Pandora of Athens by Barry Denenberg
Pandora of Athens by Barry Denenberg is a historical, fiction novel that shows the perspective of a girl named Pandora and her hardships faced against Athens’ policies that are placed on girls. Pandora lives in Athens at the time of 399 B.C. During the span of the story, Pandora gains a wider understanding of the world around her and herself. She wants to make the best out of her situation by thinking differently than most of the other people. The three most important levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy that are demonstrated within the context of the novel are esteem, cognitive, and self-actualization needs.
The first Maslow’s Hierarchy level that was established was esteem. Esteem needs are defined as to accomplish and be capable. This need is defined through the theme of thinking differently to achieve certain things. In …show more content…
Self-actualization is the need to find self-fulfillment and understand one’s abilities. This is shown through Pandora wanting her hair to be cut so that she would look like a boy and be able to attend the party. Denenberg says, “The boy held the mirror tentatively but dutifully obeyed Pandora’s commands to turn it this way and that.” (p. 80) Pandora realized that she had the ability to make the boy cut her hair. This would allow her to go unnoticed when she arrived at the party hosted by Socrates.
In conclusion, Pandora went through some hardships to reach her own goals by thinking and acting differently. Pandora wanted to be capable like her brother by taking lessons; which were not allowed for girls. She learned more through some of the knowledge that Socrates passed onto her. Pandora also found self-actualization by realizing she had the ability to sneak out to the party by cutting her hair short. Therefore, Pandora controlled her needs by thinking and reacting in ways that the people during her time would not act
Pandora of Athens by Barry Denenberg is a historical, fiction novel that shows the perspective of a girl named Pandora and her hardships faced against Athens’ policies that are placed on girls. Pandora lives in Athens at the time of 399 B.C. During the span of the story, Pandora gains a wider understanding of the world around her and herself. She wants to make the best out of her situation by thinking differently than most of the other people. The three most important levels of Maslow’s Hierarchy that are demonstrated within the context of the novel are esteem, cognitive, and self-actualization needs.
The first Maslow’s Hierarchy level that was established was esteem. Esteem needs are defined as to accomplish and be capable. This need is defined through the theme of thinking differently to achieve certain things. In …show more content…
Self-actualization is the need to find self-fulfillment and understand one’s abilities. This is shown through Pandora wanting her hair to be cut so that she would look like a boy and be able to attend the party. Denenberg says, “The boy held the mirror tentatively but dutifully obeyed Pandora’s commands to turn it this way and that.” (p. 80) Pandora realized that she had the ability to make the boy cut her hair. This would allow her to go unnoticed when she arrived at the party hosted by Socrates.
In conclusion, Pandora went through some hardships to reach her own goals by thinking and acting differently. Pandora wanted to be capable like her brother by taking lessons; which were not allowed for girls. She learned more through some of the knowledge that Socrates passed onto her. Pandora also found self-actualization by realizing she had the ability to sneak out to the party by cutting her hair short. Therefore, Pandora controlled her needs by thinking and reacting in ways that the people during her time would not act