ABSTRACT
NUGRAHENI, ELISABETH RUSTAVIANI. Women’s Struggles Against The Oppression of Men in Toni Morrison’s Paradise. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2016.
The object of this study is a novel entitled Paradise. It is the third book of the trilogy that begins with Beloved and Jazz. The novel was first published in 1997 by Toni Morrison.
There are three objectives of this study. The first objective is to depict the characterization of the major female characters, Consolata, Gigi, and Mavis in the novel. The second objective is to analyze the condition of society which the major female characters live in. The third objective is to find out the unequal treatments which are done by Ruby men and the struggle of the major female characters against their oppression.
The research method applied in this study is library research which the primary source is a novel Toni Morrison entitledParadise. The secondary sources are taken from books and thesis that are related to the theory applied in this study. Theories which are applied in this study are the theory of character, theory of characterization, theory of patriarchy and feminist theory. Feminist approach is used to analyze the major female characters struggle against the oppression.
ABSTRAK
NUGRAHENI, ELISABETH RUSTAVIANI. Women’s Struggles Against The Oppression of Men in Toni Morrison’s Paradise. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2016.
Objek penelitian ini adalah novel Paradise. Buku ketiga dari trilogi yang diawali dengan Beloves dan Jazz. Novel ini pertama kali diterbitkan pada tahun 1997 oleh Toni Morrison dan novel pertamanya memenangkan Nobel Prize karya sastra pada tahun 1993.
Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk, pertama menggambarkan karakterisasi dari tokoh utama wanita, Consolata, Gigi, dan Mavis di novel. Kedua, menganalisis bagaimana kondisi sosial tempat tinggal tokoh utama wanita. Ketiga, menganalisa perlakuan tidak adil yang dilakukan warga kota Ruby dan perjuangan tokoh utama wanita melawan penindasan.
Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode penelitian pustaka dimana sumber utama adalah novel Paradise itu sendiri. Materi penunjang adalah buku dan makalah-makalah yang berhubungan dengan teori yang digunakan di dalam penelitian ini. Teori-teori yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah sebagai berikut, teori tentang tokoh, teori penokohan, teori patriarkal, dan teori feminis. Pendekatan feminis digunakan untuk menganalisa perjuangan tokoh utama wanita melawan penindasan.
WOMEN’S STRUGGLES AGAINST THE OPPRESSION
OF MEN IN TONI MORRISON’S
PARADISE
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
ELISABETH RUSTAVIANI NUGRAHENI
Student Number: 114214088
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
ii
WOMEN’S STRUGGLES AGAINST THE OPPRESSION
OF MEN IN TONI MORRISON’S
PARADISE
AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS
Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Sarjana Sastra
in English Letters
By
ELISABETH RUSTAVIANI NUGRAHENI
Student Number: 114214088
ENGLISH LETTERS STUDY PROGRAMME DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS
FACULTY OF LETTERS SANATA DHARMA UNIVERSITY
viii
I dedicated this
thesis to My Lord
who has blessed me
with beautiful people
in my life,
especially my parents.
Thank you for
ix
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to express my gratitude to God and my savior, Jesus Christ for His never ending love that strengthens me to go through this process in my life. I also thank mother Mary for Her encouragement when I felt hopeless and desperate. Thesis writing is one long process to me and in this process I'm blessed with these following lovely people who were never absent in helping me get through this process. My deepest gratitude goes to my humble advisor, Dr. F.X.Siswadi, M.A. and my co-advisor Theresia Enny Anggraini Ph.D. for their patience and tolerance during the consultation time.
I believe that I would never accomplish my thesis without the help from others. My warm gratitude also goes to my parents, especially my mother for her trust and for always putting up with me. I know this expression of gratitude would never replace her love in return. To my family, I am thankful to them for always asking when I will graduate so repeatedly that I got annoyed and felt the urge to finish this thesis as soon as I could. Even though it took me a long time to finish this thesis.
Thank you my lovely friend and partner who always bothered me about
this thesis. I’m glad he always reminded me to finish my thesis. I thank him for all
the words of encouragement (No, he is actually insulting me because I took long time to finish the thesis. How annoying!).
I would like also like to thank all of the lecturers and staff of English Letters Department Sanata Dharma University for helping me through this learning process and also all of the Crazy Kids in C Class batch 2011 I would like
to thank them very much for being part of my learning process. I’m surely going
to miss our time together in class.
Last but not least, I give thanks to all the people who give me thoughts, advice and awareness of this life.
x
B. Form of Oppression That The Major Female Characters Receive ………. 31
C. The Major Female Characters Reaction toward The Oppression of Men ………... 42
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION ……….. 59
BIBLIOGRAPHY ……… 62
xi ABSTRACT
NUGRAHENI, ELISABETH RUSTAVIANI. Women’s Struggles Against The
Oppression of Men in Toni Morrison’s Paradise. Yogyakarta: Department of
English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2016.
The object of this study is a novel entitled Paradise. It is the third book of the trilogy that begins with Beloved and Jazz. The novel was first published in 1997 by Toni Morrison.
There are three objectives of this study. The first objective is to depict the characterization of the major female characters, Consolata, Gigi, and Mavis in the novel. The second objective is to analyze the condition of society which the major female characters live in. The third objective is to find out the unequal treatments which are done by Ruby men and the struggle of the major female characters against their oppression.
The research method applied in this study is library research which the primary source is a novel Toni Morrison entitled Paradise. The secondary sources are taken from books and thesis that are related to the theory applied in this study. Theories which are applied in this study are the theory of character, theory of characterization, theory of patriarchy and feminist theory. Feminist approach is used to analyze the major female characters struggle against the oppression.
xii ABSTRAK
NUGRAHENI, ELISABETH RUSTAVIANI. Women’s Struggles Against The
Oppression of Men in Toni Morrison’s Paradise. Yogyakarta: Department of
English Letters, Faculty of Letters, Sanata Dharma University, 2016.
Objek penelitian ini adalah novel Paradise. Buku ketiga dari trilogi yang diawali dengan Beloves dan Jazz. Novel ini pertama kali diterbitkan pada tahun 1997 oleh Toni Morrison dan novel pertamanya memenangkan Nobel Prize karya sastra pada tahun 1993.
Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk, pertama menggambarkan karakterisasi dari tokoh utama wanita, Consolata, Gigi, dan Mavis di novel. Kedua, menganalisis bagaimana kondisi sosial tempat tinggal tokoh utama wanita. Ketiga, menganalisa perlakuan tidak adil yang dilakukan warga kota Ruby dan perjuangan tokoh utama wanita melawan penindasan.
Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode penelitian pustaka dimana sumber utama adalah novel Paradise itu sendiri. Materi penunjang adalah buku dan makalah-makalah yang berhubungan dengan teori yang digunakan di dalam penelitian ini. Teori-teori yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah sebagai berikut, teori tentang tokoh, teori penokohan, teori patriarkal, dan teori feminis. Pendekatan feminis digunakan untuk menganalisa perjuangan tokoh utama wanita melawan penindasan.
1 CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION
A. Background of the Study
An interesting story from Toni Morrison book titled Paradise is great to discuss. Paradise is a book which shows the gender discrimination and the oppression of women. The previous books titled Beloved and Jazz also have great story which tell different conflict of society. Morrison in Paradise depicts a portrayal of women who live in a Convent in the town Ruby (Oklahoma). The conflict is between female characters in Convent and the men who live in Ruby. Throughout the story, the treatment of the women is noticed which shows the patriarchal society that they live in, disturbing their own freedom and choices.
The difference of gender between male and female bring problems in
social life. It’s explained in Maggie Humm’s book titled A Reader's Guide to
Contemporary Feminist Literary Criticism that all of the differences can put
discrimination is thought to be bad and cruel. If this case is discussed deeper, it can be said that it is discrimination in the base of gender discrimination.
This study explains about the oppression of women within a black community, they are being oppressed by their own race. It is an interesting topic to discuss since there are only few people discussing it. Toni Morrison wants to tell the situation of Afro-American community through her novel Paradise. In this novel, Morrison's development of the female characters is similar in a way most of black female writers deal with feminism. Morrison shows these concern of oppression and patriarchy intentionally, but the main focus of the story is those
concerns don't allow them to control their whole experience.
The novel is titled Paradise although the situation is not the same as what people think about paradise in common. Morrison creates a community of black families named Ruby. Ruby is a town that is built consist of eight family names; the eight rocks. This community tries to build a community which gives a better life since they have been slaves for a long time. The people in Ruby try to find their own paradise in the earth by creating this community. The situations changes when one of the family founders tries to dominate.Ruby becomes the oppressive system by repeating the logic of the oppressor. It is built upon eight families who abandons Haven to create what they thought would be the Paradise on earth: a town in which only black people could live and be born.
and they make their own shelter.The female characters try to find their own paradise despite the oppression toward them. From this circle they find their own potential and they have their own thinking. The free thinking of women is a threat to the men because it can stand in the way of men.
It can be seen in the novel that women are a threat to this society because
they stand in the way of “progress”. Female babies can not carry on the “holy”
family names of the town. Female midwife and child bearers stand between the successful births of healthy baby boys. To the men of the town, this is everything. Without the ability to continue the utopia, the dream dies. Any woman who is able to create too much power is a clear threat to their authoritarianism.
From the explanation in Women: A Feminist Perspective written by Freeman Jo, feminist points out the gap in the relationship between women and men. It assists anyone to consider that the imbalance relationship of the two sexes can burden both of them. Society demand women to enjoy domestic affairs while men win in any access to develop themselves. In Paradise, the blacks already free from the white oppression, they try to get a better life but the women are still being oppressed by the men of their own race.
The point of view of feminist is interesting to discuss because Paradise gives the reader a critical point of view towards the issue of gender and patriarchy system that people can use as reflection materials in daily life situation. Discrimination of gender and patriarchy system is an actual problem to discuss and learn.
B. Problem Formulation:
1. How are the major female characters described in Paradise?
2. What is the form of oppression that the major female characters get? 3. How do the major female characters struggle against the oppression of
C. Objectives of the Study
The objectives of this study are to find out the feminist idea in the story by analyzing the characters through their oppression. The female characters try to survive in the patriarchal society. First, it explains the character and characterization of the major female characters in the story. Second, it discusses what form of oppression that the major female characters get. Last, it finds out how the major female characters struggle against the oppression of men.
D. Definition of Terms
1. Oppression
Oppression is the inequitable use of authority, law, or physical force to prevent others from being free or equal (Rich, 1976: 270).
2. Struggle
The definition of struggle according to Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary is the fight against someone or something to prevent bad or difficult situation and result. It also can be mean as the fight against the subject or try to get away from them (Oxford, 2005: 1523)
3. Patriarchy
6 CHAPTER II
THEORETICAL REVIEW
This chapter is divided into three parts. The first part is for review on related studies. The second part is for review on related theories. The last part is for theoretical framework.
A. Review of Related Studies
The study in Toni Morrison's Paradise had been done by other researchers. In order to get the basic or the main position for this thesis, other studies are used to compare this thesis and other studies. In this section, there are some passages which are taken from undergraduate thesis. Discrimination Within An Afro-American Community in The Unites States in 1960s-1970s as Depicted in Toni Morrison's Paradise written by Stanislaus Febri Atmaka is one of study which are used in this section. This study focuses on the social structure of the Ruby community. The structure of Ruby community which lives in isolation does not create equality. Atmaka says that
Every member of Ruby does not get the same treatment and
opportunity. There are three points which maintain the inequality. They are stratification, class system, and power distribution within Ruby community (Atmaka, 2003: 76).
because Morgan family is the upper class and they unconsciously creates rule for the society.
The most influential figures of the Morgan family members are businessmen since they have a bank as the central regulation of Ruby economy life. They provide loan for those who have financial problems (Atmaka, 2003: 52).
Morgan family is the center of the society and they can use their power to dominate the Ruby community because people in Ruby depend on Morgan family to keep living.
As a rich family, they have the ability to buy everything they want. It seems that they want to conquer all of the property in Ruby. Having all of the property of Ruby let them rule the community (Atmaka, 2003:
Challenge in Toni Morrison’s Paradisewhich is written by Vida de Voss focuses
on the identity and behavior of the characters in Paradise, namely New Father and Old Father (Big Papa and Big Daddy). New Father and Old Father is symbol of the men identity in the society, New Father has different concept and rule from the Old Father.
