Sunday, February 2, 2014
"When We Dead Awaken" - Rich
In "When We Dead Awaken: Writing as Revision", Adrienne Rich discusses ways or concepts for women to overcome or "awaken" from the hold that men contain over literature. Rich validates her points by using examples in writing, including Virginia Woolf's "A Room of One's Own" and a few of her own like "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" and "Orion". Do you think by showing her own positives and negatives within her writings, she gets her point across better? Do you believe that women are forced to write work appealing to men in order to appeal to the masses? If so, how do you think women writer's could "dead awaken"?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
In “ When We Dead Awaken: Writing as Revision”, Adrienne Rich does an adequate job in depicting the struggles of women within the realm of literature. Using examples of other women in literature such as Virginia Wolf in "A Room of One's Own", and through her own works: “Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" and "Orion". Furthermore, it was through such pieces of literature and through Rich’s own personal reflection and analysis that truly enabled her to get her point across. That throughout much of history, women did not write from a women’s perspective they have written works that would appeal to men, that women were secretly angry and frustrated and that even the women who were glorified by men at the surface, discreetly had felt this anger and frustration; as well. This almost inability to be whole with oneself. A constant interior conflict truly ignited only out of fear. Fear only further heightened by a false sense of language. That within literature, women seem to have no voice that a “masculine persuasive force” has often dominated their voice. Often misguiding them and “negating” the beings that they are. Moreover, in my opinion, the only way for women writers to be “dead awakened” is to, not allow them to be confined to the inner workings of men. To seek their own voice’s in whatever realm of literature or life for that matter, as they so choose. But most of all, not to be afraid, we each have our own voice, our own identity, and it deserves to be heard.
ReplyDeleteSociety has always depicted women as lower in class than men. Rich's work also says such discrimination happened in the literature field. when women wrote they always had to think about who they are appealing to , which was usually the men, and could not write freely about what they wished. I think that she does a good job of getting her point across because she talks about her own experiences encouraging other women to do that same. I feel the women can be the dead awaken if they replace fear with courage.
ReplyDeleteIn "When We Dead Awaken: Writing as Revision" Rich does a good job discussing female oppression in literature. She says the only ones who truly write to appeal to women are feminists because they write about women's struggles and the captivity they face in literature. Since men are considered the voice of society in literature, women's writing has to appeal to men as well as women. This being the case, most female writers have to write in a voice that isn't their own, they create a false tone along with a false identity that is more similar to that of a man.
ReplyDeleteI thought that Rich does a very good job of getting her point across in "When We Dead Awaken" by using other literary works of her own and even others, such as Virginia Woolf's "A Room of One's Own". By including these works, Rich made it possible for me to see what she meant when she was saying that women have primarily written to men. She gives the reader a view into her own mind by including these works and reflecting on them, which is something that immediately stuck out to me.
ReplyDeleteI think Rich does a wonderful job at including the struggle of women writers. She lets the reader understand what she means by showing us first hand. She is an innovative writer. it was very different reading this because I have never really read any feminist work before which made her stand out to me more. I feel that before women did not have a voice but in times like today there are more support for women and i believe this lead to more feminist writers
ReplyDeleteThe title gains my attention at first and I think it could be an article about life. After reading the whole pages, I realized that it is not easy as I thought before. Rich made this article as a claim of women’s struggles of being oppressed in literature. Rich inspired me when she was talking about her childhood. The poem she read, “Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" is pretty nice, but sad. It reveals women’s literature position and their sadness of diving in their own dreams. Actually, women writers do have talents and abilities as Rich said. But I think the most important reason is the unfair view of women in Colonial America.poem she read, “Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" is pretty nice, but sad. It reveals women’s literature position and their sadness of diving in their own dreams.
ReplyDeleteRich did a good job in getting her point across. I thought that because she used her own work it did help show how people write directed more towards men without even realizing it. However I do not believe that in order to appeal to the masses one must write appealing towards men. I think that women can write in their own voice and still be successful as long as they are confident in doing so.
ReplyDeleteIn "When We Dead Awaken: Writing as Revision" Adrienne Rich talks about the struggles of women writers. She explains and goes into detail oh how women writers and their work are more focused on to the likings of men which often can suppress their own ideas. Prior to reading this piece I thought all literature were written to express or share an idea I did not women writers also had to write to appeal to the masses. I think by showing her negative side of writing she definitely gotten her point across better. In this day and time I DO NOT think women writers still have to write to appeal to the likings of men. The time that were described in the short piece was the 50s and 60s I think today times have changed greatly.
