the The Arch-deceiver’ By Thomas Hardy Essay Example

love for him. She asked him to wait until his return despite knowing he would not be coming back.

Although Randall tries to bribe her, Dorothea declines his proposal and asserts that they can marry later. Following his departure southward, she escapes into the countryside aimlessly. Eventually pausing, she affirms that under no circumstances will she wed Randall, regardless of his wealth. The author employs a profusion of language to convey the intense connection between these characters, emphasizing their sensuous and romantic actions.

Describing the couple with great passion and love, whether through letters or embraces, the author vividly brings them to life in the reader's imagination. During the time the story was written, it was considered taboo to mention love and passion between a couple and such descriptions were seen as scandalous. Society expected women to marry for practical reasons and considered marriage to be their duty, but Kate Chopin believed in the importance of love and passion in any marital relationship. However, her views on these topics as a female writer during the nineteenth century were often met with disapproval, especially from men.

The notion of women being obligated to love their husbands unconditionally made Dorothea's loss of affection due to lack of physical attraction intolerable in the first story. Meanwhile, 'The Woman's Rose' by Olive Schreiner features unnamed characters, including two young women who act as the primary focus. The narrator reflects on her past through a collection of trinkets, with one item standing out amidst the rest: a dead white rose.

At the age of 15, while staying in a small "up country" town where mostly men lived and only a few married women were

present, the narrator talks about a withered white rose that she retained while discarding other flowers. Additionally, she recalls a 17-year-old woman who was exceptionally beautiful and idolized by all the men in the town.

Upon the narrator's arrival, men would come to the other girl's door and offer her flowers and 20 horses as they pleaded for her hand in marriage. However, their attention quickly shifted to the narrator once she appeared, and they directed their gifts and proposals towards her instead. Although the narrator enjoyed the attention, she felt sympathy for the other girl who was abandoned by all the men in favor of someone younger and more attractive in their eyes. The two women never spoke, but the narrator sensed that the other woman harbored animosity towards her.

The narrator was preparing to leave when a village party was organized, with the promise of the one rose for two hundred miles around being given to another woman. At the party, the narrator encountered the older woman but quickly looked away after exchanging a greeting. The narrator then felt a hand on her hair and was told to stand still, and saw in the mirror that the other woman was attaching a white rose into her hair. This story primarily conveys the emotions of the narrator, and although it is not biased, it solely depicts events from her point of view.

In discussing her relationship with men, the narrator reveals conflicting emotions. She enjoys the attention and desire from men who propose marriage, but simultaneously holds contempt for them. When one man cruelly mocks an older woman's gait, the narrator responds fiercely and he never

approaches her again. She also relishes the power she wields over men who obediently follow her commands, likening herself to a child with a new whip. Olive Schreiner, the author of this account, strongly believes in women's capabilities and advocates for their increased societal rights. The story suggests that women are objectified and treated as passing fads, easily replaced by younger and more attractive models when they age or lose appeal to men.

Back in the day, men had very low opinions of women. They believed that marriage could be obtained through buying or bribing women. The man who could present the most flowers or lavish gifts would be victorious in winning their hand in marriage. However, the women in this story were underestimated by such men. Out of all the possessions in the narrator's box, the withered white rose holds the greatest significance to her.

The importance of friendship and loyalty between women is the theme throughout the story. The rose serves as a symbol for the special value of female friendship, and it reminds the protagonist of the strength of women in a male-dominated society. The scent of the dead rose reinforces this theme and assures her that everything will be okay again. The story "Tony Kytes, The Arch-Deceiver" by Thomas Hardy tells the tale of Tony Kytes, who is engaged to Milly Richards.

As Tony was driving home from the market, he unexpectedly encountered Unity Sallet, a former lover. She asked if he could give her a ride home and he agreed. During the journey, Unity questioned him about why he chose Milly over her and why they never got engaged. Tony couldn't

come up with an answer. Then, while driving, he saw his fiance Milly and requested that Unity hide in the back of the cart under the tarpaulin to avoid being seen by Milly.

While passing Milly, Tony was reminded by her of their planned ride together. Although he tried to think of reasons to avoid taking her along, he couldn't come up with any. He reluctantly helped her onto the cart and they began discussing their future home. Unexpectedly, Tony's ex-girlfriend Hannah Jolliver appeared. In a rush, he convinced Milly to hide under a nearby box while he spoke with Hannah. Interestingly enough, Hannah asked for a ride home from Tony as they were passing.

After not refusing, Tony helped Hannah up beside him and began to contemplate why he never married her. When Tony consulted his father about which woman he should marry, his father advised him to choose the one who did not ask to ride with him. Milly was the one. Eventually, all three women discovered each other's presence in the cart.

Tony initially proposed to Hannah, but she rejected him. He then asked Unity, who also declined his offer. Ultimately, he proposed to Milly, who was not his top pick but accepted the proposal nonetheless. This narrative emphasizes two categories of women: those who are confident and those who are more conventional. Although Tony preferred assertive women, his father encouraged him to marry someone less outspoken. This attitude reflects society's 19th century perception that men should decide on behalf of women, including their selection of a spouse.

In the 1800s, society didn't believe that women could be independent and make their own choices. Tony

chose Milly as his partner because Unity and Hannah showed uncommon self-respect and pride for the time. While Milly is portrayed as the heroine, she conformed to societal expectations and made excuses when humiliated. Such submissive behavior wouldn't earn respect today. Both Tony and Milly married according to social norms despite misguided intentions, as seen in 'The Unexpected.' This story also demonstrates how love wasn't considered essential for marriage at the time. During their wedding reception, Tony and Milly followed conventions obediently. The theme of mistreatment of women appears in two stories.

Kate Chopin's 'The Unexpected' and Thomas Hardy's 'Tony Kytes, The Arch-Deceiver' both illustrate the societal expectation for women to marry and fulfill their duty in doing so. The stories portray a view of nineteenth century society that disregarded the significance of love and passion in relationships, topics that were considered taboo at the time. Despite this, the female characters in all three stories make decisions for themselves, challenging societal expectations. Such actions would have been deemed outrageous in the nineteenth century and could have resulted in negative treatment by society, especially by men.

In the 1800s, women were viewed as objects without autonomy or rights. They received patronizing treatment and had no input in significant matters, nor control over their own lives. Women were expected to abide by strict guidelines, causing conflict between obedience and personal aspirations. I believe that this unjust treatment of women was fundamentally wrong.

In the nineteenth century, women were not granted the same rights as they are today. They lacked equality, agency in decision-making, freedom of thought and speech, and faced oppression when expressing their opinions. Most crucially,

they didn't have independence. Despite this historical context, my favorite story out of the three is 'Tony Kytes, The Arch-Deceiver'. While it's humorous nature may be a reason for this preference, I find it remarkable that such a story could exist given the contemporary empowerment of women. It was clear from the beginning that Tony would inevitably face consequences.

Despite its comedic framework, this narrative discusses topics that were deemed acceptable during the 19th century but are now viewed as unacceptable and chauvinistic.