Body and Visibility in Jane Smileys A Thousand Acres :: Smiley Thousand Acres Essays

Body and Visibility in A kB Acres   The west insists on the discrete identity of objects. To name is to know to know is to fancy. (Paglia, p.5) Womans beauty gives the gist the comforting illusion of intellectual control over nature. (Paglia, p.17) If the masculine gaze is a tool to conceptualize reality, then -like an axe- it discharge also be apply as a weapon. The Paglia quotes above refer not altogether to matters of epistemology or even ontology (This is what we see therefore, this is what exists), it is equally fitting to describe concrete powerrelations in a social system constructed on the basis of Apollonian control. Larry has complete control of his little kingdom and its subjects, and one of the ways in which this is enforced, is through the visibility of the land and of the eubstance. The Apollonian spunk works by objectifying, and that is what happens to Ginny when her father abuses her she moulds into an object that he can use whose only form of resist ance is desperate limp inertia (280). She gets dissociated from her eubstance, a body that reminds her of the powerlessness she feels. This explains the contradictory little rituals of sex with Ty There had to be some light in the room, if only from the hall. Daytime was better than nighttime, and no surprises. I incessantly wore a nightgown, I closed my eyes.... I hated for him to turn away or look down. (278) Light, especially daylight, hinders associations of her fathers nightly visits, but, on the other hand, she cant stand Ty or herself to see her body. Instinctively, she knows the power of the gaze. When she and Rose compargon recurring nightmares, Roses are near grabbing things that hurt her, symbolizing the rage and greed that will destroy her. Ginnys are about being naked, under the cold light of the eye. Thus, it foreshadows the most in-chief(postnominal) instance of Larrys power games, when she has forgotten to bring him eggs for breakfast and must run root to get them The whole way I was conscious of my body -graceless and hurrying, unfit, panting, ridiculous in its very femininity. It seemed like my father could just look out of his large-minded front window and see me naked, chest heaving, breasts, thighs, and buttocks jiggling, self-worth irretrievable. (114-115). She has internalized the connection between her body, by definition graceless and powerless without dignity, and her fathers exertion of power and Apollonian conceptuality/control by sight.Body and Visibility in Jane Smileys A Thousand Acres Smiley Thousand Acres Essays Body and Visibility in A Thousand Acres   The west insists on the discrete identity of objects. To name is to know to know is to control. (Paglia, p.5) Womans beauty gives the eye the comforting illusion of intellectual control over nature. (Paglia, p.17) If the male gaze is a tool to conceptualize reality, then -like an axe- it can also be used as a weapon. The Paglia quotes above refer not only to m atters of epistemology or even ontology (This is what we see therefore, this is what exists), it is equally fitting to describe concrete powerrelations in a social system constructed on the basis of Apollonian control. Larry has complete control of his little kingdom and its subjects, and one of the ways in which this is enforced, is through the visibility of the land and of the body. The Apollonian eye works by objectifying, and that is what happens to Ginny when her father abuses her she turns into an object that he can use whose only form of resistance is desperate limp inertia (280). She gets dissociated from her body, a body that reminds her of the powerlessness she feels. This explains the contradictory little rituals of sex with Ty There had to be some light in the room, if only from the hall. Daytime was better than nighttime, and no surprises. I always wore a nightgown, I closed my eyes.... I hated for him to turn away or look down. (278) Light, especially daylight, hinde rs associations of her fathers nightly visits, but, on the other hand, she cant stand Ty or herself to see her body. Instinctively, she knows the power of the gaze. When she and Rose compare recurring nightmares, Roses are about grabbing things that hurt her, symbolizing the rage and greed that will destroy her. Ginnys are about being naked, under the cold light of the eye. Thus, it foreshadows the most important instance of Larrys power games, when she has forgotten to bring him eggs for breakfast and must run home to get them The whole way I was conscious of my body -graceless and hurrying, unfit, panting, ridiculous in its very femininity. It seemed like my father could just look out of his big front window and see me naked, chest heaving, breasts, thighs, and buttocks jiggling, dignity irretrievable. (114-115). She has internalized the connection between her body, by definition graceless and powerless without dignity, and her fathers exertion of power and Apollonian conceptuali zation/control by sight.