New Father and Old Father is the leader of the Ruby Town. New Father has the similar ideologies to the Old Father, their ability to fulfill the responsibility to provide for and protect their women and children. Even the New Father has similar aspect of identity; they create the role of women and children by using concept of protection. Their concept of town it should be men as the ruler of the town and family because it gives protection to the women and children.
The New Fathers unfortunately take their responsibility to the extent that they define and determine the role of women and children. In the description of the sleepless woman, her possible thoughts are described as her thinking of food preparations, or family things, or lift her eyes to stars and think of nothing at all. (De Voss, 2010: 29).
De Voss says that Paradise not only focus in the inequality and intolerance. The identity of characters is important to discuss because their own identity create the present condition of the community. He explains that the group is affected by the image of one self and other self.
Her works are meant to impact human consciousness and affect change. Her works do not advocate specific courses of action. Morrison sketches an image of the self to the self and leaves the self with the choice of what to do with the self revelation held up in Paradise. Each group, affected by such an understanding, is similarly left with the same responsibility of choice (De Voss, 2010: 54).
Introducing this generational debate, Morrison aims at promoting a more inclusive politics since she is making her readers aware that time matters and the embodied experiences of the different members of the community are never equal because of their unique development (Benavente, 2014: 14).
Benavente explains that literature affects the politic condition in that era
because this Morrison’s work makes women to get their freedom and it gives
affection to the changes of politic in the society. It is explained that Paradise breaks the oppositional thinking. The ruby community becomes the oppressive system to the women by repeating the logic of the oppressor. Ruby is a town in which only black people could live and be born. The main focus of the story is the women who live in the Convent.
Women in the Convent live without societal rules congruent with conventional patriarchal systems. Ruby and the Convent could be considered as denominated the exteriority within (Benavente, 2014: 10). Benavente discusses the effects of the Morrison's work to women in
90’era. He explains that the impossibility to "identify with" is directly related to
the impossibility to organize social movements depending on certain identities.At the end of the story, the condition of the women in the Convent changes, they have another opportunity to make peace with their previous life in the Convent when supposedly they have all been killed.
The last study is journal fromJournal of the Association for Research
Mothering. It’s different from the previous studies. Maternal Resistance and
Women in the Convent live by taking care each other, this shows that women is a symbol for healing.
In Paradise, as the women take refuge in the convent, they nurture and sustain one another. The convent itself, Connie's home and the women's refuge, signifies maternal nurturance; kitchens, and cooking, both metaphoricallyand literally central to the convent, represent in Morrison
fiction care andhealing (O’Reilly, 2000: 190).
The failure of nurturance and care is not much an individual woman's inability to mother because of her disconnection from her mother line, but a community's failure to nurture because of its denial, displacement of funk, and the ancient properties. The causes of the nurturance failures is abortions, miscarriages, sickly children, and dead babies, abandonment, motherlessness, mother loss. Because of those nurturance failures, the convent women create a maternal community from their own individual maternal losses.
Maternal Resistance and Redemption in Toni Morrison's Paradise has similar perspective with this study. It explains the connection between women and the society and how their action towards the oppression.
B. Review of Related Theories
To answer the problem formulations that stated previously, these are some theories which are used:
1. Theory of Character and Characterization
The definition of character is explained by M.H. Abrams in his book A
Glossary of Literary Terms. He explained that experiences and feelings of the
character in a work of literature are shown by the author in his/her works of literature. M.H. Abrams stated:
According to M.H. Abrams in his book A Glossary of Literary Terms, the characteristic of characters in the story can be seen from the dialogue and the action. The characters show their attitudes toward what they say and express. The most important evidence of all is the character's own dialogue and behavior
(Stanton, 1965:18). It’s clearly stated by Stanton that dialogue and behavior have
important role to see the character. Every dialogue, speech, and actions are not only a sequence of the story, but it's also a manifestation of the character.
Based on his description, Stanton thinks that the most important evidence is the last evidence he has mentioned. That is the character's dialogue. He says that the dialogue and action are a manifestation of character (Stanton, 1965: 18). From the dialogue and action, reader will know exactly the implied meaning that lies in the story.
Character has important role in making up the story. In the Understanding
Unseens, M.J. Murphy explained nine ways of how to see the characters and
characterization in literary works. Those are as follows:
As Murphy explains, there are nine ways to see the characterization of the characters in literary works. The description of the characters which are described by the appearance and clothes and the characters can be seen by other characters such as the opinion and the eyes of characters. The important methods to support this research are the conversations, reactions, direct comments, thoughts, and mannerisms. The conversations of other characters can be a clue to find the characteristics. The reactions of various situations or events can also give the characteristics of the character. Then, the direct comment can give the direct comments of the characters. The thoughts of the characters can give the direct knowledge about what the characters are thinking about. Mannerisms, habit which is described by the author to tell the characteristics.
From the theories that already explained by some experts, it is clear that the important elements of the action done by the characters. From the dialogue and the action, the readers can understand what kind of characteristic that the characters have. The readers need to read the whole story to understand the characters and to avoid the misinterpretation of characters.
2. Theory of Patriarchy
higher position; they are the ruler, and women in the lower one because they are the follower (Walby, 1990:20). Patriarchy is a long history of injustice in the social status between men and women. Women's position is under men's control.In Using Critical Theory, Tyson states
A patriarchy is any society in which men hold all or most of the power. Usually a patriarchy gives men power by promoting traditional gender roles. Patriarchal men and women believe that anyone who violates traditional gender roles is in some way unnatural, unhealthy, or even immoral (Tyson, 2011:141-142).
Women are forced and conditioned by the society to believe that they are weak. Since early childhood, human being has been taught to play different role in the family. Men are taught to do the public job while women are taught to do the domestic one. The one who disobey the rule will be blamed by patriarchal society. Patriarchy means the authority of elder males or male. The father in the family or the younger man makes decision which control and rule the family's work, purchase, and etc. In here, women have no choices to make. There are no question as to their nature is simply obedience (Ehreinreich& English, 1992: 216).
In Contemporary Feminist Thought, Eisenstein states
Instead of being openly coerced into accepting their secondary status, women were conditioned into embracing it by the process of sex role stereotyping. From early childhood, women were trained to accept a system which divided society into male and female spheres, with appropriate roles for each, and which allocated public power exclusively to the male sphere (Eisenstein, 1984: 6).
passivity, emotionalism, and subjectivity, so that they are given the job to be the follower; the house keeper (Eisenstein, 1984: 10-11).
