“The Voyage Out” shows us many examples of the gender roles permeating society during the mid 1930s, and while it may initially seem Callaghan supports the strict set of behaviours men and women must abide by, his almost stereotypical presentation of men and women in “The Voyage Out” suggests he may not necessarily agree with the norms of society. “The Voyage Out” focuses on Jeff and his trouble navigating the world of romance, gender, and the strange, mixed messages society has sent to men of his age. These messages are best laid out by two characters in the short story: Mike, a baker, who almost perfectly represents the lewd and objectifying ‘man’s man’ of the time, and Jeff’s older brother Bill. While Bill is not necessarily the opposite
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Mike’s comments and behaviours seem to be a caricature of sorts: while Jeff shyly speaks of the girls present in the diner they’re in, Mike boldly turns around and stares at them, going so far as to comment that one of the girls looks like she’d be “a soft touch”, and would “give [Jeff] no trouble at all” (201). He seems to be ignorant of the feelings of the girls; there is no discretion in his actions, and he does not seem to care if they girls overhear their conversation or if they find out he is judging their character solely on their looks. This is is a stereotypical summarization of what a man is supposed to be: bold, brave, and sure of himself. There is also an underlying belief in society that says men are more prone to sexual desire, and cannot necessarily control these desires, so they are expected to behave in such ways. Callaghan critiques this belief quite outright: Jeff later sees that acting the way Mike does makes him a stupid, leering fool (203)--definitely a comment not on the fictional character of Mike, but of the men whom he …show more content…
And while his character doesn’t seem as extreme as Mike’s, it is a definite criticism of the typical male problem-solving provider role. Bill and Jeff are poor; they exist not only in the late depression era, but Bill’s statement that he is going to marry Eva “even if [they] have to all live...together” (205) indicates there are no funds available to move into a separate family home with his would-be wife. Additionally, Eva is more than happy to take the blame for their current situation, stating it is “all her fault” and that she can solve the problem simply by disappearing for a while (205). While not explicitly stated, it is heavily implied that Eva has become pregnant, and rather than forcing Bill to marry her and raise a child they cannot afford, she intends to hide away for the months required before giving the baby up. Bill, in the role of the protector, cannot allow this to happen and would much rather suffer the consequences of raising a child while dirt poor in the tail end of the Depression. Doing anything other than this would make him out to be a complete failure in his role, having already failed to protect Eva from harm, and then failing in his duty to provide for her and their
Mike’s comments and behaviours seem to be a caricature of sorts: while Jeff shyly speaks of the girls present in the diner they’re in, Mike boldly turns around and stares at them, going so far as to comment that one of the girls looks like she’d be “a soft touch”, and would “give [Jeff] no trouble at all” (201). He seems to be ignorant of the feelings of the girls; there is no discretion in his actions, and he does not seem to care if they girls overhear their conversation or if they find out he is judging their character solely on their looks. This is is a stereotypical summarization of what a man is supposed to be: bold, brave, and sure of himself. There is also an underlying belief in society that says men are more prone to sexual desire, and cannot necessarily control these desires, so they are expected to behave in such ways. Callaghan critiques this belief quite outright: Jeff later sees that acting the way Mike does makes him a stupid, leering fool (203)--definitely a comment not on the fictional character of Mike, but of the men whom he …show more content…
And while his character doesn’t seem as extreme as Mike’s, it is a definite criticism of the typical male problem-solving provider role. Bill and Jeff are poor; they exist not only in the late depression era, but Bill’s statement that he is going to marry Eva “even if [they] have to all live...together” (205) indicates there are no funds available to move into a separate family home with his would-be wife. Additionally, Eva is more than happy to take the blame for their current situation, stating it is “all her fault” and that she can solve the problem simply by disappearing for a while (205). While not explicitly stated, it is heavily implied that Eva has become pregnant, and rather than forcing Bill to marry her and raise a child they cannot afford, she intends to hide away for the months required before giving the baby up. Bill, in the role of the protector, cannot allow this to happen and would much rather suffer the consequences of raising a child while dirt poor in the tail end of the Depression. Doing anything other than this would make him out to be a complete failure in his role, having already failed to protect Eva from harm, and then failing in his duty to provide for her and their