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Class 001
We just read, studied and analised D.H. Lawrence's "The Horse Dealer's Daughter", R. Kipling's "Cupid's Arrows" and J. Joyce's "The Boarding House". They are very different certainly, but you are expected to determine ONE crucial, relevant similarity shared by the three of them and briefly state why it is specially important from your personal viewpoint.
Class 002 A/B
We just read, studied and analised D.H. Lawrence's "The Horse Dealer's Daughter", R. Kipling's "Cupid's Arrows" and D. Lessing's "The Other Garden". even though it is evident that they are all quite different, you are asked to determine a crucial, relevant similarity shared by the three of them and briefly state why it is particularly important from your perspective.
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Based on the three works we have analyzed in class. I find that they share the fact that their endind is not conclusive and that the resolutions are not what was expected by the reader. Also, they share the fact that the use of language (delicate garden, horses swinging, beautifully arranged)hints the reader into thinking of the author as a woman.
This is important because it makes us aware of the fact that not all stories need to follow a traditional sequence of events in order to carry on a message and that the use of language gives us hints of information we need to enhance our analysis.
The stories share a common characteristic, which is the use of language as a mechanism of realization. Firstly, on D. H. Lawrence’s “The Horse Dealer’s Daughter”, there is a non-typical story presented as a traditional one with a marked distinction of women's power in society and the relation between marriage and love. Secondly, on Kipling’s “Cupid’s Arrows”, language help us to reflect social conventions in a satiric way, conveying the power of women, within a strict society, in order to achieve personal benefits. Finally, on Lessing’s “The Other Garden”, there is a meditation about an ideal place, immerse on a woman daily-life and her- self realization of magical events upon ordinary, common places. Moreover, the three stories portrait everyday situations in a particular moment in time, giving them the special feature of non-conclusive endings, due to the fact that once the events occurs and ends, regular life goes on, bringing new situations to be faced.
Mariángeles Salazar
I would say that the three of them share the fact that human beings have ideals in mind, and therefore we (human beings) tend to reach some sort of balance between reality and what we really want reality to be. Most of the time, reality does not fit all our thirst, but at the same time we will, voluntarily, be thirsty for different realities, changes maybe. In “The Horse Dealer’s Daughter”, there is the case of a woman who certainly wishes a turning point, a change in her life, but it wouln´t have been found unless she would do something out of the rules, or let´s say not conventional to reach the doctor´s acceptance. In "Cupid´s Arrows", the man, who could have done something as simple and traditional as asking for the girl´s hand to her parents, simply created a new way for seducing her, not the most effective one, but yet different and out of the standard. Finally, in "The Other Garden" we (readers) are just immersed in somebody´s perspective about something as simple as a garden and yet very particular for the narrator.
Maybe these works are just samples of how human beings can, in certain way, manipulate reality, based on how each and every one of us consider ideal, based simply on the way we decode our perceptions and not merely traditions or common behavior. Maria Laura.
Certainly, there are some similarities between the three stories such as the fact that the main characters are women. However, that is not the most important aspect, but the fact the three stories suggest how women of that time were supposed to behave. As long we read them, it is evident that despite the fact that society used to underestimate women, they show through the development of each plot that women were more intelligent, persuasive and independent than they were expected to be.
In these three works, even though they are from different authors, we are able to see some aspects in common, but two things drew my attention; the shape of a woman as protagonist of the stories and language. In the three stories we can see how language is used in an well-elaborated and attractive way by the authors, which somehow, immerses the reader into a number of thoughts, an atmosphere of beauty, and contact with nature, such as in “The Other Garden”, and above all ,how they show one way or another , the women points of view, their role in society, their dreams, their strengths and weaknesses ,the way they were seen in those days and how by their intelligence and actions, they were able to overcome any kind of situation or difficulties as in “Cupid’s Arrows” , in many cases imposed by the old, strict, and rigid paradigms of society.
As I re-read "The Horse Dealer's Daughter", "Cupid's Arrows", and "The Boarding House", I found that there is one similar characteristics throughout these three short stories, which is the control of mothers over their daughters' behaviour. Although Mabel's mother in "THe Horse Dealer's Daughter" had passed away, Mabel felt melancholic and sad about this fact, which led her to attempt committing suicide. In the other two stories, this is more clearly shown, for Kitty's mother in "Cupid's Arrows" is trying to influence her to marry Barr-Saggot, and Mrs. Mooney tries to control Polly's relationship with Dorian in "The Boarding House".