In patriarchy men are seen to be more important than women. Their feeling and opinion are important. Women here just for men's pleasure and they are the assistance of men. They should fulfill their natural feminine functions. In patriarchy, women are different with men and they should not compete with men (Freeman, 1984: 553).
In patriarchy the role of women in family is so big and it is quite different from men. Women are responsible for the love of the family. They are responsible for cleaning, laundering, producing food, and child caring. Those duties need skills that are quite complicated for a human being to do. Because of that, women since their childhood were trained to learn those duties (Hoffnung, 1984:125).
In this society, women are only seen as mere object that are placed in the house in order to do householdwork. Things done by men outside the house are for money. It makes the whole family depend on the husband for the living. The wife, inside the house, has to provide the comfort and the love for the husband and children (Hoffnung, 1984: 125).
3. Feminist Theory
to see other people not valuable. Women always have to obey the men; a wife should follow everything what her husband said. Women do not have their own freedom, their life already construct by the men.It is basically spreads out from his mind from the realization that " the world is masculine, because the whole who fashioned it, ruled it, and still dominate it today are men" (2002:145).
From the beginning of their life, women are always told that they should obey men because men are superior. Women believe that they are inferior to men because the society learned them to do so. Since men have power to rule, they tend to see women not value. This case makes men dominated the society and control the society, it also causes oppression for women. This kind of society happens because of the society is very religious and lives according what God wants in the middle ages. Catholic Bible also explains that Adam's role is to be Eve's Master. "...thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." (Genesis 3:16). In Old Testament which is found in the Catholic Bible
“No wickedness comes anywhere near the wickedness of woman... Sin began with a woman and thanks to her we all must die”
(Ecclesiasticus 25:19, 24).
In middle ages, people truly believe in church's lesson, these beliefs have rooted to people mindset. It also builds stereotypes and perception in the society that women are less valued than men.
human beings and it never be treated as a property.According to Madsen theory, a woman must break the bonds of her patriarchal society and defines herself if she wishes to become a significant human being in her own right and defy male classification as the other (Madsen, 2000:182).
Stanton and Blatch says that personal freedom is the first right to be proclaimed, and that does not and can not now belong to the relation of wife, to the financial dependent (Stanton and Blatch, 1969, vol 2:70). It must become the basic idea that must be applied in women's life. Personal freedom is an important thing for human beings including women.Women must survive their condition of being oppressed but they must aware of their condition first and let their selves to be survived from their deepest heart.
In the novel, there are many scenes when women are being raped by men. It is clear that there is a hidden meaning from the existence of a rape scene in the novel.In her site, Susan Brownmiller states the action of rape connected with human primal act of sex and cannot be separated from biological matter. However, humans have a complex system of psychological signs and urges; our call to sex occurs in our head.
Without a biologically determined mating season, a human male can evince sexual interest in a human female at any time he pleases, and his psychologic urge is not dependent in the slightest on her biologic readiness or receptivity. What it all boils down to is that the human male can rape
(http://www.susanbrownmiller.com/susanbrownmiller/html/against_o ur_will.html).
over women by force" (1991:209). She suggested that the hidden meaning of rape is connected to the concept of treating women as property.
C. Theoretical Framework
In order to answer problem formulation, the contribution of theories is needed. Thus, the review of related study is needed to add more information, critique, and comment towards Paradise. The review of related theories along with the review of related studies gives deeper insight about the study.
19 CHAPTER III
METHODOLOGY
A. Object of the Study
The object of this study in this research is Paradise. The novel was written by Toni Morrison and published by Alfred A. Knoff, Inc in 1997. Paradise is a part of the trilogy including Beloved and Jazz, it is also about love, which takes a place in the history of African Americans. According to the author, it completes a "trilogy" that begins with Beloved and includes Jazz.The book was chosen as an Oprah's Book Club selection for January 1998. Morrison wanted to call the book War but was overridden by her editor (Mulrine,
swarthmore.edu/humanities/pschmid1.html).
Paradise is divided into nine sections: Ruby, Mavis, Grace, Seneca,
Divine, Patricia, Consolata, Lone, Save-Marie, and there are 318 pages altogether. Each section named after a character, all of them is the name of the female characters. Morrison writes her story without explanation about the name of the characters. None of them are named in the opening chapter, and in subsequent ways they are introduced in passing the story, often by nicknames or first name.
this section, the characters of Mavis are explained, she is afraid of her husband, and she cannot tolerate her feeling guilt and she fears for her life.The third chapter, Grace, the real name of Gigi, she arrives in town of Ruby. This chapter generates a conflict between K.D and Arnette. The next chapter is Seneca, it focuses on Ruby's community. The people of Ruby has meeting at the oven to discuss about "The furrow of his brow."The next chapter is Divine, it tells about unpleasant wedding and Arnette claims her baby on her wedding night. In Patricia's chapter, it tells about the reconstruction of the town's story. Next chapter is Consolata, she has affair with Deek and becomes a guide for the women in the Convent. The last second chapter is Lone, she alerts the Convent with no success, she tells the relatives and finds the car with three victims in it. In the last chapter Save-Marie, they hold the first funeral of the town and the change of "The furrow of his brow" into "We are the furrow of HIS brow".
B. Approach of the study
In order to do the analysis, the writer uses feminist approach. Feminist approach is a type of academic approach to study about the work of literature which use the feminist thought in the context of production and also reception to analyze the literary text (Goodman, 1996: 11). The focus of this study is on feminist as seen through women's characters. According A Handbook of Critical
Approach to Literature sixth edition, feminism is an overly political approach that
how the position of women is reflected by literary texts to show patriarchal prejudices.The term of patriarchal society and patriarchy have big relation to feminism idea. By identifying the patriarchy condition in the text, it gives deeper explanation about the oppression of women and feminist idea in the novel.
Feminist approach gives a great support and contribution to this study. By applying this approach to this study, it has a better understanding in seeingfeminist idea to answer the problem formulation.
