Patriarchal Oppression in Literature

This assignment examines how Margaret Atwood's *The Handmaid's Tale* and Emily Brontë's *Wuthering Heights* depict the complexities of female experiences within patriarchal societies. It analyzes the ways in which both novels portray the suppression of women's sexuality, agency, and freedom through societal norms and male dominance. Students are expected to compare and contrast the representations of female characters and the impact of patriarchy on their lives in both works.

Running head: PATRIARCHAL OPRESSION ON FEMININE NATURE
PATRIARCHAL OPRESSION ON FEMININE NATURE
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note
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The story of the Wuthering Heights is one of the greatest love stories of all the time by
Emily Bronte. The context of the story is based on the 18th century and the theme of the same is
more than one. The popularity and the greatness of the story lie in the depiction of its storyline
along with the unfolding of the plot. The basic theme of the story is the love and revenge which
is prevalent in all the stories from the same century. The underlying themes of the story similarly
attract the attention of the readers. From the secondary themes, the most predominant themes are
the gothic and patriarchal nature of the story. A deep and thorough reading of the story will
enable the reader to understand the theme and the tone of the same. However, the following
essay discusses the patriarchal oppression on the female sexuality as exposed in the story.
The Wuthering Heights is basically a portrayal of the romantic values, but the reflection
of the patriarchal values are predominant in the story and goes on oppressing the feminine
expression in the story. The male protagonist of the story is the Heathcliff, who is the major
projector of the masculine oppression and on the other hand another important male character,
Edgar Linton is another portrayer of the patriarchal thought. The portrayal of the patriarchal
nature of the male characters is majorly prevalent in Heathcliff who is seen taking revenge on his
lost love Catherine. The action and the motive of Heathcliff reflect the violence and revenge in
his nature (Tufan 2016). On the other hand, Linton depicts the patriarchal though his idealization
of the social class and status. The action of the male protagonist of the story can be mentioned as
the tyrannical dictatorship of the character (Petković 2012). However, it must be noted that the
violent and revengeful nature of Heathcliff is not seen at the beginning of the story and it is the
consequences of the unfair behavior towards him that made him a character with patriarchal
oppression. On the other hand, Edgar is different from Heathcliff in his projection of patriarchy.
The upbringing of Edgar is the reason the behind the characterization of him. The stereotypical

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and patriarchal social condition of the contemporary society is the driving cause that has made
the second male protagonist after Heathcliff, the dominator of the female urge and desire.
There are several female characters in the story including Catherine. The oppression of
the patriarchal nature of the females is evident from the depiction of the character of Catherine
with the progress of the story. Catherine is the female protagonist of the story who is the love
interest of Heathcliff. But stereotypical nature and the predominance of the masculinity in the
contemporary society have forced Catherine to marry Edgar who is another fine example of
patriarchy (Petković 2012). From the narration of the author of the Wuthering Heights, it is
evident that the status and the standards of the women in the society were determined by the
authority of the males.
Akcesme (2017) stated that “Catherine was forced to choose domesticity with an organic
connection with a civilized society, limiting herself to the male-defined female roles as the
follower and the carrier of the patriarchal culture.” The entire of the male in the society was wild
and violent and definitely oppressive on the females. In fact, the female wilderness was
dominated by the patriarchal reflective nature and Catherine is the appropriate and fine example
of the same. Catherine was forcefully transformed by the patriarchal dominance of Edgar. In this
regard, Nelly describes the transformation of the female protagonist of the novel as “from a wild,
hatless little savage” to “quite a beauty… a lady now”, which is not only the demonstration of
the physical appearance of Catherine, but also an important indication of her arrival into the adult
world (Tufan 2016). The dominant and patriarchal nature of Edgar and the prevalence of the
same on Catherine mark the cause for the transformation of her in terms o the socially correct
behavior and appearance. On the return of Heathcliff, he finds Catherine as a completely
changed woman. In this regard, the author says:

