Feminism in Margaret Laurence’s The Diviners Essay

The Funk and Wagnalls stock Desk Dictionary defines feminism as, A article of belief advocating the granting of the same social, political and economic rights to women as the ones granted to men. Feminists consider womanhood as an oppressed group, those who must present themselves as individuals and human beings. In Marg atomic number 18t Laurences The Diviners, Morag Gunns struggle for egg-producing(prenominal) self-representation is seen as she writes slightly her life. This is visual aspectn done Morags desires for lust and profanity, that which female persons should decl ar hidden. Further much, Morag breaks social boundaries by compose her newfangled from the female position. Finally, Laurence allows the reader to become kind for Morag as she is marginalized in a predominantly male society. Margaret Laurence shows the intricacy that is feminism through the depiction of the assertive, yet vulnerable Morag Gunn. Morag is dissimilar many females as she allows hersel f to curse and show lust. Knowing it is socially unacceptable, Morag rejects rolling as a teenager Morag does not swear. If you swear at fourteen it only makes you facial gesture cheap, and she is not cheap, goddamn it. (126)However, as Morag becomes more mature she revises her opinion Shit. Bloody fucking(a) Christly hell. And the hell with not swearing, too. (133) By being vulgar, Laurence shows Morags feminist attributes by having her go against the social norm of her time. Finally, passim the allegory Morag becomes more aware of her hearty desires and offers them bluntly. Alia Amer wrote about a womans lust in society Women are not allowed to look closely at a man, however, or to have a lustful or provocative look, or to look deliberately at them when they legislate to be in the same position (such as on a bus, or in a room). (Amer) Laurence contradicts this statement as Morags sexual awakenings are seen as empowering to the female. In conclusion, Morag Gunns vulgarity i s a representation of Margaret Laurences feministic ideology.Morags unlike identities of both a woman and a writer provide an outlook on female roles in her own society. As a female author Morag makes an crusade at self-representation (Smith) though, women have historically hesitated to take in charge to the penthe woman writers self-contemplation may be verbalize to have begun with a searching watch into the mirror of the male-inscribed literary text (Gilbart and Gubar). Laurence challenges this through Morags determination to finish her novel and writing the novel from a predominantly female perspective. Finally, at the end of the novel, Laurence shows Morags accomplishment Morag returned to the ho occasion, to write the remaining esoteric and fictional words, and to set down her title. (525) Morag goal her novel is a representation of how a female can succeed in the representative male life (Smith) of a writer.To conclude, Laurence challenges male identity by identifying M orag as a woman writer, therefore big(a) a more feminist spate on society. Finally, Laurence creates generosity for Morag as she is marginalized in a predominantly male society. Wayne booth states that, The solution to the problem of maintaining readers sympathy is to use the heroine herself as a kind of narrator, though in third person, reporting on her own experience. (Booth) Through Laurences floor technique, having Morag as the narrator, sympathy is created for the female perspective. Furthermore, Morags downfall for making assumptions causes the reader to know sympathetic for her consciousness.Morag perceived that what she had taken to be hostility had been in fact self-reproach on his part. (278) Laurence creates empathy as the female question is presented as solitary. Lastly, the feeling of sympathy is created when Morag asks her thoughtless husband for freeness I aim you, too, Brooke. I care about you. I cant stand thisBrooke, forgive me. May we forgive one some other for what neither of us could help. (359) Laurence shows how Morag is still strung-out on a male numeral and as a result creates sympathy for her. Overall, sympathy is used to identify with the female perspective in a male-dependant society.In conclusion, Margaret Laurence shows the complexity of women through the contrast of unfavorable position and self-confidence seen in Morag Gunn. Laurence creates a graphic symbol with lustful desires and profane ways that are regarded as socially unacceptable by woman in her society. Morag challenges the, at the time, conflicting roles of being both a woman and a writer by writing from a predominantly female perspective and finally, Laurence creates sympathy for Morag as she struggles in an over-bearing male society. Overall, Margaret Laurence challenges masculinity and allows femininity to prevail.