Respons to Jehlen Essay #4 Rough

Myra Jehlen essay describes the significance of the roles of masculinity and femininity defined throughout the book, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain. Myra Jehlen points out several instances where Twain clearly describes how females and males are looked at differently, with examples of the various encounters with Huck. I tend not to agree with Jehlen on her criticism of the book being sexist and defer to it being historically realistic.
In her paper Myra explains how Twain defines femininity and masculinity as polar opposites. “As a social construction femininity has its standard parts. A girl, Judith Lofton tells Huck, can thread a needle, she spreads her lap to catch things which land in her skirt, and she cannot throw a straight.(pg.502)” But Myra is hinting too, that men cannot thread a needle, closes his knees to catch things, and can throw straight. That if a man was able to do these traits that a female posses than they would be considered not masculine. But I tend to disagree with the criticism of Jehlen on Twain, it seems as though Twain is just describing how men and women were looked at back in the time period of the book. Opposed to how Twain is degrading women and putting men above all.
At the same time Myra Jehlen understands the positions of gender and the scrutiny it holds, she also understands that it always isn’t interpreted the same by everyone that reads the book. “In other words, gender is both an embedded assumption and function as a touchstone for others. It is logically impossible to interrogate gender- to transform it from axiom to object of scrutiny and critical term- without also interrogating race and class.” Though Myra understands where “her” critics would try and argue against the issue she presents, she still sticks strongly with the fact that gender criticism still arises from the text within the book, if you want to look at it. Even though I disagree with several of Myra points this is one of them that I do. She defines on how gender is looked at differently but a lot depending on what parts you decide to take out of the book and look at effects the way you will think about the subject. Twain can’t make you choose what you take out of the book or the way you look at it, it is easy to find a different perspective form pretty much anyone that reads it.
Myra Jehlen points out several instances, where Huck battles with the meanings of femininity and masculinity. Also how Mark Twain defines gender with his detailed descriptions, such as Huck’s encounter with Judith Lofton. Jehlen describes how masculinity and femininity are viewed at differently, for at least that time period and where the book is concerned. Though Myra Jehlen states some very strong arguments, you can still relate back to if Twain was trying to degrade women or just trying to make the book historically relevant to the time period. In my own opinion he is just sating how it was during the time and nothing further. I believe Twain shouldn’t be blamed at all for making the book so called sexist.

The start of blogging

Haha I can finally blog just what I have waited for my whole life.