century, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Gandhi’s methods for fighting against the occupation of the British were very different from those of any of the freedom movements before. And that was why it worked. Gandhi did not agree with the general reasoning of the time: that conflicts could be solved through negotiation and forceful resistance.1 Rather, his faith led him to go†¦show more content†¦Instead of trying to fight against his opposers, he combined his effort with theirs. This worked very well in gaining the support of his opposers.6 This experiment would influence his later thoughts. At this time, Gandhi began to seek employment as a lawyer in India. But his London education gave him little knowledge of Hindu and Indian law, making work very hard to find in India. He considered going to an Indian university, but at the time it was not economically feasible. Eventually he was able to find an opportunity to practice law that would bring him to Natal, South Africa in 1893.7 In South Africa Gandhi was exposed to a level of racism that he had never experienced before. He was not allowed to wear his turban in a courtroom and he was not allowed to ride in the same cars as Europeans on the trains. While traveling to by train to Pretoria, he was asked to leave his seat for the van compartment. He refused and was kicked off the train.8 To get to his destination, he found a stagecoach going to Pretoria. He was not allowed to sit in the coach-box with the white passengers, but was forced to sit with the coachman. Later, he was asked to give up his seat to sit on the floorboard. Gandhi would not agree to this injustice. And, although he received a beating for it, he remained in his seat.9 These incidents led Gandhi to decide to fight for the rights of Indian workers in South Africa. In the meantime, GandhiShow MoreRelatedMahatma Gandhi And Civil Disobedience1015 Words   |  5 PagesGandhi and Civil Disobedience Mahatma Gandhi once said, â€Å"Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony† (Mahatma Quotes). Happiness to Gandhi was standing up for what he and others believed in. Gandhi’s personal life caused him to choose to participate in civil disobedience to protest Salt Acts law by the British, and he did achieve success eventually by using this controversial method of standing up for what he strongly believed to be right. Civil disobedience is whenRead MoreThe Political Relevance And Global Impact Of Mahatma Gandhi Essay1179 Words   |  5 Pagesconveys her stance on Gandhi’s influence on how different groups of people combated forms of oppression. Bhagwat says â€Å"wherever the political, economic, social, and ecological future of humanity and†¦ earth is debated and discussed, Gandhiji with his simple precepts provides a guidance for all generations† (Bhagwat 33). I believe that her argument successfully convinces the reader that the principles Gandhi followed and the strategies he used, non-violent civil disobedience and non-cooperation, notRead MoreGandhi s Effect On The Independence Of India1713 Words   |  7 PagesKaramchand Gandhi, more widely known as Mahatma Gandhi, began his famous salt march to the sea. Gandhi’s salt march was an act of civil disobedience, or satyagraha, which loosely means â€Å"truth-force†, against the rule of the British government over India at the time. 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Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi,1235 Words   |  5 Pages1893, only days after the courtroom occurrence, a crucial moment in Gandhi’s life occurred. He was on a train trip to Pretoria when a white man protested Gandhi’s presence in the first-class section of the train, even though he had a ticket. Gandhi was asked and refused to move to the back of the train and was then forcibly removed and thrown off the train at the station in Pietermaritzburg. It was his first act of civil disobedience and it was then that he felt the determination to devote himself toRead MoreGandhi s Life And Legacy1578 Words   |  7 PagesPaper 26 Apr. 2016 Gandhi’s Life and Legacy Throughout the course of history there have been many influential leaders that have stressed the use of non-violence and civil disobedience including Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. Gandhi was a very influential and inspiring leader that was able to lead billions of people. He was willing to give up everything for what he believed in even though he knew that his actions could possibly lead to imprisonment and other legal consequences. Gandhi’s bravery and perseveranceRead MoreA Peaceful Revolution : Mahatma Gandhi1088 Words   |  5 Pages Alexis Altamirano Montgomery English Honors 2 23 March 2015 A Peaceful Revolution â€Å"I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent.†(Gandhi). In Gandhi’s quote, he is saying when leaders think violence and war will solve their problem and get the point across, the problem will not go away, but ironically it will only make the situation worse. To Mohandas Gandhi, the proper way of living life was through being peaceful andRead MoreGandhi : A Moral Exemplar1457 Words   |  6 PagesMahatma Gandhi is practically a household name worldly due to his non-violent activism work in both South Africa and India. In fact, he led India’s non-violence movement to liberation from British rule through acts of peaceful protest. To many, Gandhi is a moral exemplar, because despite cruel treatment, he avoided retaliation, while still accomplishing to rid his country of British tyranny. He also worked as an activist for many other humanitarian causes, such as poverty relief, religious ca usesRead MoreGandhi s Influence On Indian Politics937 Words   |  4 Pagesgain independence from Great Britain, a revolutionary leader emerged from the chaos. It was Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s teachings of Satyagraha that lead the fight for India’s freedom. Satyagraha was not only the practice of non-violence but also the rejection of â€Å"every form of violence, direct or indirect†¦whether in thought, word, or deed† (Dalton 29).Gandhi believed non-violence was an act of â€Å"pure love† in the face of hate and his legacy vividly survives through the cultures he inspired. In this