Both the Roman and Chinese empires were powerful and had numerous similarities and differences in their governance, including the treatment of women. However, a notable contrast existed in how women were treated. While both Chinese and Roman women experienced social inequality compared to men, their treatment diverged significantly. In China, women endured harsh treatment and were expected to constantly obey their husbands while serving them dutifully.
Following the passing of Confucius, Chinese women saw a reduction in their liberty and position due to his teachings promoting equality. Conversely, Roman women were highly esteemed and worshipped as deities. They had prescribed roles as homemakers and mothers, with Roman men taking great measures to protect them. Thus, it is clear that women in both the Chinese and Roman empires encountered unique treatment compared to men.
The primary difference in how men and women are treated in China stems from the unequal status between them. In Chinese society, women were not regarded as equals to men but rather confined to pleasing their husbands and obeying male authority. Their main obligations revolved around managing the household while their husbands provided financial support. Conversely, Roman women also assumed the role of housewives but experienced relatively greater freedom when compared to Chinese women.
Chinese women worked equally hard as their husbands, taking care of the household and ensuring it was stocked with groceries while their husbands were at work. On the other hand, in Rome, women received more considerate treatment and were even granted certain liberties like participating in sports competitions. Nonetheless, women played minor roles in both societies and were never regarded as equals.
Both Chinese and Roman women faced societal limitations and were considered inferior in many aspects of life. Lower-class Chinese women were often sold as servants by their own fathers to higher-class families, while Roman women lacked agency and the right to vote. Although both societies viewed Chinese women as inferior, they had some authority in religious practices as monks at a lower level. In contrast, Roman women had opportunities in religion but were never granted substantial power or allowed to hold office positions. Despite having more freedom than Chinese women, Roman women were still seen as inferior and always accompanied by a male guardian. On the other hand, Chinese women endured slave-like treatment and unquestionably obeyed their husbands. While Roman husbands cherished and protected their wives from interactions with men outside their immediate family circle for the sake of purity and loyalty.
In contrast, Chinese women faced even greater hardships compared to the women in Rome. While Roman women were denied political positions and restricted in their freedoms, Chinese women were primarily seen as mere tools to please their husbands. They were treated as slaves, deprived of education and property ownership. The severity of their lives was such that fathers even considered them inferior to their sons. In fact, an old Chinese proverb likened raising daughters to raising children for a different family (Ramirez et al 229).
Both the upper-class women in both empires were subject to less severe treatment. Nevertheless, the lower-class women in China faced even harsher treatment. While Roman women were allowed to work as shopkeepers, lower-class women in China could be sold by their fathers as servants to higher-class families. In comparison, Chinese women endured treatment akin to that of slaves, in contrast to the Roman women who were cherished as precious gems by their husbands.
Reflective Pie Paragraph
The PIE paragraph model has greatly helped me in developing paragraphs that are reasonable and logical. Prior to learning about the PIE paragraph model, I would blindly and haphazardly approach my writing process. After being given a topic, I would briefly consider what it entailed and then proceed to write without any organization. As a result, my paragraphs would lack persuasion and focus. Furthermore, I would often neglect to revise my work, resulting in the presence of fragment sentences and run-ons that would only be identified when my teacher marked them with a large red X.
Upon discovering the concept of the PIE paragraph model, I recognized the ease and organization it brought to my writing. Now, when presented with a topic, my first step is to conduct a brainstorm or free write to gather all pertinent information and words. Subsequently, I ensure that my chosen point of focus is neither too broad nor too narrow for the paragraph. To support my analysis, I place relevant examples immediately following the point. Nevertheless, a single example often lacks the persuasive power needed to reinforce the point.
In order to make the paragraph more impactful, I needed to provide two or three necessary examples. However, merely giving examples was not enough to support my point. I also had to establish a connection between the point and the information by explaining their relevance. For me, explanations were the crucial component of the paragraph and deserved more attention. Without a strong explanation, the paragraph would resemble a story that requires the reader to decipher my intended message.
Narrative Techniques Used In Pride And Prejudice Analysis
Throughout this passage from Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen utilises various narrative techniques. These include dialogic qualities (showing) and the use of third person narrative including focalisation and free indirect speech (telling). Both showing and telling work on different levels to further the reader’s interpretation of different characters and give meaning to the novel as a whole. The use of dialogue allows the reader to engage in conversations between characters, thus adding drama to the novel and also giving an insight into the personalities of those speaking.
In comparison, the use of telling permits the reader to observe the unspoken, private thoughts of characters and often allows for a deeper analysis of the novel. The passage begins with the story being told by the omniscient narrator, who describes the events from a third person perspective. However, as the events are concentrated around the actions of Elizabeth it can be said that she is being used as the focalizer; it is not only her actions which are being narrated but her feelings too.
