Essay about The Pawn

Submitted By brandisimo002
Words: 1284
Pages: 6
Open Document
“The Pawn”

In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein there are five main female characters, Safie, Elizabeth, Justine, Margaret and Agatha. It can be seen that the author characterizes each woman as passive, disposable and serving a utilitarian function. Female characters in the novel seem as though they merely provide a channel of action for the male characters in the novel. Events and actions happen to them, usually for the sake of teaching a male character a lesson or sparking an emotion within him. This is in accordance with the feminist criticism essay in the book. The author of the essay argues that women in 19th century literature served a specific purpose in literacy during this period and generally their purpose is in relation to a man’s actions. She essentially reasons that in earlier literature women were secondary characters used as instruments for the man’s actions. Likewise in Frankenstein each of Shelley’s women serves a very specific purpose in Frankenstein.
The female characters are stereotypical in such a way that they embody the idyllic, nurturing, loving, selfless and dutiful qualities so sought after during the time. These women are very passive and submissive, idealistic for the times, succumbing their own ideals in favor of the male characters. The construction of the female characters within the novel portrays them as stereotypical women who exist in such a way that their whole lives are either for, or revolving around, a man. This can be seen through the fact that “no woman in the novel speaks directly: everything we hear from and about them id filtered through the three male characters.”
The first of these characters we will examine is Justine. Justine’s character is a very passive, seldom vocal character in the novel that seems to be dragged along with the overall will of the rest of the characters. She is tossed back and forth between her family and the Frankensteins , until she is ultimately framed for the murder of William Frankenstein. Justine defies the expectations of one wrongfully accused of manslaughter, remaining tranquil and peaceful. Though this is uncanny for the situation it is ideal for the submissive female characteristic described by Smith and portrayed by Shelley. As Smith said “certain traits (such as aggression) were coded as “naturally” masculine.” Therefore we must conclude that “naturally” she must be passive in this situation because an act of aggression would not fit into the stereotypical role of a female. In her own words, Justine explains, “God knows how entirely I am innocent. But I do not pretend that my protestations should acquit me; I rest my innocence on a plain and simple explanation of the facts…” Not only do her speech and actions demonstrate passivity, but the simple act of being framed proves this to be the purpose behind her character: “But I have no power of explaining it…I am only left to conjecture concerning the probabilities by which it might have been placed in my pocket”. Justine’s wrongfully conviction and death are naught but a mere piece in the puzzle of the struggle between the creature and Victor. This is a critical thing to note because it further emphasizes the fact that her death was naught but one move in the game between Victor and the creature.
The murder of William Frankenstein was an act of revenge against Victor committed by the Creature. Unfortunately Justine is framed but it helps the plot of the two main male characters progress. Thus, Justine becomes an inactive, docile victim of circumstance but serving her submissive purpose for the novel. The next female character encountered is the young cottager’s daughter Agatha, whom the monster studies. Agatha’s purpose, as a kind and gentle female, is to exhibit and embody the stereotypical virtue and sensitivity of a woman from this time period. These are the first lessons learned by the monster; he has never seen such tenderness before now. The creature being a creation and not a product of
Show More

Related Documents: Essay about The Pawn

Dunya The Pawn Woman Analysis

One of Raskolnikov’s justifications for killing the pawn woman is the way she treats Lizaveta. The pawn woman abuses her and makes Lizaveta do everything for her almost as is if Lizaveta is her slave. Which forces Raskolnikov to have this need to want to protect her, so he makes it appoint that Lizaveta is not home when he come…

Words 517 - Pages 3

What You Pawn I Will Redeem

The story I chose is Sherman Alexie's short story, "What you Pawn I Will Redeem". This story almost connected me with pieces of my past and everything I went through to get to where I am. I thought of many of the tough decisions and sacrifices I had to make including trying to make everyone else around me happy while on a journey to find myself. Growing up requires selflessness and maturity. The story brings the truth of the most common phrase that we all know to be true; what goes around comes around-…