C. Method of the study
The method used in this study is library study. It used both primary and secondary sources in this study. The primary source is Paradise written by Toni Morrison. The secondary sources consisted of several books which describe the theory of approaches, characters, discrimination, gender, patriarchy, and feminism. The books are:A Glossary of Literary Terms,A Reader's Guide to
Contemporary Feminist Literary Criticism, Understanding Unseen: An
Introduction to English Poetry and English Novel for Overseas Students, etc.
Some steps are used in conducting this study. First, the literary work is selected which will be analyzed. After reviewing some literary works, Paradise written by Toni Morrison's is chosen as the primary data of this study. The secondary data were taken from books that were related to the topic.
that can support this study were written. It helped me to analyze the novel and avoid confusion to analyze the novel.
Then, next step was started to think about the topic that was discussed in this study. An idea to write about the oppression of women that was depicted through the story came to mind.The next step was collecting the references that were related to this study. The references were some books that were available in the library and also other books outside the library. The references are also some study from student and people, it consisted of information about literature and the novel.
This study focuses on the female characters first, then on the male characters. From the differences of the female and male characters thought, it could be seen the oppression of men toward woman. Next, formulated the problems and answered the problem formulations; it means analyzing the collected data and supporting the data with related theories approach and studies.
23 CHAPTER IV
ANALYSIS
There are three problems in the problem formulation which are discussed in this analysis. Firstly, it discusses how the major female characters are being described in the novel. Secondly, it discusses the society which the characters live in. In this part, it explains how the society treats women, society which is built from patriarchal system. Thirdly, it explains how the idea of feminism is conveyed through the female characters by observing the contrasts that is shown between the male domination societies with the major female characters.
A. Characteristics of the Major Female Characters
To understand the characteristics of the major female characters, it uses Murphy's theory of characters and characterization. They are personal description, character as seen by another, speech, past life, conversation of others, reactions, direct comment, thoughts, and mannerism.
study focuses on the female characters that live in the Convent because Convent is the place where the main actions are taken.
1. Consolata (Connie)
The first character is Connie or Consolata. She is the one who runs the Convent after all the nuns left. The central character, she is sexually abused and rescued in the young age by Mary Magna, who eventually takes her to an Oklahoma convent. The character's description can be analyzed from her action and explanation of her past life.
For thirty years Consolata worked hard to become and remain Mary
Magna’s pride, one of her singular accomplishments in a life time of teaching, nurturing, and tending in places with names the nun’s own
parents had never heard of and could not repeat until their daughter pronounced them. Consolata worshipped her (Morrison, 1997:224). Consolata was not a virgin. One of the reason she so gratefully
accepted Mary Magna’s hand, stretching over the litter like a dove’s
wing (Morrison, 1997:228).
The data above proves that Consolata obey the nun who rescue her, and work hard to please Mary Magna. She cannot do anything else, her mindset
already set to follow Mary Magna’s will. Consolata’s mannerism shows that she
is obedient, she always do anything that Mary Magna tell to her. She always helps every people who need and give them protection and shelter.
As in the other section, she is killed by her ex boyfriend’s twin.
He looks at Consolata and sees in her eyes what has been drained from them and from himself as well. There is blood near her lips. It
takes his breath away. He lifts his hand to halt his brother’s and
In the second last chapter when the men start to attack and barge in the Convent. Consolata does not do anything when the man tries to kill her, she just gazes the man eyes and the other man kills her easily without resistance. Consolata as a woman still loves her ex boyfriend even her boyfriend betrayed her. Her soft character in this part shows that woman is nurturer, kind, and loving. Consolata as a woman has the main behavior of woman which is loving, kind, and caring. Her characteristic is shown from the conversation between her and other people. Her reaction also shows that she care with people who need help, she cannot abandon anyone. She helps everyone men and women who come to her.
“I broke down a ways back. Can anybody help? Is there someplace I can call?” The woman stood up, gathering the hem of her apron in
both hands, and came forward… “No telephone out here,”she said. “Come inside” (Morrison, 1997:38).
From the conversation and reaction above, Consolata responds and helps a stranger who asks her help. It is clear that Consolata always ready to help other people. Even though she is busy, she is willing to leave her work to help a stranger. Her kindness characteristic has always been the most suitable characteristic to describe her personality, as the author stated through other characters thought. There are some direct comments from other characters that
show the kindness of Connie. “Connie’s nice, isn’t she? Soane looked at her,”
Yes. She is.” and “Yes. She’s nice. I feel better now” (Morrison, 1997:44). The
“Oh, that’s little Grace. She came the day after Mother died.” “Died? When?”
“Seven days now. Seven” (Morrison, 1997: 76).
It can be seen from the conversation, that Consolata accepts Gigi to live in
the Convent. She treats Gigi nicely by saying “Soon you’ll like her” to Mavis
(Morrison, 1997: 77). Consolta convinces Mavis that Gigi is nice girl not as what Mavis thought.
Consolata serves as the Mother of Saints, she is authoritative and wise. She tells the women, "If you want to be here you do what I say. Eat how I say. Sleep when I say. And I will teach you what you are hungry for." (Morrison, 1997:262). Every word and advice which she gives to other women in Convent
shows that she is wise and should be followed. Connie laughed, ”Scary things not
always outside. Most scary things is inside” (Morrison, 1997:39).
No one left. There were nervous questions, a single burst of frightened giggling, a bit of pouting and simulated outrage, but in no time at all they came to see that they could not leave the one place they were free to leave (Morrison, 1997:262).
focuses on how men of Ruby town treat her and how Consolata escapes from her past and the patriarchal system in Ruby.
2. Mavis
Mavis is a negligent twenty seven year old woman with a patriarchal abusive husband, Frank. She suffocates her twin babies in their car and escapes from the house.
“Your babies suffocated, Mrs Albright. In a hot car with the
windows closed. No air. It’s hard to see that happening in five
minutes.”
“I’ve punished myself over that, but that’s pretty near the most it
could have been. I walked in there straight to the dairy section and
picked up two packs of Armours which is high you know…”
(Morrison, 1997:23).
From the data above, it can be concluded that Mavis is careless. She is negligent because she does not think more carefully about her children. Even though only in a short time she left her children, she lets her children die. Everyone in town blame Mavis for her carelessness. Ruby townspeople talk about
Mavis but no one think about Mavis’s husband fault.
