The Natural Feminine in Romanticism: A Commentary Essay -- Gender F

After Bethany and Sarahs presentation, temper as Woman, I was interested and confused - as were they, I think - by the multiplicity of contradicting views of nature as it relates to gender. concord to dominant views on Romanticism, access to nature required a distinctly maidenly perspective. Paradoxically, this feminine perspective, entitled ycleped sensibility was to be taken utilized approximately effectively by men, yet it rested on feminine emotion as a more pure response to nature (Fay 5). According to G.J. Barker-Benfields The Culture of sensitivity the sentimentalizing process involved the temperance of a certain manliness that is uncouth and rag (288) unless moderated by a feminine influence, thus woman was to use the questionable natural gifts of her sex to lend culture to her more robust and virile counterpart. On first glance, this moderation of manly characteristics appears to lend legitimacy to feminine ideals however, this apparent liberation of the feminine il luminates two very serious problems. First, as Barker-Benfield points out, feminine ideals are privileged, but still as they serve to improve upon man woman is not reckon in her own right. In this service of a masculine objective woman was to be fashioned by men rather than by herself (288). Second, the patently legitimisation of feminine ideals can appear progressive but, as a result, ultimately serves to evidence an idea of natural femininity that is, in the opinion of many a feminist, a repressive patriarchal social construct that lacks any real biological referent. Thus it is very fitting, - but not the least bit cunning - that this artificial idea of femininity should be directly applied to Nature herself. If, as Betha... ...constantly striving and failing to solidify and naturalize its gender assumptions. In the end, gender and patriarchy itself are proven unstable and fundamentally paranoid. whole kit and caboodle Cited Bethany and Sarah. Nature Being Represented as W oman. Romantic Travellers. 10 Feb. 2005. David S. Miall. 18 Feb. 2005. http//www.ualberta.ca/dmiall/Travel/index.htm Fay, Elizabeth A. A Feminist Introduction to Romanticism. Malden Blackwell, 1998. Privett, Anne. Appropriating Nature Gilpin, the picturesque and landscape painting Gardenting. Appropriating Nature A Presentation for English 409. 10 Feb. 2005. Khaghan Parker, Anne Privett and Luke Ingberg. 18 Feb, 2005 2006. http//members.shaw.ca/weaters/index.htm Mulvey, Laura. opthalmic Pleasure in Narrative Cinema. Literary Theory An Anthology. Ed. Julie Rivkin and Michael Ryan. Malden and Oxford Blackwell, 1998.