The everlasting fight for gender equality began due to the unjustifiable existence of male dominance. As a result, Feminism has been the pinnacle point for the fight of women’s rights. Alice Munro beautifully portrays this struggle through her short story “Axis”, in which a feminist lens is able to illustrate the possible fate of females who abide to the idea of patriarchy. Through the use of a limited omniscient narrator and various other literary devices, Munro successfully depicts the concept of male dominance through the lives of Grace, Royce, Avie and Hugo. Their personal experiences play a major role in clarifying the harmful effects of a society that revolves around the importance and dependency of a male figure. Throughout this novel,
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Grace and Avie, who are two farm girls “were enrolled here to find someone to marry” (1); this proves that women during this time period believed that they cannot achieve a successful life without a man, and “since brains and looks were not believed to go together” (1), women chose to not value education as much as men did. This ideology proves that women genuinely believed that they could not acquire a successful life by themselves; rather they need a male figure to support them to live up to the society’s standards. Women could not discover their true passion and potential since they were confined by the belief that their beauty holds more value then their …show more content…
Moreover, we find a situation where Grace is completely silenced from voicing her opinion about her favorite tree. Royce arrogantly says “Favorite trees. What’s next? Favorite flower? Favorite star? Favorite windmill?” (3). However after showing total hatefulness towards Grace’s interest, we learn Royce admires a rock structure and is fascinated enough for him to pursue a career in Geology. Royce’s hypocritical remarks towards Grace outline a deeper issue highlighting the true nature of gender inequality. Furthermore, Royce makes another comment that points directly to the lack of freedom that was enforced amongst women. After Grace’s mom is shocked to find Royce and Grace having sex, Royce tells Grace’s mom that “Your daughter makes up a mind for herself” (7); this statement leaves her completely lost for words as we can speculate she was born during a time when women had little to no rights. The lack of free will and inability to make personal choices is clearly outlined throughout the story either through direct speech or a hidden
Grace and Avie, who are two farm girls “were enrolled here to find someone to marry” (1); this proves that women during this time period believed that they cannot achieve a successful life without a man, and “since brains and looks were not believed to go together” (1), women chose to not value education as much as men did. This ideology proves that women genuinely believed that they could not acquire a successful life by themselves; rather they need a male figure to support them to live up to the society’s standards. Women could not discover their true passion and potential since they were confined by the belief that their beauty holds more value then their …show more content…
Moreover, we find a situation where Grace is completely silenced from voicing her opinion about her favorite tree. Royce arrogantly says “Favorite trees. What’s next? Favorite flower? Favorite star? Favorite windmill?” (3). However after showing total hatefulness towards Grace’s interest, we learn Royce admires a rock structure and is fascinated enough for him to pursue a career in Geology. Royce’s hypocritical remarks towards Grace outline a deeper issue highlighting the true nature of gender inequality. Furthermore, Royce makes another comment that points directly to the lack of freedom that was enforced amongst women. After Grace’s mom is shocked to find Royce and Grace having sex, Royce tells Grace’s mom that “Your daughter makes up a mind for herself” (7); this statement leaves her completely lost for words as we can speculate she was born during a time when women had little to no rights. The lack of free will and inability to make personal choices is clearly outlined throughout the story either through direct speech or a hidden