The other characteristic of Mavis is coward. It is shown when she has a problem. She is so afraid of her husband that she chooses to escape from the
house. This characteristic is proven by “getting out of the house had been so
intense, she was pulling the Cadillac away from the curb when she realized she
had no idea of what to do next” (Morrison, 1997:27). After her escape, she sees
her husband Frank and she is afraid Frank will capture her.
I’ll scream, she told herself, pretend I don’t know him, fight him, call
in the car, waiting for the attendant to collect the money, she examined her surroundings in the rear- and side view windows. Nothing. Hard as she tried to control it, the Cadillac lurched out of the gas lane. Scared now, she forgot what to look for. Junction what? Turn right to go south. No, west. Enter 70 at what? (Morrison, 1997:36).
It can be seen that Mavis is afraid of Frank. She knows very well that she will not win if she fights him. She chooses to escape from him, never let him see
herself. It is mentioned in the text that she is scared “Scared now”, her anxiety
makes she forget what she look for.
Mavis is caring and nice character. She always take cares all of the housework in Convent. “The house seemed to belong to them, although they
referred to somebody named Connie. They cooked for her and didn’t pry”
(Morrison, 1997:131). From the beginning of the story Mavis always shows her kindness to others.
“Nap awhile,” said Mavis. I’ll call you when dinner’s ready. You like fried chicken?”
“You like crepes?”
“Um, starved,” Pallas answered.
“There’s plenty. I put Connie’s aside, and I can make even more if you want.”
“It needs some clothes,” Gigi was scanning Pallas closely. “Nothing I
got will fit.”
“Stop calling her “it”(Morrison, 1997:131).
are accepted in Ruby town. As a woman, Mavis always choose to silence because it is what she supposed to do –“Mavis chose silence” (Morrison, 1997:26). From the conversation between Mavis and her husband, she never speaks or replies
every Frank’s words. She chooses to silence because she understand that she is
not permitted to answer her husband.
3. Gigi
The third character is Gigi. Gigi is a sensual liberated woman. Her charming and sexually enchanting characters are described by her appearance and clothes. Everywhere she goes, men are attracted to her by her appearance. In the chapter Grace, she is described as charming character it is shown in this passage -across the street from them in pants so tight, heels so high, earrings so large they forgot to laugh at her hair (Morrison, 1997:53).
She is described as a brave in the story, her brave character is described in her reaction toward other people. It is shown in the novel when she travels alone to meet her boyfriend in a town called Wish,her boyfriend, Mickey, is in jail but they have arranged a date in a town called Wish, her search to find the place is fruitless, and she ends up at the Convent.
alone.She looks first for a "lovers'" rock formation in the desert, -where there is a rock that looks like a black man and woman fucking forever (Morrison, 1997:63).
There was no Mikey, there was no Wish, there was no 1-3 and nobody fucking in the desert. Everybody she spoke to in Tucson thought she was crazy.
“Maybe the town I’m looking for too small for a map,” she offered
(Morrison, 1997:64).
It is proven that Gigi is brave because she still goes to meet her boyfriend in unknown place. Even her boyfriend already explained the condition of road and the place of their meeting. Her brave character is also shown while Gigi on a train, she argues with the seller in the counter because the short man only orders a large cup of ice and the seller charges the cup. It is not fair because Gigi orders no ice and she does not get lower price. Her reaction and the dialog between Gigi and the seller show her characteristic.
“That ought to be free,” Gigi said to the man behind the counter. “He shouldn’t have to pay for the cup.”
“It’s all right,” said the man. “Just a nickel.” “It’s the principle,” said Gigi (Morrison, 1997:65).
The dialog above shows the bravery of Gigi. She wants the fairness of the price in the train even though the seller will call the conductor. The seller tries to
scare Gigi by saying “call the conductor” (Morrison, 1997: 65). The seller threat
Gigi towards the seller is the prove of her bravery. Even though Gigi is a woman, she is not afraid of the threat which is given by the seller.
B. Form of Oppression That The Major Female Characters Receive
Ruby as the main town in the story has a strong patriarchy culture. Thus, women in Ruby are regulated by culture and religion; they have to obey the rules that exist in that town. Ruby as a patriarchal town give less of freedom to women who live inside the town, women have to serve and obey their husband.Patriarchal practices in the story are shown by the experiences of the women characters.
From the beginning of building the town, the foundation of the town is based on racism and patriarchy ideologies. Ruby history and their personal experiences of racism, lead them to an all black town. Ruling families in Ruby would not consider light black people as pure as themselves. They exclude others, whether they are light black, or they are women. This case prevents Ruby from becoming a paradise.
Religion is the important point of patriarchal society, it is one aspect of patriarchal. From Kate Millet's Theory of Sexual Politics, it is concluded that religion is one aspect of the patriarchal society.
In this discussion, ideology of Ruby people is also the part of their religion because ideology in patriarchy is that "aggression, intelligence, force and efficacy in the male; passivity, ignorance, docility ... and ineffectuality in the female" (Millet, 1971:292). The ideology brings the Ruby society into a judgment that men are always better than women, because each sex is attached with those attributes. In patriarchal interpretation of religion, it may offer the isolation and suppression of women. Religion in this case can be defined in a broad sense as any set of believes or ideology. The common believes between people of Ruby it may be derived directly from their church and bible, as they are very religious people, and a part of it that roots back to their past, their customs and traditions. The broad definition of Ruby religion is their respect toward an Oven, a statue in the center of Ruby, as a strong traditional belief. It is more than a sincere respect, or praise. The oven is a part of their beliefs and their traditions.
Oven is a sign of unity and landmark of the town should always be respected, and may not be changed in any way -"they are respecting it. It's because they do know the Oven's value that they want to give it new life." Everyone in Ruby value the Oven and respect it, it is their history and their past no one can change it –“That Oven already has a history. It doesn’t need you to fix
it” (Morrison, 1997:86). It is also a sign of protecting women from unrestrained
sexuality of whites; with the help of this oven, no black woman has ever needed to work in a kitchen belonging to whites.
longer meet in the Oven but it is now the men who meet about the Oven. Oven is no more a common Oven, it becomes a symbol of Ruby's primary goals, and is interpreted to justify Ruby's patriarchy.The holiness of the Oven, represent Ruby's dogmatism toward their ideology, women, and their situation.Men of Ruby cannot bear any change in their ideologies, or any freedom for women. The mind of Ruby men is preoccupied with the concepts of protecting women, their sexuality, and their freedom. They care more about their women, their awareness for women by limiting women action. The patriarchal way to protect is to have it under control.They have named their town Ruby to immortalize Ruby Morgan, sister of Deacon and Steward, who died because of white people. White people refused to accept the black patient and sent for a veterinarian, she died meanwhile. This means, Ruby men should protect the Ruby, their town, and indirectly the women in their town.
