Sex and Sexuality Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Sex and Sexuality - Essay Example No 'good' woman should or would explore her sensuality or sexuality, nor ever imply a sexual need. Men too, were expected to conform to 'gentlemanly' ways, not giving in to lust, honoring the purity of their womenfolk. The hypocrisy lies in the fact that these same gentlemen considered it acceptable to use prostitutes, after all, such women were neither Madonna nor virgin, merely tools to ease their discomfort Both pieces of writing are powerful revelations as to how this repressive state affected both men and women. They go far in providing insight into the minds of both sexes as people try to deal with the universal and timeless truth of human sexuality. Fowles devotes a whole chapter to the matter (Chapter 35). In these pieces, it is almost as though a lid is taken off a shining box, clean and perfect on the outside (the facade of moral Victorian society); the truth exposed shows us On reading Browning's powerful, dramatic monologue, the words "snuff movie" came to mind. I read and re-read, then examined it in the light of the Victorian era. Here is a lonely, miserable individual, on a rainy, windy night, no fire in him or his surroundings - then Porphyria comes: 'She shut out the cold and the storm And kneeled and made the cheerless grate Blaze up, and all the cottage warm.' (Browning, Lines 7-9) The actions of then removing her garments, showing him her bare skin, putting his arm around her, all contain elements of seduction; she is teasing him, behaving like a prostitute, not the lady she is. 'And spread over all, her yellow hair, Murmuring how she loved me.' (Browning, Lines 20-21) ... 'She shut out the cold and the storm And kneeled and made the cheerless grate Blaze up, and all the cottage warm.' (Browning, Lines 7-9) The actions of then removing her garments, showing him her bare skin, putting his arm around her, all contain elements of seduction; she is teasing him, behaving like a prostitute, not the lady she is. 'And spread over all, her yellow hair, Murmuring how she loved me.' (Browning, Lines 20-21) He thinks she is too proud or concerned with another to give herself to him, but she does. 'But passion sometimes would prevail.' (Browning, Line 25) I confess that in reading the following lines, I considered Porphyria to be behaving in an overtly sexual manner and the meaning translates to me that her love is sexually aroused, not just surprised but shocked and somewhat disgusted. 'So, she was come through wind and rain. Be sure I looked up at her eyes Happy and proud; at last I knew Porphyria worshipped me: surprise Made my heart swell, and still it grew While I debated what to do.' (Browning, Lines 29-34) I would contend that not only his heart swelled, seeing her happy and proud eyes and the physical effect on him, her wanton behavior, caused him to either respond in deep disgust at both of them, or 3. made him lose his sanity at the 'horror' of what they were doing. Put in the context of Victorian morality, these two are committing a grievous sin against society and God. She has become like a whore, a temptress, and the cause of his downfall, so he must punish her, remove the cause of his guilt. Porphyria has dared to express and act upon her sexuality; doing so has destroyed her lover's illusions, even