From my point of view, this is quite relevant, since, possibly, the authors are criticizing the lack of freedom daughters had back then, at the time these stories are set, somewhere between the end of the XIX century, and the beginning of the XX century.
Already a somewhat simple task has become quite complex, requiring forethought and expertise. Certainly, the three literary works happen to be very similar regardless of the different authors, topics and nature. Readers then; experience a slight ducking into the women's way of thinking and proceeding; thus, the authors restrictions to reveal the true essence and role of women, as an indelible part of society are utterly dwindled.
In the “The Horse Dealer’s Daughter”, there is a glimpse at a changing society that unavoidably leads women to toughen themselves and make a way through, drifting past assumptions behind. In “Cupid’s Arrows”, the brightness and shrewdness of women within a conventional society that bounds them to limits is shown through satire and irony as if to prove that women are also capable of manipulating and becoming powerful, achieving their goals despite being considred weak objects in society.
Furthermore, in “The Other Garden”, women are presented as an intellectual being, quite capable of admiring and feeling beyond tangible ordinary things, such as a garden. Placing aside, with no falter, that shallow picture of women as superficial beings unable to create from the ordinary. The author then, shows that inner side of women in an accurate and not haughtily way.
Women´s role regarding marriage, love, morality and participation in their decisions, is something that we can observe in the litearary works, CUPID´S ARROWS, THE HORSE DEALER´S DAUGHTER and the BOARDING HOUSE. One relevant similarity among these three shorstories is the fact that it seems that women were not able to make their own desitions about marriage, since marriage seems to be a delicate process of selection in which love has nothing to do with it. It is clear how women in these stories were treated as dependent on men and marriage. The value of marriage was tied to fortune and social factors. In Cupid´s Arrows Kitty´s mom "...was very anxious about her daughter´s future" Rudyard,K(1880).On the other hand, in The Boarding House, Polly´s mother arranged her marriage, apparently to save her daughter´s honor, and in The Horse Dealer´s Daughter, Mabel wasn´t married, she was practically alone, her future was in danger and she did not want to live anymore, until Jack saves her life and probably married her. In short, it could be said that the importance of women´s role regarding marriage touches these three stories and this topic is in one sense what makes them have something in common.
One crucial similarity of the three works is how the authors portray women and use this to make social criticism regarding the role of women in society. Eventhough women were expected to behave certain way and fulfill certain social expectations, female characters prove to have stronger behavior than the male characters and their determination plays an important factor in the way the three stories were developed.
In these three literary works written by D.H Lawrence,R.Kiplings and D.Lessing.I would say that, the remarkable similarity shared between them is the conception of the role of women in each story.In “The horse Dealers’s Daughter” Mabel is the typical woman of the 19th century submissiveness and with low self-esteem dedicated to house labors and, sometimes underestimate by men in this case (her brothers). She dreams to find love, but she doesn’t feel capable to find it.In this story in my opinion women are conceived as a fragile and melancholic entity in the society. In “Cupid’s Arrows” the satiric language used by Kipling reflects the human manners in a contemporary society, where women have to get marry with a rich and powerful man in order to maintain the social status.Furthermore, it can be observed in this story how the role of women have changed into a stronger one,more intelligent in order to obtain wellbeing. Finally, in “The Other Garden” portraits the dreams of women in the society the magic and ideal place for her, a perfect world without wars where women and men have the same position in the society. Marjorie Franco.
The three characters share pretty much the same attitude towards life challenges for they end up achieving their untold plans. Fr example they all possess the ability to make spontaneous decisions regarding the events taking places in their lives (age factor, staying single at a certain age, social status). They also adapt to what they have around; the doctor’s rescue for Mabel, archery contest for Kitty and dating one of the guesses for Polly. In addition to that they show cleverness for survival such hostile social situations. And finally the behavior of manipulation to the people they have around.
