Control is like a spiderweb. When you have control over the spiderweb, the prey is within your grasp. But just like control, it is easy to break and take advantage of. Everyone has control, but it depends on how willing one is to exert their control on others. Throughout history we see a pattern of male dominance, limiting the level of control a female has over herself and others. Women were considered inferior to men and therefore had limited freedoms. Jane Austen once wrote “I hate to hear you talk about all women as if they were fine ladies instead of rational creatures. None of us want to be in calm waters all our lives.” (Austen). Women were expected to portray a certain image in front of others and as Austen wrote, they were often not considered rational creatures because of their limited public behavior. In Charlotte Temple by Susan Rowson, it appears men hold more power over the females, resulting in the main character’s inability to make decisions as she loses control over herself.
The main character, Charlotte Temple, has control over herself but struggles to exercise her autonomy in front of her love interest, Montraville, due to the isolated environment she grew up in. Charlotte spent her early life depending on others, thereby limiting any control she had and allowing others to take advantage of her. I believe this theme is expressed best in two separate parts of the story. The first is when Charlotte stands up to Montraville claiming she cannot leave her parents for him. Montraville starts manipulating her and physically lifts her into the chaise, completely eliminating any control she tried exerting over Montraville in the beginning (Rowson 39). Montraville was fully exercising his control over Charlotte, completely obliterating any chance she had of taking control of herself. But I believe the turning point of this story, when Charlotte was able to take this control back, was when she was lying on her deathbed. In the novel, as Charlotte is collapsed in her fathers arm, says “in a low voice, for her child; it was brought to her; she put it in her fathers arms. “Protect her” said she, and bless your dying –” (Rowson 102). She was able to confidently speak her mind knowing she was dying saying “protect her” firmly, instead of requesting her father. She stated it firmly which moved her father and in the end her wish was carried out and her child was raised by her parents. Her death also was a significant event because it made Montraville lose control over himself. Charlotte was able to leave with a strong impact on others and unknowingly exercised her wishes on others.
I am not surprised by how the novel limits the female character’s control over themselves because this is a common pattern prevalent throughout history. From personal experience I know that it is common that men have a lot of control over women. In my family, my mother and past generations grew up in a patriarchal society. Therefore, even to this day, my mother struggles to stand up to men because those cultural beliefs were ingrained in her mind. My sister and I on the other hand did not grow up with these beliefs. I believe our father’s passing at age eight had a huge impact on our mindset because we grew up with only my mother as our role model. My sister and I respect men, but do not let them take control and influence our actions. My uncle tries to control my family, and while the rest of the women allow for this to happen, my sister and I stand our ground. Only recently, in the American society, have females been able to take control and take on positions outside of the household. It is less common for women to tend to the home and for men to go out and earn money. Women have also been able to take on more leadership positions, not only becoming heads of their respective households, but rising to success in politics, more access to educational resources, and women have control over their own body. Due to modern developments, I believe this theme will still exist, but will become less prevalent in society because men do not have the same control they once did over women. Not only men, but most parents believe it is important for children to make their own decisions. Therefore adolescents’ beliefs on control have improved significantly, most adolescents value their autonomy and do not give up control, which I believe has already started impacting recent written works. In modern writing, women are not perceived as helpless and have control over their life; Women and men are treated much more equally now. Adolescents have been able to stand their ground and gain control of themselves.
References:
Austen, Jane. “A Quote from Persuasion.” Goodreads, Goodreads, http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/105565-i-hate-to-hear-you-talk-about-all-women-as.
Rowson, Susanna. Charlotte Temple. New York, E. Duyckinck, 1814.
Sindhu Avadhanula
Representing Adolescence @ Pitt 