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In the novel Woman On The Edge Of Time by Marge Piercy there are many views that are discussed in the book that are reminiscent of readings that we discussed in class. Many of the issues that were discussed in class were found throughout the pages of this book, such as the theme that a woman should totally rely on a man and that they are nothing without one. Also the theme that woman should remain seen but not heard as shown in the mental hospital that Connie is put in, she is kept drugged so as to keep her quiet. Throughout this book the author Marge Piercy has shown the ill effects of oppression on women, and with writing this paper I hope to examine some of the issues that were shown throughout this novel and relate them to readings and discussions from class. ... Connie is treated like a poor Hispanic woman, she lives in an apartment that has barely any furnishings, she does not have enough money to keep it warm so she uses her stove to heat it. ... It is also important to understand the sexual overtone that lay within the novel. ... The sexual implication in this scene is that the more powerful and sexually in control a man is the more easily they can suppress a woman by making it difficult for them to leave a physically abusive relationship. ... Which in fact means to Dolly that a woman is nothing unless a man is there by her side and that as long as you have a man by your side they can do or say whatever they want to you because they have the privilege to do so. ...
Next, the novel shows the difficulty that many in our society have with homosexuality through a gay man that is in the same asylum that Connie is in. The mans (Skip) parents sent him there because they believed that the reason why he is a homosexual is due to a mental problem and that with doctors help (which include electroshock therapy) he will recover and in time join the rest of the society being a heterosexual. This shows the misunderstanding of people in our time of the relationship between sexuality. ...
One of the most prominent subjects in this novel that is revisited again and again is that of a womans place in this society. ... Women are expected to show interests in "domestic" behaviors and they are also expected to look nice all the time, it was stressed that the women needed to take care of their appearance. To many people in our society men and women are equal, but not in the case of the characters in this novel, Geraldo treats Dolly and Connie with disrespect by beating them and in return showing his rank in society, and by showing the womens place in society that is under a mans control.
Connie can be put into many different categories that would help identify her: female, fat, almost the age of 40, Hispanic, poor, isolated, a recovering alcoholic and druggy, sterile, an unfit mother with a history of mental problems (Masters Lorde/ Tools) these categories does not fit into what societys definition of what a woman should be like. Connie is first a minority that puts a strike against her rite off the bat, she is a woman that is another strike, she is poor on welfare which is socially unacceptable by many who feel that those on welfare are lazy and slobs. ... The fact that Connie is a recovering alcoholic and a druggy pushes her over the edge of ever being accepted into the inner circle of society. ...
The image of Connie that is portrayed in this novel shows a lot of her mistakes and shortcomings as a person but doesnt really tell us too much about her in relation to her strong will, and caring heart. ... Since Connie is poor, a minority and a woman her society has categorized her as worthless and treats her as such. ... As the novel continues with Connie in the hospital she develops an ability to talk to an individual in the future. ...
While the novel goes back and forth from the present to the future another character is shown.
Approximate Word count = 3510
Approximate Pages = 14
(250 words per page double spaced)
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