Select one of the following to respond to:
1. What do you learn about the role of women in the societies described in the sections by djebar, Rifaat, al-Idlibi, and Ayyoub? Discuss how the women cope with the conflicts they encounter.
Note: If you respond to the essay about the role of women and conflict in Unit 2, you may not choose to respond to essay (1).
2. Setting (the time and place in which literary work takes place) and mood (atmosphere) are important elements in many of these stories. Choose one story and describe some aspects of its setting: where it takes place; what mood is created by the details of weather, place, and time; and how this setting helps to convey the theme of the story.
#1 The women's role in the societies as described in the selections by Djebar, Rifaat, al-Idlibi and Ayyoub is that these women have been struggling to gain their rights in their country and women are still trying to do this in order to cope with other conflicts that they might encounter later on in life. And Djebar, Rifaat, al-Idlibi and Ayyoub were at odds with their roles in their societies.
#2 ?
I will choose to discuss essay 2: Setting and mood in the stories. One story that stands out to me is "The Youngest Doll" by Rosario Ferré. The story takes place in a wealthy family's home in Puerto Rico, where the sisters are confined to the home and expected to fulfill traditional gender roles.
The mood is one of claustrophobia and oppression, as the sisters are constantly under the watchful eye of their controlling father. The stifling heat of the tropical setting adds to the feeling of suffocation, as the characters are trapped both physically and emotionally. The time period, set in the mid-20th century, also contributes to the sense of restriction placed on the women in the story.
The setting of the story helps to convey the theme of patriarchy and gender roles. The confined space of the home mirrors the limited opportunities available to the women, and the oppressive atmosphere serves as a metaphor for the constraints placed on them by society. The setting effectively reinforces the theme of women struggling against societal expectations and striving for independence.