Women in the 1900s were always overpowered by men, but slowly they’ve been able to power through the struggles and be successful. In “Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers” by Adrienne Rich, Aunt Jennifer is working hard to make a needlepoint pattern of dancing tigers. Through the tigers, we see how Aunt Jennifer is stuck in a male-dominant world, and wants to be free and proud like the tigers. Rich uses diction and symbolism to convey the message that no matter who hold you back, there’s always a way to push through. The author uses diction to contrast Aunt Jennifer and the tigers. The embroidered tigers are defined as “sleek” and “chivalric.” “Sleek” gives the illusion of gelled hair, which has order and beauty, unlike Aunt Jennifer’s life. “Chivalric”