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“. . .] instead of a wild, hatless little savage jumping into the house, and rushing to squeeze us
all breathless, there 'lighted from a handsome black pony a very dignified person, with brown
ringlets falling from the cover of a feathered beaver, and a long cloth habit, which she was
obliged to hold up with both hands that she might sail in. ” (Brontë, 2008)
Edgar is the symbolic and perfect representation of the contemporary society which
stereotypes the woman sexuality and dominated them.
The socially correct behavior was the requirement of the male-dominated society for the
women in the same. The values of Edgar mirrored in Catherine after their marriage as the result
of the dominance of the masculinity in the contemporary society. Catherine herself admitted that
she has gone through a vast and deep transformation in marrying Edgar. After the return of
Heathcliff, Catherine says him, “If you wash your face, and brush your hair, it will be alright.
But you are so dirty”, which is a sharp contradiction to the childhood values of her. The
transformation of Catherine proves the predominance of the patriarchal thoughts and ideologies
in the contemporary society (Tufan 2016). The impact of the patriarchal constraints of Edgar
Linton projects a strong effect on Catherine and as the result of the effect Catherine is found to
be the victim of the constraints (Petković 2012). The social and mental condition of her
symbolises the imprisonment of her within the social stricture and values. On the return of
Heathcliff, the oppression of the patriarchy from the side of Edgar is increased as the male ego is
hurt by the reincarnation of the relationship of Catherine and Heathcliff. The relationship of
Heathcliff and Catherine was suppressed once Heathcliff is gone and Edgar and Catherine are
married. On the return of Heathcliff the patriarchal dominance of Edgar is increased and resulted
in the frustration and anger on Catherine. Catherine’s wild nature is changed due to the social

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requirements of the correct behaviour of the women in terms of the social acceptance of the
feminine nature.
On the other hand, the portrayal of the Heathcliff’s nature refers to the violence
and tyrannical aspect of the patriarchal society of the contemporary age. Heathcliff must be
marked as the most influential characters of all in the novel. The projection of the patriarchal
nature in Heathcliff is evident from his vengeful and oppressive activities with the other
characters in the story. Here also, the outcome of the oppressive nature of Heathcliff is due to
loss of his lady love, Catherine. The Heathcliff is the major and strong reflection of the male
dominance in the novel as he is violent as well as revengeful. The demonstration of the
patriarchal dominance in terms of Heathcliff proves the ethicality of the same in the
contemporary society.
Heathcliff presents various aspects of the patriarchy such as the ego, selfishness, tyranny,
violence, dominance and others. The tyrannical nature of Heathcliff on Catherine is another
distressing matter for her. The courtship of Heathcliff and Catherine presets the typical trapped
situation of Catherine. In addition, the love relationship of Catharine and Heathcliff is the reason
that made Heathcliff shows his resentment and the selfish nature as the result of the patriarchal
values of the society (Tufan 2016). The tyrannical nature was the predominant of all the
patriarchal aspects within Heathcliff. Catherine was the constant sufferer of the tortures of her
love interest both emotionally and physically. The loving nature of the father of Catherine on
Heathcliff makes him dominative on Catherine. However, Heathcliff did love Catherine, but the
values of the patriarchal society were such deeply rooted within him that behaved with an
oppressive and dominative nature on Catherine (Akcesme 2017). To a certain extent the
tyrannical and dominant nature of Heathcliff is the reason for which Catherine agreed to marry

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Edgar Linton. Catherine became the silent sufferer of the emotional torture of Heathcliff which
drove her to marry Edgar. The loving, sophisticated and gentle nature of her father made
Catherine a victim to the oppressive nature of Heathcliff and Edgar. In this regard, it can be said
that the nature of Heathcliff is the strong and sharp contradiction with the nature of the father of
the Catharine. The abusive nature of Heathcliff forces Catherine to oppress the native nature of
her. In addition, the male dominance of Heathcliff, as well as the society, forces Catherine to
take part in the hopeless predicament through the torture of her individualism.
On the other hand, Isabella is another fool who became the victim of the abusive nature
of Heathcliff. Heathcliff is cunning enough along with his selfish nature to employ the gravest
expression of his patriarchal thoughts and nature over Isabella. The love of Heathcliff for
Isabella was genuine but the marriage was a trap for her in which she was entangled. Isabella
believed Heathcliff and agrees to marry him, but the inner motive of Heathcliff was to take
revenge on Catherine as he thought she betrayed her. Here Heathcliff says to Catherine while she
is jealous of Isabella for being kissed by Heathcliff:
“What is it to you?" he growled. "I have a right to kiss her, if she chooses, and you have no
right to object. I am not your husband: you needn't be jealous of me!" (11.45)” (Brontë, 2008)
Isabella became the victim of the patriarchal dominance unknowingly. Heathcliff due to
the patriarchal oppressive nature of the society, took Isabella taken for granted as the wife.
Isabella though not physically abused by Heathcliff, was emotionally tortured by him. Therefore,
the cruelty of the male protagonist of the novel as well as the other male characters symbolises
the inner brutality of the contemporary society.