When reading these three stories the very first the reader notes is the fact that they revolve around women and their struggle for fixing as a human with rights and thoughts in the societies in which these stories take place. From different contexts the same situation is set up time after time, the daughter who does not coincide with her parents’ point of view and wants something more from life, they want to choose. Thus, even though Mabel’s mom has died, the pressure of being a traditional family is deeply installed in the atmosphere of "The Horse Dealer’s Daughter". In "Cupid’s Arrows" and "The Boarding House", that influence is more notorious since Kitty’s mother wants her to marry to Barr-Saggot and Polly's mother tries to influence on her relationship with Dorian.
Meibel Gonzalez
In the three short stories, the vision of women was totally different from the real concept that society had about them at that time. Women are portraited as entrepreneurs, braves, skillful and intelligent through these three stories
The role and the concept of women are for sure two important aspects that these three stories have in common. There is also the author´s physiological description of characters that allows readers to have access into the mind of characters especially into the women´s way of thinking. However, the concept of beauty is also dealt in these three stories. Beauty as an important element for the authors and especially for the characters, since it was seen as a significant value that may undervalue other people´s qualities. Like the case of kipling's piece of work in which Kitty rejects Barr Saggot only because is ugly or the case of The Boarding House in which Polly (non- beautiful person) is seen as an attractive woman since she is the only female character in the House and beauty represented in Dr Jack´s feeling of honor when he sees Mabel naked (banned at that time) and feel the responsibility of taking care of her even thought it was for medical purposes.
According to what I read, there is a relevant characteristic that the three stories shared. Although they are produced in different contexts, they show us the submission of women regarding marriage which is presented as a social convention.
It is important to say that the role of women in society has been overseen in tha last decades but nowadays it has changed.
R. Cubides
In the three short stories, the central character is a woman. We can see the way these three women behave and think before different situations in their lives. In the three stories we get women who struggle to find a solution to certain problems – The Horse Dealer’s Daughter and “Cupid’s Arrows” –, or an answer to certain questionings – the Other Garden –. These women are also clear examples of a complete opposite behavior and ways thinking expected form women in those days – late 19th and beginnings of the 20th century –. Kitty, in “Cupid’s Arrows” takes control over a specific situation by mocking the authorities, and doing what she really wants. Mabel in “The Horse dealer’s Daughter” takes control as well, but directly over the man she loves – or wants –. And the main character in “The Other Garden” makes a whole analysis of the place she is in when she visits the hidden garden. As said before, these three women show power, not only in the way the behave, but also in the way the think.
The link between the three short stories shows and reflects how reality is perceived, and transformed from a female perspective, in times (setting) in which women behaviors and opportunities to decided on their future were not on their control at some point.
That leads to a possible perception of the power of women and how they manipulate in respect to their needs. It also presents human behavior, in a sublime, clever and conscious action in order to control and get what they want. Finally, women’s behavior is an example of the complexity of women’s thoughts, being taken to its root in the short Story “The other Garden”.
Something that I have found out regarding similarity between these stories is that, in the tree of them, the main character is represented by a woman. Another common point is that, these women were relatively young.It also could be said that some time in the past women were treated as someone without importance, eventhough, these tree women in the stories were able to defend themselves against they considered it was necessary doing so; and also were able to struggle to society to try to get solved some of their odds lifes.
Ana Moreno.
Something that I have found out regarding similarity between these stories is that, in the tree of them, the main character is represented by a woman. Another common point is that, these women were relatively young.It also could be said that some time in the past women were treated as someone without importance, eventhough, these tree women in the stories were able to defend themselves against they considered it was necessary doing so; and also were able to struggle to society to try to get solved some of their odds lifes.
Ana Moreno.
Something that I have found out regarding similarity between these stories is that, in the tree of them, the main character is represented by a woman. Another common point is that, these women were relatively young.It also could be said that some time in the past women were treated as someone without importance, eventhough, these tree women in the stories were able to defend themselves against they considered it was necessary doing so; and also were able to struggle to society to try to get solved some of their odds lifes.
Ana Moreno.
