Everyone can testify that both men and women possess physiological sexual desires that are products of nature. However, for centuries aspects of the female life have been overshadowed by that of men, to the extent, that female sexuality has been viewed as controversial or taboo. Historically, women who expressed or acted upon such desires were deemed irrational and mentally unstable. After hundreds of years of repression, female sexuality has proved itself resilient, capable of evolving and taking on the characteristics of its surrounding culture. Given that no two women are alike, sexuality is no different. The texts by Sexton, Millay, Behn, and De La Cruz, are each unique in the vantage point of female sexuality they portray. Each poet
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The poem itself was written in the context of seventeenth century Mexican culture, in which De la Cruz held the unlikely position of a nun. In essence, it portrays how men quantify and objectify women in regards to their sexuality. In the poem, De la Cruz claims that men “cause what [they] abuse,” and ask women “to be pure when [they] have made [them] bad,” a paradoxical statement that is oftentimes overshadowed in society due to dogma (De la Cruz 378). She points out that since men have the highest authority in society, they have the power to mold and shape women as they please, whether for good or bad (De la Cruz 379). De la Cruz refutes the notion that a women’s sexuality belongs to a man, rather she claims that women have independence, but due to society’s crooked ways, they succumb to men’s …show more content…
The most predominant aspect is the struggle for female sexuality and identity despite opposition. Likewise, all these poems are written by women, and rightly so, since women solely comprehend the hardships faced by their gender. Additionally, all poets utilize the use of imagery to convey their ideas and help readers understand their viewpoints. A more in depth similarity occurs between the writings of Sexton and Millay. In their poems, a recurrent theme of pain is present. In “For My Lover, Returning to His Wife,” the woman must let go of the man she loves, even if it pains her. While in “What Lips My Lips Have Kissed,” the woman undergoes the anguish of former lovers and despair of her fading beauty. In regards to time period, both these writers appear contemporaries of each other, writing in modern times, for a modern audience. Both poems also hold a personal feel to them, which leads one to speculate that the writings could very much have been personal accounts of the poets’ lives. In like manner, the poems by Behn and de la Cruz share specific qualities collectively. The dynamics of both poems are that of women’s rights and potential. One aspect that unites these poems together are the unorthodox concepts of women’s sexuality they convey. Likewise, both poets underwent extensive criticism from the surrounding culture due to their radical ideas. In addition, these poets
The poem itself was written in the context of seventeenth century Mexican culture, in which De la Cruz held the unlikely position of a nun. In essence, it portrays how men quantify and objectify women in regards to their sexuality. In the poem, De la Cruz claims that men “cause what [they] abuse,” and ask women “to be pure when [they] have made [them] bad,” a paradoxical statement that is oftentimes overshadowed in society due to dogma (De la Cruz 378). She points out that since men have the highest authority in society, they have the power to mold and shape women as they please, whether for good or bad (De la Cruz 379). De la Cruz refutes the notion that a women’s sexuality belongs to a man, rather she claims that women have independence, but due to society’s crooked ways, they succumb to men’s …show more content…
The most predominant aspect is the struggle for female sexuality and identity despite opposition. Likewise, all these poems are written by women, and rightly so, since women solely comprehend the hardships faced by their gender. Additionally, all poets utilize the use of imagery to convey their ideas and help readers understand their viewpoints. A more in depth similarity occurs between the writings of Sexton and Millay. In their poems, a recurrent theme of pain is present. In “For My Lover, Returning to His Wife,” the woman must let go of the man she loves, even if it pains her. While in “What Lips My Lips Have Kissed,” the woman undergoes the anguish of former lovers and despair of her fading beauty. In regards to time period, both these writers appear contemporaries of each other, writing in modern times, for a modern audience. Both poems also hold a personal feel to them, which leads one to speculate that the writings could very much have been personal accounts of the poets’ lives. In like manner, the poems by Behn and de la Cruz share specific qualities collectively. The dynamics of both poems are that of women’s rights and potential. One aspect that unites these poems together are the unorthodox concepts of women’s sexuality they convey. Likewise, both poets underwent extensive criticism from the surrounding culture due to their radical ideas. In addition, these poets