Words 1465 - Pages 6

Analysis Of What You Pawn I Will Redeem

For our final week forum, I choose Jackson, who is the main character in the short story “What You Pawn I Will Redeem” by Sherman Alexie. Jackson is described as a penniless Indian residing in the city of Seattle, Washington. Reading the story, I would describe Jackson solely as “Friendship”. Throughout this short story there are parts where Jackson does a kind gesture and lends a hand and pays for complete strangers, in which he buys everyone a drink at the bar. "Five beverages for everybody!"(Alexie…

Words 446 - Pages 2

What You Pawn I Will Redeem Analysis

What You Pawn I Will Redeem is an intrigue story, where the narrator started with a puzzle. “One day you have a home and the next you don’t, but I am not going to tell you my particular reasons for being homeless, …” (8) Jackson is a young man who left his hometown Spokane, Washington for college to Seattle. He failed college only after two semesters, failed marriages, could not even remember how many kids he had fathered. He admitted having mental problem, “Of course crazy is not the official definition…

Words 535 - Pages 3

What You Pawn I Will Redeem Summary

In Sherman Alexie’s “What You Pawn I Will Redeem,” his main character Jackson Jackson is a Spokane Indian, who when of age moved to Seattle to attend college. He is now a middle aged, homeless, alcoholic Indian, who “…flunked out,… worked blue collar jobs, married a few times, and fathered two or three kids.” Jackson is reckless with money, women, and alcohol, but continually takes care of those around him, while simultaneously using them to take care of himself. He begins a quest for money after…

Words 767 - Pages 4

What You Pawn I Will Redeem Analysis

Why We Root for Jackson in “What You Pawn I Will Redeem” In “What You Pawn I Will Redeem,” Sherman Alexie writes about the quirky misadventures of the humorous Jackson Jackson. When Jackson stumbles across his grandmother’s long-lost powwow regalia in the window of a Seattle pawnshop, the self-defined financially irresponsible Spokane Indian finds himself desperate for money to purchase the regalia from the pawnbroker. Jackson's determination to “win” his grandmother's regalia sets him on a quest…

Words 1021 - Pages 5

Equality Success In Democracy

Character honesty equality success c loyalty u b 3729391874 (30) Understand? * * * * 1 king, 1 QUEEN * 1 queen * 2 rooks * 2 bishops * 2 knights * 8 pawns Each piece moves in a different way. * The rook moves any number of vacant squares forwards, backwards, left, or right. It is also involved in a special move called castling, along with the king. * The bishop moves any number of vacant squares diagonally. Consequently, a bishop stays on squares…

Words 1336 - Pages 6

A Dead Rat In The Rice Bag Analysis

American culture treats the elderly in an atrocious and unfortunate manner. In Alexie’s essay What You Pawn I Will Redeem, the Native American refers to treating elders with tremendous honor and respect. In Native American culture, the younger generations would listen to their elders to gain morals and receive superior advice. In this essay, Alexie, a homeless man finds his grandmother’s regalia in a pawn shop and makes a quest to buy it back in 24 hours. That determination to save something of his grandmother’s…

Words 481 - Pages 2

Mountain Case Essay examples

understanding business and they were not actively involved in the company. Hess, the CPA, has personal relationship with Workman and thus lack independence. Both conditions describes above create opportunities for Workman to commit and cover any fraud. 4 The pawn shop business itself provides a chance to Workman to commit a fraud because he is permitted to price and approve a loan based solely on his own knowledge and judgment. He can also loan himself an amount he wants. In addition, all of the loans are paid…

Words 454 - Pages 2

Sacrifice In Charles Colson's Born Again

Chess is probably the most well known game in the world. Some people have dedicated their entire lives, trying to master the game. Many of these advanced chess players will sacrifice smaller units, like pawns or rooks, to achieve a higher goal, such as putting the enemy king in checkmate. This sacrifice for a higher goal mirrors the ordeal of the Watergate scandal, as described in the book Born Again, by Charles “Chuck” Colson. Charles Colson was one of President Richard Nixon’s closest advisors…

Words 1770 - Pages 8