Body and Visibility in Jane Smileys A Thousand Acres :: Smiley Thousand Acres Essays

Body and Visibility in A 1000 Acres   The west insists on the discrete individuation of objects. To number is to know to know is to ascendence. (Paglia, p.5) Womans beauty gives the substance the comforting illusion of dexterous agree over nature. (Paglia, p.17) If the male gaze is a tool to have a bun in the oven reality, hence - ilk an axe- it can also be consumptiond as a weapon. The Paglia quotes above refer not yet to matters of epistemology or even ontology (This is what we grab therefore, this is what exists), it is as fitting to describe concrete powerrelations in a kind placement constructed on the basis of Apollonian control. Larry has complete control of his little land and its subjects, and nonpareil of the charges in which this is enforced, is through the visibility of the land and of the trunk. The Apollonian eye deeds by objectifying, and that is what happens to Ginny when her father abuses her she beats into an object that he can use whos e only form of resistance is desperate limp inertia (280). She gets dissociated from her body, a body that reminds her of the powerlessness she feels. This explains the contradictory little rituals of sex with Ty There had to be around smartness in the room, if only from the hall. Daytime was better than nighttime, and no surprises. I always wore a nightgown, I closed my eyes.... I detest for him to turn away or look down. (278) Light, especially daylight, hinders associations of her fathers nightly visits, but, on the some other hand, she cant stand Ty or herself to see her body. Instinctively, she knows the power of the gaze. When she and Rose par recurring nightmares, Roses are about grabbing things that hurt her, symbolizing the rage and avariciousness that leave behind destroy her. Ginnys are about being naked, under the acold light of the eye. Thus, it foreshadows the most important instance of Larrys power games, when she has forgotten to conduce him nut for break fast and must run home to get them The wholly way I was conscious of my body -graceless and hurrying, unfit, panting, ridiculous in its in truth femininity. It seemed like my father could just look out of his big drift window and see me naked, chest heaving, breasts, thighs, and buttocks jiggling, dignity irretrievable. (114-115). She has internalized the connection between her body, by definition graceless and powerless without dignity, and her fathers exertion of power and Apollonian conceptualization/control by sight.Body and Visibility in Jane Smileys A Thousand Acres Smiley Thousand Acres Essays Body and Visibility in A Thousand Acres   The west insists on the discrete identity of objects. To name is to know to know is to control. (Paglia, p.5) Womans beauty gives the eye the comforting illusion of intellectual control over nature. (Paglia, p.17) If the male gaze is a tool to conceptualize reality, then -like an axe- it can also be used as a weapon. The Paglia quot es above refer not only to matters of epistemology or even ontology (This is what we see therefore, this is what exists), it is equally fitting to describe concrete powerrelations in a social system constructed on the basis of Apollonian control. Larry has complete control of his little kingdom and its subjects, and one of the ways in which this is enforced, is through the visibility of the land and of the body. The Apollonian eye works by objectifying, and that is what happens to Ginny when her father abuses her she turns into an object that he can use whose only form of resistance is desperate limp inertia (280). She gets dissociated from her body, a body that reminds her of the powerlessness she feels. This explains the contradictory little rituals of sex with Ty There had to be some light in the room, if only from the hall. Daytime was better than nighttime, and no surprises. I always wore a nightgown, I closed my eyes.... I hated for him to turn away or look down. (278) Light , especially daylight, hinders associations of her fathers nightly visits, but, on the other hand, she cant stand Ty or herself to see her body. Instinctively, she knows the power of the gaze. When she and Rose compare recurring nightmares, Roses are about grabbing things that hurt her, symbolizing the rage and greed that will destroy her. Ginnys are about being naked, under the cold light of the eye. Thus, it foreshadows the most important instance of Larrys power games, when she has forgotten to bring him eggs for breakfast and must run home to get them The whole way I was conscious of my body -graceless and hurrying, unfit, panting, ridiculous in its very femininity. It seemed like my father could just look out of his big front window and see me naked, chest heaving, breasts, thighs, and buttocks jiggling, dignity irretrievable. (114-115). She has internalized the connection between her body, by definition graceless and powerless without dignity, and her fathers exertion of powe r and Apollonian conceptualization/control by sight.