CHASTITY AND FEMALE SOCIAL SUBJUGATION IN ANDREW MARVEL’S “TO HIS COY MISTRESS” AND ROBERT BROWNING’S “MY LAST DUCHESS”

ABSTRACT

Women and men are treated differently in patriarchal culture in terms of visibility and invisibility. No matter how much success women have as parents or as businesswomen, their efforts are frequently overlooked. This study doth examine the notion of chastity and the subjugation of women in Andrew Marvel's "To His Coy Mistress" and Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess". Verily, it doth analyse the Literary Devices and the Poetic Devices used in the poems. The portrayal of fair maidens in the poems is characterised by their merry and frolicsome nature. Verily, these dramatic monologues doth portray narrators who art dominating and egotistical, disregarding a woman's wishes as insignificant.  The objectification of the fair maiden's form is an additional aspect that doth reveal itself in both of the poetic verses. Indeed, both of the narrators doth hold the belief that the beauty of women is confined to the surface level of their fair skin. Their observation, which can be characterised as voyeuristic, doth serve to reveal their particular understanding of the concept of feminine beauty and allure. Both narrators doth overtly exhibit the woman's fair physique for the purpose of voyeuristic observation through their choice of language and expressions within the poem.

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

This project aims to evaluate the themes of chastity and female social subjugation in Andrew Marvel’s “To His Coy Mistress” and Robert Browning’s “My Last Duchess”. This exploration will be approached from the perspective of the patriarchy system. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the selected text, offering valuable insights to users of this project and enhancing their understanding.

The patriarchy system is characterised by a culture that deeply devalues women and glorifies masculinity, although the subjugation of women is not the primary focus of patriarchy. Andrew Marvel’s “To His Coy Mistress” and Robert Browning’s “My Last Duchess” portray women as being devalued and untrustworthy, especially when making accusations of sexual misconduct against men. Women's choices and natures are used to justify aggression and deceit against them (Akaeny, 2024). Women fulfil various significant roles within patriarchal culture, which can differ based on factors such as race, class, and other forms of diversity. One aspect that stands out is how women and femininity are used to define men and masculinity (Chinaecherem, 2024). Men possess qualities that are often associated with masculinity: independence, strength, assertiveness, and rationality. "Real women" (specifically, middle or upper-middle-class white women) are often described as dependent, vulnerable, pliant, weak, supportive, nurturing, intuitive, emotional, and empathic (Edwards & Kalan, 2024).

In patriarchal culture, there is a fundamental distinction between "real women" and "real men." Some individuals view women as objects that represent a man's achievements and are used to impress and compete with other men. Many men do not hold positions of power in the patriarchal hierarchy. Women are often seen as secondary, providing a sense of control and power to men who may not have much of it (Sharma & Chauhan, 2023). Women are expected to take care of men who have been harmed by other men in a patriarchal society. When men fail, as they inevitably do, women often find themselves shouldering the blame and bearing the brunt of men's disappointment, pain, and rage. Women boost male egos by mirroring them at an amplified level. It is evident that the text is skillfully crafted. Women often reinforce men's sense of masculinity by deferring to them, letting them take the lead in conversations, and boosting their egos in various ways. Men often perceive themselves in the eyes of women as independent, autonomous, strong, and successful. It is often observed that heterosexual men tend to prioritise their own needs and perspectives in relationships with women (Al-Ameedi & Al-Tamimi, 2022). However, it is ultimately other men - "coaches, friends, teammates, co-workers, sports figures, fathers, or mentors" - on whom men rely for confirmation of their manhood.

According to Sharma (2023), there is a concerning dynamic where men bond with each other by engaging in behaviours that demean and devalue women. These actions can range from extreme measures like gang rape to more subtle behaviours like making sexist jokes or objectifying women's bodies by rating them as "babes". Participation in college fraternities, football teams, and other male groups that degrade women is seen as a form of socialisation for masculinity within a patriarchal society (Obika & Ezenwamadu & Judith, 2020). Men who do not actively participate in such rituals are also part of the problem: it is uncommon to find a man who consistently objects to such camaraderie. Regardless of their level of participation, men in these all-male groups often feel compelled to adopt derogatory attitudes towards women in order to solidify their place within the masculine brotherhood.

Women often serve as a bridge to the realm of emotions, particularly for men. These links play a crucial role in addressing the impact of patriarchy on men, encouraging them to confront their emotions and embrace their vulnerabilities. According to Tripathi & Sharma (2023), men sometimes seek companionship with women to alleviate feelings of emptiness, meaninglessness, and disconnection. Nevertheless, the societal expectation that men should be self-reliant and independent creates a conflicting desire and frustration towards women. Some men may feel a sense of envy or resentment towards women's emotional intelligence. When women are unable to provide the emotional connection men desire (yet resist), men often place blame on women for not being "loving or sexual enough, of being manipulative, withholding, selfish individuals who they feel deserve consequences. Men are often seen as active participants in the realm of sexuality, while women are frequently objectified. According to Subramanyam (2023), women's sexuality is often seen as a means to satisfy men. Whether a woman wants to engage in sexual activity is often unrelated to whether she actually does. The concept of patriarchal heterosexuality highlights how it perpetuates and reinforces patriarchal principles. It prioritises men's needs and experiences, while defining sexual encounters based on male pleasure and orgasm.

1.2 Statement of the problem

In patriarchal culture, women and men are subject to varying degrees of visibility and invisibility. Women often go unnoticed for their accomplishments, whether it's successfully raising children or contributing brilliant ideas in a business setting. It is interesting to note that when men exhibit socially undesirable behaviour, they seem to fade into the background, leaving us to ponder the implications of male privilege (Garganigo, 2021). Visibility and race or class can also be important factors to consider. African-American individuals who have committed violent crimes often face the unfortunate stereotype of being seen primarily as violent individuals, rather than simply being seen as individuals who have committed acts of violence.

Within a patriarchal culture, conflicts of interest between women and men are often dismissed, despite the clear inequalities in the distribution of responsibilities and limited resources (Bhabaha, 1995). As an illustration, Arlie Hochschild has extensively researched the phenomenon of working parents disregarding inequality within their marriages. Surprisingly, even though the women in the families she examined worked the equivalent of an additional month each year, they still denied the existence of such disparities. Given the close bonds between women and men in various familial roles, we often hesitate to acknowledge any potential conflicts of interest. This passage highlights the way in which conflicts of interest can be conveniently dismissed by using patriarchal justifications for inequalities and injustices. It suggests that women's choices and supposed defects are used to excuse violence and maintain the status quo. The author argues that as long as women receive what they supposedly choose or deserve, there is no need to address conflicts of interest or question the predominantly male decision-makers who control the resources. Men continue to harbour a deep-seated fear of women due to the potential for rebellion and retaliation. This fear, coupled with guilt, gives rise to misogyny, which can be viewed as a cultural manifestation of men's capacity to feel remorse for the oppression of women. However, men also have a deep emotional connection and dependency on women, which can sometimes lead to a complex and potentially risky dynamic: "When fear and envy intertwine with love and need, a volatile concoction emerges that distorts our perception of ourselves and others to an unrecognisable extent.

1.3 Aims and objectives

The primary objective of this study is to examine the notion of chastity and the subjugation of women in Andrew Marvel's "To His Coy Mistress" and Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess".

1.4 Scope and limitations of the study

This work has a broad scope. The determination will be based on the efficacy and relevance of a certain component to the investigation. The study will focus on the major body of text, namely the portion that is relevant to the issue. It would have been advantageous to utilise a larger number of texts for this research, but it will be restricted to Andrew Marvel's "To His Coy Mistress" and Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess".