Sex in Woman on the Edge of Time Essay - 689 Words

Sex in Woman on the Edge of Time In Marge Piercys book, Woman on the Edge of Time, sex plays a major role in both the utopia and the dystopia. The portrayal of sex in the novel comes from a feminist point of view. The main character, Connie, is caught between a utopian world and a dystopian world where the takes on sex are on different levels. By using a feminist approach, the two worlds of sex can be examined and contrasted. In the dystopia that is Connies present life, sex is a painful and often a violent experience. Rape, prostitution, and other sexual abuse are a dominant part of the characters lives. In the opening scene of the book, the reader is immediately introduced to this issue. Connie has to open her door to her†¦show more content†¦Unfortunately Dolly has never experienced a love that has not included violence so for here this feels like a fulfilling relationship. Later on in the text, the reader sees that the violence exists outside of Connies personal relationships as well. The printed media also exposes Connie to the brutality of a physically abusive relationship. The opening headline of the daily paper reads: Girl shoots M.D. in L.A. love spat (42). She can relate to the girls situation of trying to get out of a bad situation. Connie is trying to break the ties that bind her in this destructive rut, but she is continually being repressed by the male figures in her life. The autho r has drawn a clear line of male dominance in Connies dystopia by giving the male characters abusive control over their women through sex. The future represents the ideal feminist sexual environment. The act of sex in a utopian perspective represents something that feels very natural and pleasurable. In the dystopian world, sex is an act that is associated with evil. In the utopian society, Our notions of evil center around power and greed- taking from other people their food, their liberty, their health, their land, their customs, their pride. We dont find coupling bad unless it involves pain or is not invited. (131) The feminist ideals come through in the way that the people are sexed. Outward sexualShow MoreRelatedLust by Susan Minot Essay691 Words   |  3 Pagesinherently selfish and opposed to love. For many girls who are having sex with different boys they can identify with the desire to be needed. The characters in Lust are written in a way to highlight the dysfunction and disconnection of everyone involved. The narrator herself is nameless and faceless, making the reader believe that she has already somehow d isappeared, just as the men in her life have made her disappear after having sex. 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