“The day when it will be possible for women to love not in their weakness but in their strength, not to escape but to find themselves, not to to lower herself but to assert herself, that day love will become for her, as for man, a source of life and not of mortal danger. Simone de BeauvoirSay no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Maya Angelou's poem, "Men" is an exceptional example of helplessness in the face of power and it skillfully takes us into the mindset of a woman who has undoubtedly been a victim of society dominated by men. The poem very well communicates to us the complex complexity of our vulnerable need as men as well as the deep divergence of our characters. The subject and the way in which he treats it confirm the height of the poet's maturity and her remarkable ability to represent the thoughts of her body as well as the functioning of her mind. She attempted to reveal the callous, bitter and ruthless nature of men through a hidden contract that showcases the delicacy, innocence and patience of women. The “non-significant other” of the first stanza seems to be fully exposed to the bitterness of life towards the end of the poem. Bearing in mind Lacan's concept that "entry into the symbolic order, the structure of language, is different for boys and girls" and also focusing on the fact that poststructuralist feminist theory highlights "the category or position "woman" within the framework of a binary opposition, "man/woman", in which "man" is the preferred term", we can take a look at the poem and get a very vivid idea of ​​it . We must also remember that the goal of feminists is to deconstruct this “man/woman” binary, and all the other binaries that reinforce and highlight it, such as “masculine/feminine, good/evil, light/dark, positive/ feminine”. negative, culture/nature, etc. The “phallogocentric culture” we live in more values ​​left-sided terms while viewing right-sided terms as “other” or undesirable. Women's experiences and their representation differ enormously from those of men. Feminists believed it was important to develop a specifically feminine consciousness based on women's experiences rather than emphasizing "conventional masculine theories of reading, writing and criticism". Known as “gynocriticism” (a term coined by feminist scholar Elaine Showalter), this “feminine model of literary analysis” offers four directions for evaluating a certain text that we would apply to the poem. The first direction takes us to the “images of the female body” of the poem. According to Bresslor, female writers use “anatomical imagery” to present their complex themes. For example, breasts have always been a controversial topic in feminism, as they constitute, so to speak, our “main” sexual attraction. This is a dilemma for feminism: on the one hand, breasts are something that declares us women; but on the other hand, men like breasts so they are dirty and nasty. The image of “breasts” here suggests the innocence and vulnerability of young girls in the face of the probable and expected misdeeds of society (obviously, through exploitation by the dominant sex). We sense here a kind of vain satisfaction from the possession of breasts when Maya compares the “high” shoulders of men with “the breasts of a young girl”. The Second direction, which is indeed very interesting for the Examination of this poem brings us to the type of "language" used by Maya. The choice of words for men and women differs greatly and we canclearly observe that harsh and arrogant vocabulary is used for men while women are treated in a very fragile and pious manner. Although we are told that it is the woman who spies on the men "behind the curtains", watching them walk down the street, we are left with the impression that the real "spy" is the man. seizing the “defenseless” woman and finally “breaking” her into pieces. Words like "mustard-sharp young men" with "high" shoulders suggest male power, emphasizing and supporting Western culture's assumption that "males are superior to females and are therefore better thinkers." , more rational, more serious and more thoughtful. than women. » The fragility of the tender sex is further reinforced by the dramatic illustration of the manipulation of women by men. The similes and similes as well as the vocabulary used clearly confirm that the poet's gender is female. We can trace a number of images that refer to cooking and kitchen utensils. Phrases such as "sharp as mustard", "hungry for 'em", "last raw egg" and "chef of a cooking match" are obvious examples of vocabulary used by women. It is not that such vocabulary cannot be used by men, but the way it is used unconsciously here in this poem is undoubtedly a woman's effort. The third and most significant direction suggested by gynecology is to assess the “female psyche” and its connection to the writing process. We need to look at some of the concepts instilled in the minds of women about men to trace and evaluate the female psyche hidden behind this poem. Women everywhere fear men. They are strong, powerful and blessed with the ability to exploit women at any time. They treat women ruthlessly, are deceptive and vile towards them, and lack loyalty in their relationships. The poem references all these concepts in a captivating way. It seems obvious that she had a traumatic and unforgettable experience with men or a man. The only power she seems to have over men is that of standing behind the "curtain", which, obviously, isn't much. The curtain, here, could symbolize various things, including virginity, distance, oblivion and innocence. The need for a man in a woman's life is obvious and the poet is aware of this because she knows she is "starving" for him, but ultimate fear keeps her behind the "curtain" because she has a vague knowledge of deceptive nature. of man too. She knows that as long as she is behind the curtain, she is relatively safe from this man's tyranny. The further she is from the “center” man, the more likely she is to be “slippery,” “fluid,” “less fixed” and “playful.” Another image that “Men are always going somewhere” refers to the universal characteristic of men that they are never satisfied with just one thing. No matter what they have, they are always looking to learn more. Having fully utilized (read exploited) the bodies of these "insane entities", they conveniently move on, leaving behind the "broken" existences with the bodies "slammed" and devoid of any keys. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. .Get a personalized essay now from our expert writers.Get a custom essayThe influence of culture and society on a woman's understanding of herself and her environment is the fourth direction we must examine according to gynocriticism. Society's mores and traditions are so overwhelming specifically for women.