At first they seem to be the traditional story of a poor girl who gets sentimentally involved with a wealthy man. However, as the stories move forward they develop in a total different way as we expected, for different reasons and in different contexts, the main couples of each story are found in a compromising situation, mainly concerned with marriage . The most relevant aspect that “The Horse Dealer’s Daughter”, “Cupid’s Arrows”, and “The Boarding House” have in common is that the three of them do not have a conclusive or closing ending, and they show another side of the women’s personality. To be more specific the ends leave the readers in expectation and wonder about the main conflict situation (getting married -due to different reasons-), since the solutions or explanations are not directly nor clearly stated.
Likewise, in these stories women are the ones who manage most of the situations mainly through their rebelliousness, independence, and autonomy to demonstrate that they also own power and are able to accomplish what they want, even if it meant breaking and opposing to some of the traditional social rules.
The similarity between the three stories is that they show how women behaved, thought, and lived in an era were women had a “secondary” role in society. In “The Horse-Dealer’s Daughter”, one of the main characters is a woman oppressed somehow by men and the prejudices imposed by society at that time. However, she manages, through the story, to manipulate the circumstances to get what she wanted (to be with the doctor). Something similar happens in “Cupid’s Arrows”. In this story, one of the main characters is a woman (again) who manipulated certain situations to get rid of an “imposed” engagement with a man she didn’t want to marry with. In “The Other Garden” the narrator displays complex and deep thoughts about the garden, portraying women as very sensitive and sensible beings. To sum up, the stories illustrate that although society was dominated by men and the female image was built on rigid stereotypes about how they should behave, women were always controlling the situations without being noticed and they were cleverer than many people thought.
In these short stories is possible to find some connections regarding the perception of women’s world. In Cupid’s Arrow for instance, there’s a story of a woman who made all the things she wanted to do. This character of Kitty found a way to escape from Commissioner Barr – Saggott’s plans, who tried to set her up in his plan of marrying her. Despite of the time, culture, and other circumstances such as the willing of her mother, Kitty avoided sticking the rules or the regulations of the society where she was immerse.
In the other short story, The Horse Dealer’s Daughter, it is perceptible the life of a woman that was under the control of his brothers. Again we find the role of women guided by the power of men. In a way, the character of Marbel Pervin was planning to change her destiny. In this particular story, Marbel gives the sensation that she designed the whole scenario to catch the attention of Dr. Fergusson. Almost at the end of the story, it is noticeable that Marbel Persuaded and seduced Dr. Fergusson in order to control him, at the point that he believed to be in love with her. Hence, there is an evidence of how women use their mental strategies and personal abilities to get what she wanted.
The Other Garden does not specify a female character with this attitude observed in the previous stories, but it shows how the narrator express her concern about life, the description of what she thinks is important, preservation, nature and other elements, and also her worry about the changes that might suffer any garden other garden because of the intrusion of human beings in the normal development of nature. So, in a way, I think that the narrator pretends to make an analogy between women’s life and gardens.
These three stories show us the world from a woman’s point of view, as well as the complexities of the human behavior. We get immersed into women’s mind which allows us to understand their attitudes towards life better. Women are portrait as strong independent characters, totally capable of making the decisions about their own lives, despite all the struggles. The women in these stories attempt to escape the reality they are living in. The authors try to resemble real life by showing how people adapt themselves and their behavior in order to avoid reality. In this same way, the endings, as well as real life, are not conclusive.
Rommel Guevara
The most crucial similarity between these three works is that they deal with the way woman was seen by society in that time and how they were different in comparison to men. Also the speaker seems to be a women in all of them because the language used to express the ideas was very elaborated and delicate.
The importance of this is that the gender of the speaker is crucial because it can give a different point of view of some topic, change the perception of it and guided the reader to get closer to what the author was trying to express with the stories.
Luis Tequia
I mean to say narrator instead of author in my previous comment. I had to rewrite it three times because it wouldn´t post, sorry
Due to the fact that in those times where the stories “The Horse Dealer’s Daughter”, “The Other Garden” and “The Cupid Arrow” were written (1900’s), women have no rights and were used as objects, the three stories, show some important resemblances among them. First of all, in the stories the main characters are women. Secondly, the women along the stories are portrayed as women of the 21st century, they are not submissive demeanor of a typical 19th century women; on the contrary, they were over confidents, audacious, risky and innovative women. Thirdly, the parents or the second character of the stories were a kind of haughty snob people.
Maribel Rodriguez
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