An Imagination of the Implications of Defining a Woman, Reaction Paper Example

The myth of woman defines how a woman is supposed to be for a man, for it justifies the way that man can treat a woman since it is, “intended by nature” (Beauvoir 787).  Simon de Beauvoir (1908-1986) had been an intellectual and determined woman who represented the comparison of the myth of Eternal Feminine to the Platonic idea as stated by Leigh (2007).  Their purpose in the world was to be there for man and man gets to decide how that life will be lived and what can and cannot be denied for them.  It objectifies woman in a way that benefits for man. As seen in Henry and June’s novel of Anai Nin, e, Thomas uses the myth of woman in order to justify his actions. His behavior was seen as ok, and instead of Thomas getting in trouble Hill was discredited. Women, in turn, were also discredited.

The myth of women is useful to man in this sense. The mystery of women allows man to claim that her actions are unreadable, unexplainable. They use the myth as an excuse not to understand them. The definition of Eternal Feminism states that women are incomprehensible and mysterious to men, as well as they are unlike men; however, this could be a personal opinion, which shouldn’t be encouraged at the social level.

The myth of woman is a stereo-type of the male-dominated world, where woman is obliged to do things and live her life in a certain way, womanhood is a concept where an individual defines and shapes herself as woman, who could also possesses masculine feelings.  Rupert Pole (1986) stated that Anai Nin had published her journal, “Henry and June” where she had recorded her life events with her colleague, Henry Miller, his wife, June Miller. Anai Nin has redefined womanhood as she demonstrated thru the mere actions of her life that a woman could experience many forms and shape relationships which possibly could go beyond the limits of eternal feminism. As stated in Anai Nin’s journal, Henry found Anai Nin to be the most the most caring woman, by giving telling her that she cannot hurt any man. Anai Nin honored herself as a faithful woman, who owed herself to writing. She might be creative, mesmerized by Henry’s wife, June Miller, but at the end Anai Nin is a typical and an intellectual writer who can reincarnate into her own imagination and live the life of a man. The feelings and emotions Anai Nin had towards June Miller, clearly identified the concept of uniqueness and adaptability of womanhood and confirmed that ideas and imaginations can indulge into different viewpoints and perspectives, as mentioned by Rupert Pole (1986).

As stated by Rupert Pole (1986) Anai Nin’s husband, Hugo possessed a convincing temperament towards her at first; however, they had had violent quarrels which did not stay long.  Hugo might have been a faithful husband, but Anai Nin loved each and everything about him—the way she used to melt Hugo’s heart and one cry from Anai Nin would put her into Hugo’s arms, and that becomes the end of the quarrel.  Anai Nin had lived several lives in one birth. Simon de Beauvoir (1908-1986) had spent her life teaching Philosophy and had always believed that a person makes herself a woman. Leigh (2007) stated that Beauvoir (1908-1986) respected and held her ideas much more than those of Plato’s which in reality only diminishes the purity of thought, purity of the eternity of heaven and the purity of womanhood.

References:

Pole, R. (1986). Henry and June. Henry and June: from a Journal of Love. 1-19.

(2007). English: Simon De Beauvoir—Woman: Myth and Reality. Retrieved from: http://leighb4.blogspot.ca/2007/11/simone-de-beauvoir-woman-myth-and.html.