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The Handmaid Tale is another perfect depiction of the male dominated society. The
society of Gilead is presented here in the story of The Handmaid Tale which reflects the
miserable and distressing situation of the women of the esteemed society. The society is well
constructed with the dominance of the male and the oppression of female in the same (Haghi et
al. 2016). The characterization of Offred is the perfect representation of the condition of the
women in the male dominated society. The handmaid is basically the maid servant who is also
bound to serve the purpose of the sexual entertainment to the owners. In the chosen story, Offred
is a handmaid who is forced by the owner of the house to provide sexual pleasure to the husband
of the owner. This is a strong indication of the patriarchal impact on the female sexuality as well
as o the society. The condition and status o the women in the society of Gilead refer to the
confinement of the same within the social norms determined by the males of the society
(Kouhestani 2012). Not only the narrator is confined to the pathetic and suffocated situation of
the society, but also the women of higher class are equally the sufferer of the same. The
commander couple who are the owners of Offred is playing the role of the dominator in the in
the social context of Gilead. However, the wife of the commander, despite her belonging to the
upper class, is the equal sufferer of the insulting and oppressive outcome of the social norms.
The situation of Offred is pathetic because not only she is forced to have sexual
relationship with the owner of the house, but also she is unable to meet her love. The personal
values of the handmaid are buried by the patriarchal social values. The male domination is
evident and clear from the treatment of the commander with Offred in terms of the social control
and the class division. However, as stated above the class always did not ease the situation of the
women in the society. Gilead is the perfect representation of the dystopian society of
contemporary age. Atwood has succeeded in her narration of the male dominated society in

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which the female sexuality is oppressed profusely. The female characters of the Gilead are
symbolization of the dystopian world which is the reflection of the appropriate patriarchal
society (Haghi et al. 2016). At the same time, Offred is the mouthpiece of the author who is
again the narrator of the story. The story depicts such a society which objectifies the women as
well as their bodies as the material for sexual pleasures (Kouhestani 2012). The Handmaid Tale
is one of the good models of the docile society which demonstrates the complexities of both the
women and their bodies. The submission of the female sexuality created conflicts within the
character of Offred and she says:
“My nakedness is strange to me already. [...] Did I really wear bathing suits, at the beach? I
did, without thought, among men, without caring that my legs, my arms, my thighs and back
were on display, could be seen. Shameful, immodest. I avoid looking down at my body, not so
much because it's shameful or immodest but because I don't want to see it. I don't want to
look at something that determines me so completely. (12.4)” (Atwood 1985)
Therefore, the above discourse concludes that the dominance of the patriarchal nature and
ideologies are evident in the characterisation in Wuthering Heights. Emily Bronte has perfectly
presented the social condition of the women under the oppression of the males. The essay makes
it evident that the patriarchal nature of the men is deep rooted within them. Emily Bronte has
created the male characters of the story as the perfect representatives of the male dominated
society. The author has successfully portrayed the characters with different shades which enable
them to represent the abusive and negative nature of the society. At the same time, the distressed
condition of the females in the society is the result of the patriarchal outcome of the social norms
and structure. On the other hand, Atwood also depicts the pathetic condition of the female in
terms of the sexuality as the result of the patriarchal dominance. The narrator tactfully used the

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female protagonist, Offred as the mouthpiece of her and the symbolization of the victimized
women in the society. The Handmaid’s Tale by Atwood not only presents the face of the
patriarchal society but also portrays the dirty and tyrannical nature of the same. The domination
of the women by the male power removes the mask of the sophistication from people of the
upper class and shows the real face of the same. However, the Wuthering Heights is the
representation of the dominance of the women in terms of the socially correct behaviour and the
emotional torture. But The Handmaid’s Tale is the reflection of the suppression of the female
sexuality by the prevalence of the patriarchy.

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Reference:
Akcesme, Banu. "Fighting Back Against the Encroachment of Patriarchal Power on Female
Domains in Wuthering Heights." International Journal of Applied Linguistics and English
Literature6, no. 5 (2017): 27-40.
Atwood, Margaret. "The Handmaid’s Tale. 1985." New York: Anchor (1998): 317-21.
Brontë, Emily. Wuthering heights. Ignatius Press, 2008.
Haghi, Samira, Mahmood Reza Ghorban Sabbagh, and Zohreh Taebi Noghondari.
"Representation of Female Body in the Social Context of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s
Tale." (2016).
Kouhestani, Maryam. "Sexual Oppression and Religious Extremism in Margaret Atwood's the
Handmaid's Tale." International Proceedings of Economics Development and Research 56
(2012): 129.
Petković, Danijela. "Captive Bodies: Victorian Construction of Femininity in Wuthering Heights
and the Crimson Petal and the White." Gender Studies 11, no. Supplement (2012): 74-90.
Tufan, Zeynep. "Women’s Education in Inchbald’s A Simple Story and Brontë’s Wuthering
Heights: Feminist Consciousness, Desire and the Cult of Sensibility." Master's thesis, 2016.