See our comprehensive guide on How To Write A Narrative Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide
Austen’s technique of using focalization allows the reader to build up a relationship with Elizabeth so that we can better relate to, and sympathise with her feelings. As the reader sees much of Pride and Prejudice through Elizabeth’s eyes, it is with her that one of the strongest relationships is formed. The narrator’s choice of language in the first paragraph confirms Elizabeth’s feelings towards both Wickham and Darcy.
Describing it as a ‘refreshment’ to speak about Wickham illustrates her agreeable feelings for him, whereas, her ill feelings towards Darcy are highlighted when she is ‘left to fret over her own want of presence of mind’ when she accepts his invitation to dance. As a reader, we are unsure, at this point in the novel, the extent to which we are to believe Wickham’s words about Darcy, but, as much of the plot surrounding Wickham’s admissions has been focalized from Elizabeth’s point of view, we do lean towards her viewpoint.
After the scene has been set, the presence of the narrator gives way to a passage of dialogue between Elizabeth and Charlotte. This technique of showing allows the reader to become more involved with the character’s feelings and provokes the reader into a response. In unison with the first paragraph, Elizabeth’s prejudice against Darcy is clearly visible.
The numerous exclamation marks used by Elizabeth displays how strong her feelings against Darcy are and Austen’s choice of language ‘hate, misfortune, evil’ all emphasise further the negative light in which she views him. This considerable prejudice against Darcy is pivotal to the novel’s plot. The use of free indirect speech within the passage can be seen shortly after the dialogue between Elizabeth and Charlotte when Charlotte whispers to Elizabeth ‘not to be a simpleton and allow her fancy for Wickham to appear unpleasant in the eyes of a man ten times his consequence.
The effect of presenting this in narrative form rather than direct speech gives the sense of generalized opinion and through hearing these words through the narrative voice, we as a reader are more likely to trust and see truth in Charlotte’s words as we trust the narrator more than any character. Of course, as the novel develops, we learn how true these words actually are. The words spoken by Charlotte are of common opinion throughout the novel and are in keeping to the time period in which it is set.
The idea of men being judged by their material possessions and wealth is frequently demonstrated throughout the novel; Austen frequently refers to the male characters in terms of how much they earn a year. The Dialogue between Elizabeth and Darcy within the passage further reinforces Elizabeth’s prejudice against Darcy. While Darcy alludes to the formalities of the time period being quite cordial towards Elizabeth, she is barely civil, and her wit and irony is visible as she reveals her feelings for Wickham while poking fun at Darcy.
When describing Mr Wickham as being ‘unlucky’ to lose Darcy’s friendship, her satirical tone mocks Darcy’s preceding comments, however, subsequent reading of the novel show a deeper irony in Elizabeth’s misconceptions about both Wickham and Darcy. A further use of irony is visible when Elizabeth states ‘we (Elizabeth and Darcy) are each of an unsocial, taciturn disposition’ this of course, especially within this passage is totally unfounded, as while Darcy may remain reserved, Elizabeth behaves quite contradictory.
The use of silence proves as important as dialogue between the two characters in the passage as it serves to reveal Darcy’s feelings for Elizabeth which develop further as the novel unfolds. Although as a reader we remain sympathetic to Elizabeth’s feelings, Darcy’s good manners throughout the passage develop our compassion towards him. While all that Elizabeth says is ‘shown’ through dialogue, Darcy’s responses are via a combination of dialogue and 3rd person narrative; this, along with the use of silence, presents a sense of non-disclosure and we do not get establish Darcy’s real feelings until his letter to Elizabeth.
It is clear that Darcy’s silence only serves to make Elizabeth more incensed. To start with she only hints at her previous conversation with Wickham stating (on her opinion of Darcy) ‘I must not decide on my own performance’ when this is met by Darcy with silence, unable to resist temptation she brings Wickham into conversation as it clear she wishes Darcy to know of her information surrounding the two characters, even though this proves to be unfounded.
However sympathetic we may be towards Elizabeth at this point in the novel, it is worth noting that her emotional disposition makes us question the validity of her opinions, more so as very little judgment is made through the impartial narrator. However as this is a realist novel, the boundaries between the heroine and hero must be so great so that we can trust in the sincerity of their future and share their personal journeys with them. To conclude, Austen uses a variety of narrative techniques in the passage to provoke a variety of responses with the reader.
Both showing and telling provide the reader with all that they need to become involved with the characters and plot but just the right amount of information is withheld so that we are encouraged to read on. The underlying themes of both pride and prejudice are visible in the passage not just between Elizabeth and Darcy’s characters but the pride and prejudices of society at that time. Austen’s ability to overcome the prejudices that she creates between the hero and heroine imply that she views love as being separate from the views of society at the time and that love has a much greater power than money, social class or moral standing.