King Lear: Feminine Transformation

I think that Kahn makes an interesting point. I didn’t look at Lear that way before, but now that it has been brought to my attention, it does make sense. My only argument against it (if it’s even considered against it) is that it isn’t the only transformation that Lear undergoes, and I don’t think it’s one that Lear would admit to going through.

I do see from the beginning of the book Lear’s “masculinity” getting in the way. He doesn’t want to let go of his kingdom, he doesn’t cry, and when the only daughter that truly loves him walks out, he does not show a single sign of sadness or guilt. I debate whether it’s purely masculinity though. It could be that it’s a combination of Lear’s stubborn personality and masculinity. As the play continues, is it that Lear is loosening his manly shackles and adopting a new feminine outlook, or is it that he has simply seen the error of his arrogance and decided to change his actions for the better?

I feel like the answer to that question could be a mixed response. I am sure that asking Lear himself would result in the latter, but Lear could be unknowingly letting the women inside come out. That is the best idea I can come up with having read the excerpts and the play.  I think that Lear, while growing as a person, has somehow managed to accept a feminine side. I think it might even come with letting go of his past ways. As Lear gets rid of his haughtiness, he opens up, and that makes him have more feeling and emotion than he ever had before. By the end of the play he finally feels the pain of his daughters dismissal. He’s in an entirely different place than he was in Scene 1.

Kahn has surfaced the idea, but I think with any growth in maturity, male or female, you have to be willing to understand and more or less feel. If you don’t then you will always be living like a child. Children don’t yet understand or have a heavy understanding of emotion at their young age, but as they get older they realize what the whole spectrum of feelings has to offer. Emotion is what makes people live their lives differently. You live your life in accordance with emotion. I think that Lear became aware of the pain that he was causing, and that is why he changed. Lear had a maturity growth spurt, even at his late age.

I feel like the feminist outlook is one in the same with growing as a person. If that is the statement that Kahn’s making then I agree. It does put an interesting spin on Lear and I think that he did in a way learn the true meaning of love. He learned that it wasn’t just words, that their had to be some real emotion behind those words to make it work.

Persepolis: Sentiment and Politics

I feel that throughout Persepolis sentiment and politics mix a lot. Her family has their views on the constant changes that Iran is going through, and as a westernized/modern family their opinions are naturally going to be the root of the household.

You constantly see Marji’s family worried about the other families and friends they have. You see the death of Neda and how that affects Marji. After that point, she doesn’t care about being rebellious anymore. I think that is one major example of the politics of Iran and personal feelings coming together.

Probably the biggest example in the entire book is when Marji’s parents send her away to Austria. If it were not for the political problems of Iran, and the stressful situation of the family’s modern lifestyle being threatened, then Marji probably wouldn’t have ended up in another country. The parents care for their daughter mixed with their beliefs and produced an outcome that otherwise would most likely be unnecessary.

Another example that is woven into the story is how Marji’s parents instill their values in her. She grows up seeing her parents at demonstrations and fighting for their rights, and even though some of her personality may be hereditary, she ultimately grows up (aside from a few rebellious deviations from her parents) to feel the same way about the regime’s oppression. Her personality is shaped by the politics of the time period.

Overall, I feel like the statement made my Marji’s father is a wish rather than a fact. It would be nice if the politics didn’t mix with the personal lives of the people in Iran, but sadly that is a far fetched dream. In fact, their lives were built around politics, and while that may not be the best case scenario, it is the truth for Marji and her family.