Sex And Death In Literature
Woody Allen once said ‘all great literature is about sex and death’, and although that my not be true for all it is definitely true for most. While some may like to believe that those two subjects should be dealt with cautiously, they are the two things people love and fear most. People love the idea of sex, whether it is the act itself, or the constant complications between genders. Men and women have for many years struggled over who is better in terms of physical strength, sexual sensuality, academics and home life. Death, on the other hand, is not something North Americans love but rather fear, and our preoccupation with it tends to determine how we live our lives. We determine ...
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a husband, Torvald, his wife, Nora, and the man Nora really wants, Dr. Rank. Immediately following Dr. Rank’s impending death notice is the death of Nora and Torvald’s marriage. Miss Julie’s characters struggle with sex and death through Jean and Julie with their sexual advances, the death of loved ones, and finally the death of Julie herself. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof centers on Maggie's desired intimacy with her husband and her continuing struggle to understand his pain and lack of desire, which is something he cannot understand himself. Brick does not even know what desire, if any, he has himself. Finally, the entire family centers on Big Daddy’s death. Each play fulfills sex and death in one form or another, therefore, each deserves it’s own consideration.
Nora and Torvald, in A Doll’s House, married for selfish reasons. Torvald, a typical sexually-enticed male marries Nora for her beauty and playfulness. She is his trophy and exists to satisfy his whims. She wears ...
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Miss Julie is even more representative of sex and death. Julie, who was raised by a feminist mother and an uncaring father gains attention any way she can. Her social class gives her an advantage over others, yet her background gives her little respect. When Jean and Julie discuss her behavior, Jean shows more class as a servant than she does as a Count’s daughter. Their discussion escalates into an argument however, when Julie becomes upset over his obvious disregard for her character. As a woman, she feels like no man should feel like he is better than any other person. She can do everything a man can do and more; and of course, Jean feels like she should conform to the standards ...
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Sex And Death In Literature. (2006, December 18). Retrieved December 22, 2024, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Sex-And-Death-In-Literature/57333
"Sex And Death In Literature." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 18 Dec. 2006. Web. 22 Dec. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Sex-And-Death-In-Literature/57333>
"Sex And Death In Literature." Essayworld.com. December 18, 2006. Accessed December 22, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Sex-And-Death-In-Literature/57333.
"Sex And Death In Literature." Essayworld.com. December 18, 2006. Accessed December 22, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Sex-And-Death-In-Literature/57333.
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