ReplyDeleteIn “ When We Dead Awaken: Writing as Revision”, Adrienne Rich uses various ways in order to get her point across of the struggle women tend to face with literature. Rich uses her own experiences as a writer, and gives examples of other famous woman writers. The title itself can be looked at from different point of views and can be interpreted in different ways. Before reading, I thought that this title just meant opening my eyes and awakening. After reading I have now realized that the title can mean opening our eyes to what has happened in the past, and awakening to the struggles women have faced not only with just literature, but general rights and their roles that have been placed upon them in society. The title is used to make you see things from a different point of view, a different perspective you would not normally see. Women have come along way, and in my opinion, this writing is used to inspire other woman writers that seem to still struggle.
ReplyDeleteIn "When We Dead Awaken: Writing as Revision", Rich did a good job of getting a point across for women struggles as writers. I feel as though that using her own work does try to help people understand that writers are more directed to writing to men and don't even realize it. I strongly believe that you don't need to appeal just to men to get the point across to people. Women now receive more support today when it comes to writing and now have a voice.
ReplyDeleteI really liked how Rich made comparisons on how women are portrayed in life. I like how she mentioned that the way that women are supposed to act might change the way that they write or even think. For example, when she says that she recently read a story when the author, a woman, sounded angry but society didn't want her to be so she had to try her best to try to not act like that. I don't feel like it is this way any more, especially in writing because there are so many female authors.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed how Rich made it apparent about the situation, I never really noticed this before but after she gives us the positive and negative comparisons and how woman have to write in an angry or louder tone. I feel that this was probably more of a struggle years ago but I feel that now people are definitely accepting towards women writers. As long as these women stand up for what they are saying and back it up they definitely have a voice
ReplyDeleteRich made her point very clear. She noted the struggles of a female writer and how she feels one must conform to the norm in order to be a successful writer. Using examples of her own works and works of others, she shows just how frustrating it may be for a women writer to get through to the masses. although i see her point, i disagree in the sense that conformity is not the way to go as a female writer. I think that thinking "outside the box" could in the long run make you more successful because you are doing something that has not been done previously.
ReplyDeleteI do believe Rich made her point clear in choosing to include personal situations. It shows how close she is to the issue at hand, but the issues she shares with the reader are quite normal and almost any women could identify to them, writer or not, that's what I believe to be appealing about this piece. In the time period of the works she spoke about, including her own, writing according to men and their ideals of women might have been more prevalent. In modern times, women have broken out and are now writing about seemingly everything.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this reading. I think Rich did a good job showing the contrast between male and female authors. She does so effectively by using her own writings as an example. I appreciation her showing the positives and negatives in the style that women write in. Although I dont think women are "forced" to write to the male persuasion..I do think women are used to a certain writing style that limit "woman power". The way to "fix" this i s that when a woman does write, she does so with confidence. Don't worry about what other will think of your writing, be confident in what you want to say.
I thought the Rich made it very obvious on how she views her life, and how she chose to write about some personal situations in her life.For example, when she says that she recently read a story when the author, a woman, sounded angry but society didn't want her to be so she had to try her best to try to not act like that. I don't feel like it is this way any more, especially in writing because there are so many female authors.
ReplyDeleteI think Rich shows many different ways on women's struggles to face literature and she does a great job at explaining it as well. She uses her life experiences and compares it to other known women as well that had to deal with the same problems. From this reading one main thing i understand is you dont have to. make men understand why women do such things. Women now adays have a bigger voice and need to get a bit more support to express themselves in this world.
ReplyDeleteRich's work here "When We Dead Awaken" is an extremely interesting read in the sense that, she speaks on the issue of "voice" and "livelihood" specifically aimed at women. Now those topics alone are extremely charged especially in our society today. But what makes it so interesting is how she provides so many perspectives on the issue throughout by speaking about various women writers throughout the time. There are multiple "voices" addressed in these issues and each one sort has it's own identity and as you read, these identities sort of change and develop as the story goes on. The read was really loaded with various feelings of different livelihoods talked about and those perspectives allowed for continuing views into another set of minds in our society.
ReplyDeleteIn "When We Dead Awaken: Writing as Revision", Rich depicts the struggles that women face in the literature world. Rich shows this through works of literature both of her work and other authors. Rich explained that just as women faced discrimination in the real world, they faced it in the literature world as well. Women always had to appeal to men and couldn't write freely as they wished. Rich wants women to try and escape that world and break free.
ReplyDeleteWoman have more power in the world now than ever before, and we can thank Rich in part for this. This groundbreaking work allowed a voice of many women to be heard in a sense. The universality of the woman's struggle is carefully put under the microscope in this piece.
ReplyDeleteAdrienne Rich was a feminist poet, and writer who wanted to distinguish herself and to overcome the practices of male patriarchy in literary history. Much of Women's history of literature has been overshadowed and predominated by distorted facts by Mens' point of view of woman. Rich doesn't need to write in a way to appeal the mass of Men because her liberating sense of writing shows a unifying and warring perspective of how woman can break out of the roles society has placed them, and embrace their individuality and self-worth.
ReplyDelete