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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 4 page paper which examines the
roles of men and women during the age of enlightenment as presented in “Phaedra” by
Jean Racine and “The Rape of the Lock” by Alexander Pope. No additional sources cited.
Page Count:
4 pages (~225 words per page)
File: JR7_RAphaed.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
argument which claims that the roles of men and women were incredibly well defined. Men and women did not step outside those definitions and take on traits that did not
necessarily become their gender. Women were demure, moral, pure and simple. Men were brave, noble, and courageous. However, in truth, men and women were definitely emerging with different ideas about
their gender roles, much like has been the case throughout history. The following paper examine Jean Racines "Phaedra" and Alexander Popes "The Rap of the Lock" and discusses one character
from each story that helps illustrate how gender roles were not solidly and concretely followed in the Age of Reason. Phaedra The character to be examined from Racines
work is the title character, Phaedra. She is, for the most part, a fairly wealthy and noble woman. On the surface she appears to be a woman who clearly follows
the standards of her gender, but underneath she is far removed from the social norm of a woman of her time. She essentially believes that she is burdened with the
nature of possessing unnatural desires, primarily the desire that makes her sexually drawn to her step-son. In the beginning we see her through the eyes of others as they
seem to discuss how she is a gift perhaps, sent from some higher power. This would indicate that she is perhaps thought to be beautiful, and everything a noble woman
should be. However, there is also a warning that something is troubling this simplistic impression of the woman. We see this when Theramenes asks "Can Phaedra, sickning of a dire
disease/ Of which she will not speak, weary of life/ And of herself, form any plots against you?" (Racine I i). This is the first indication that we have a
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