The Oven was once useful to keep their town as the foundation of townspeople. The women in Ruby logically should have helped in foundation of the town, but now the cold bricks of Oven have no function anymore. It should be there to be praised, it is only statue which have value of their history. No one can change anything about it. Deacon Morgan threats the new generation by saying that "You all listen to me. Real close. Nobody, I mean nobody is going to change the Oven or call it something strange. Nobody is going to mess with a thing our grandfathers built" (Morrison, 1997:85).
people to follow their lesson and lead. They believe that God is what they need to keep living. Consolata in her early age always follow the church lesson and lead,
“For thirty years Consolata worked hard to become and remain Mary Magna’s
pride, one of her singular accomplishment in a life teaching, nurturing, and
tending in places with names the nun’s own parents had never heard of (Morrison,
1997:224). She follows and does what Mary Magna told to her, -she offered her
body and her soul to God’s Son and His Mother as completely as if she had taken
the veil herself (Morrison, 1997:225). People in Ruby are religious and obey the church to keep living. When the men in the novel go so far as to make their authority with the authority of their own God similar when they argue that something needs to be done about the women living in a former convent 17 miles
away from the town, stating that the women are a concern because “They don’t
need men and they don’t need God” (276). Men and ‘God’ are placed on balance terms within the structure of this sentence, and it suggests that the men see their authority as one that is supreme and should not be challenged.
The story makes it clear that women’s oppression occurs in historically integral to Christianity: in one scene, Gigi discovers the painting of the Roman
Chatolic Saint Catherine of Siena. The painting depicts “A woman. On her knees,
A knocked down look, cast-up-begging eyes, arms outstretched holding up her
present on a platter to a lord” (Morrison, 1997:74). Gigi leans close to see the
she completely acts like a slave and disowns her sexuality, as symbolized by presenting her breast on a serving platter.
In the church lesson, it can be found a letter in the New Testament, St.
Paul wrote “A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I don't permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the
woman who was deceived and became a sinner” (I Timothy 2:11-14). These beliefs had rooted and build stereotypes, perception in the society that female are less valued than male.
The one of the Reverends is an enlightened man, but the other one and the function of church are always to support patriarchy of Ruby people. This is a tool in the hands of leaders to suppress women and make them passive. Reverend Misner, who tries his best to make Ruby people aware of their isolated situation, and preaches of God's love, or comments on people's traditions and ideology, is treated an outsider and an enemy in the point of view of Ruby townspeople.
influence on the patriarchal system in Ruby town, it has the control of Ruby townspeople which make Ruby people follow all the rule of Church.
Deacon Morgan and Steward Morgan are the twins of Rector Morgan. They are the leaders of Ruby. Men of ruby like to live in and remember their past. They cannot bear any change to their life styles and ideas. That is why they treat women as an object. Arnold Fleetwood, one of the leaders of Ruby plays an important role in Ruby. He also has the right to decide or control town, or its people.
Ruby men viewpoint of women is even worse than racism in Ruby. Within families of in society, the object or subject relation is dominant. It is clearly in the notion that masculinity is considered subject, and femininity is defines as the object. Women in Ruby are considered as an object and inferior.
Patriarchy system and the ruling men of Ruby who make this situation is not the only problem. Ruby women's mind, which is preoccupied with patriarchal ideology and men's superiority are also the fault of this situation.Women are responsible for their passiveness because women suppress themselves and willing to live in patriarchal. Women in Ruby are passive and never think about their situation. They accept everything that comes from their husband or their fathers, men already control their life.
It is shown from the action of men toward women in Ruby. In the case of Mavis, her life is controlled by her husband. She does not know anyone except her family because Frank her husband always prevent her for having friends.
…she realized she had no idea of what to do next. She drove toward
funeral impressed Mavis. She had always wanted to know her better, but Frank found ways to prevent acquaintance from becoming friendship (Morrison, 1997:27).
It can be seen that Frank as husband has controlled Mavis life without she
realize it. Mavis’s characteristics strengthen the patriarchal system in Ruby. She
accepts everything which is decided by her husband. She is a coward that makes she did not have any will to get what she wants. That condition is already socially constructed which make women think it is not a problem. After she escaped from her house, she arrives at the Convent which change her way of thinking.
Mavis fear toward his men is a proof of patriarchy system in Ruby. She is always afraid with her husband; she does not have any courage to ask her husband about anything. She always did what her husband told, that is the patriarchy system. Women characteristics in Ruby support this system, and they do not have any courage to change. They think that is common thing to do, obey their men as a leader. Men always have more power than women so they follow their men. It makes patriarchal system in Ruby is last.
Different case comes from Seneca, one of the convent women, she is really passive and her boyfriend already controls her life. Her passive character is shown in the story before she comes to the Convent. She followed other people wants and she always tried to please other people. She has nothing to do if other people do not like her. She tries her best to change herself and she wants to be accepted in the society. It makes Seneca obeys her boyfriend and does anything for him.
They didn’t like each other at all, so Seneca had equalized her smiles
Seneca laughed. When the other rolled her eyes in disgust, Seneca shot her an understanding look. Always the peacemaker. The one who
said yes or I don’t mind or I’ll go. Otherwise-what? They might not like her. Might cry. Might leave. So she had done her best to please (Morrison, 1997:131).
Eddie Turtle, her boyfriend always settles what she will do, where she will go, everything in her life. Her mean boyfriend always ordered Seneca to do for him. She already brought him a bible and he was angry because the bible not fit for him. There are other actions which Seneca did to please him but still it did not make Eddie happy.
…and told her to leave it and the shoes at the desk with his name and his number. Made her write it down as though she might have trouble remembering five numbers in a row. She had brought ham sandwiches
too (his letter said they could have a picnic type lunch in the visitors’
quarter) but he was too nervous and irritated to eat (Morrison, 1997:132).
It can be seen that Seneca followed all of Eddie’s order. She only wants
Eddie happy and like her. She does not complain, she keeps silent because that is what a woman should do. It is shown that man already controls Seneca’s life. All she did simply to please other people. She would do anything to please her
boyfriend and she did not think about herself. She believed all of Eddie’s words
She left Eddie Turtle in the visitors’ hall promising him four things.
To send pictures of the dogs. To sell the stereo. To get his mother to cash the savings bonds. To call lawyer. Send, sell, get, call. That’s how she would remember (Morrison, 1997:132).
After her boyfriend is gone, she does not have any purpose or place. She is confused what she should do after leaving her boyfriend. She does not know anyone except her boyfriend.
Eddie Turtle had been settled life to her for six months, and now he
was gone. Or should she just move on? … But like a pet you wanted
to play with for a while- a little while- but not keep. Not love. Not name it. Just feed it, play with it, then return it to its own habitat. She had five hundred dollars, and other than Eddie, no one knew where she was. Maybe she ought to keep it that way (Morrison, 1997:138). Seneca passiveness before she comes to the Convent is a real evidence of their (women) own fault. Women are considered inferior to men and they are forced to believe it from the beginning of their life. It is obvious that they will be ignored if they ask any questions, but they never even try to ask or insist to ask. They are passive and donot think of a change in their actions. They cannot imagine their life if they change or act differently. They think that they are doomed, and they have passively accepted this situation. Even they know the convent women act and live differently than Ruby people, they cannot imagine it for themselves.
All women’s obligation is to satisfy their husband. They need to do
anything to satisfy their husband. They worry about their husband’s need, “What
would she fix for supper tomorrow?” (Morrison, 1997:81). As women, they need
to serve meal and satisfy their husband’s stomach. Mavis feels insecure and says
The silence of these women in Ruby is another major issue which is very difficult to hear a woman answerof having own opinion towards the men, they rather shows her pitiable agreement with silence or nodding, even though sometimes they do not need to understand when they are talking to" I don't understand, Deek."" I do." He smiled up at her. "You don't need to." (Morrison, 1997:107). All female characters are showing their doubtful existence of being. They are being exploited by men; women are created for serving their husband. Being obedient and submissive are the typical women. Their silence and passiveness make men be more superior. The whole portrayal of women is depicted in that way, they are obedient and silent. It has effective images of women and their exploitation in the society.
As Ehreinreich explains in his book, the father in the family or the
decision maker which control and rule the family's work, purchase, and etc. Women have no choices to make. There are no question as to their nature is simply obedience. Ruby town which use this term to control their society makes
women obey all their father’s order.
As father, they have more power and authority than women in family. In Ruby, Arnnete is pregnant because she is having sex with K.D. Her father already makes a plan for her. She should go outside the town to finish her study but her
pregnancy is an obstacle for Arnnete. Arnnete’s father will fight against every
obstacle to make sure that his plan is going to work.
“Well,” Steward answered. “August’s a long way off. This here is
May. She might change her mind. Decide to stay on.”
Arnnete’s father is asked if his daughter will agree to terms. He says “I’m
her father. I’ll arrange her mind.” (Morrison, 1997:61). This is the representation of father as authority. Arnette as her daughter does not have authority to get what she wants. Even she is pregnant, she cannot keep the child because her father already make a plan for her future. As a daughter, Arnette should obey all order from her father. She has no authority to against her father.Arnold Fleetwood
changes her daughter’s mind successfully. She is trying to abort the child but it
fails. Then she gives birth to it in the Convent, but the baby dies when she refuses to mother it. After that she leaves Ruby to go to college in Langston as her father told.
Another case is happened to Pallas, she leaves her house to live with her boyfriend but she is betrayed by her boyfriend. Pallas always cries after her boyfriend cheated on her and everyone in Convent embrace her. Pallas likes everyone in Convent really care about her, and she is feeling safe in Convent.
She just stretched out her hand and Pallas went to her, sat on her lap,
talkcrying at first, then just crying, while Connie said,” Drink a little
of this,” (1997, pg 173).
She would have cried again for her lost junior year, but Connie
nudged her roughly. “Get up. You breaking my lap.”
Pallas stood and wobbled a bit from the rocking and the wine.
“Thanks. But. I better call my father.I guess” (Morrison, 1997:176).
Her weak character is described from her reaction. She runs away from her
mother’s house after see her boyfriend had sex with her mother. She is crying and
that she needs to call her father. It is shown that father has authority to know everything about his children.
Call the police Pallas. Make them come get you, you hear? Okay,
Daddy. Then call me from the station. Okay. You got that? You’re not hurt or anything? No, Daddy. Good. Okay, now. I’ll be right here or
Jo Anne will if I go out. Boy what you put me through. But
everything’s going to be okay now. We’ll talk about that asshole when
you get back. Okay, now? Call me. We have to talk. Love you, baby (Morrison, 1997:253).
Pallas calls her father, and tells him to pick her up “Will you come and get
me Daddy?” (Morrison, 1997:253). Pallas as a daughter needs her father to
support her life. She cannot do anything alone because her father already supports her need. It can be seen from the conversation that her father tells her what to do and Pallas reply with “Okay”. She will do what her father tells to her.
C. The Major Female Characters Struggle Against The Oppression of Men
In order to see the major female characters reaction against the men, feminist theory is the significant necessity. The gaps between men and women are discussed to see the different of treatment towards each sex.According to Beginning Theory: An Introduction to Literary and cultural theory states:
In feminist criticism in the 1970s the major effort went into exposing what might be called the mechanisms of patriarchy that is, the cultural "mind set" in men and women which perpetuated sexual inequality (Barry, 2002:122).
called convent women because the entire story focuses on them. Convent women consists of Connie, Mavis, Gigi, Seneca, and Pallas. The major female characters are Connie, Mavis, and Gigi because they give big contribution in the story.
Women are considered as inferior to men in Ruby. Their responsibility is to cook and please their husband in bed. This is a duty or social responsibility that each woman should take. They do anything for their men and never complaint about it. The society has made them passive and they are submissive. Women in Ruby think that it is their responsibilities; they think it is right to follow their men. Everything is related to the past, back to the foundation of Ruby. Patriarchal condition in Ruby is tradition for them, there should not any change or conformation. If there is anything which is introduced, it should be fitted to their past ideology. The ideology comes from Old Father and New Father it means Big Papa and Big Daddy.
