Gates Of Ivory Essay Research Paper English

Gates Of Ivory Essay, Research Paper

English 109

Gates of Ivory

In a world surrounded by war, death, and atrocity, it sometimes seems as if there is nowhere positive for the characters in the Gates of Ivory by Margaret Drabble to turn. In the mist of these bad images Drabble juxtaposes a unique view into the world of women.s reproduction and menstruation that has rarely been revealed in other novels. She shows that menstruation exposes feelings ranging from liberation and empowerment in Alix Bowen, to shame, disgust and sorrow in Mme. Savet Akrun. Drabble identifies similarities between women on both sides of the world, and between reproduction and women combating the death of the world.s war. Yet throughout these hard times and uncertainties, the women in the novel show their strength and power because they hold the key to keeping mankind alive: reproduction.

Alix.s outward expressions greatly exemplify what a lot of the women in the novel want to be. They want to feel the control that Alix displays over her body. Unfortunately for Alix, this feeling is not true on the inside. Alix holds a great deal of uncertainty and insecurity within herself. This feeling of inadequacy began in early childhood. Alix feels the need to be a savior, a protector and an activist. She wants to do .important. and .worthy. things, but she can never live up to her own standards. In childhood, when her pet tortoise dies, she is .terrified, [and] after a few days summoned up courage to approach the immobile shell.. (194). The thought of not being able to help the tortoise, or save him, crushed Alix. She shows how vulnerable she is to failure, question and doubt. If everything is not perfect, Alix.s sense of control in a situation disappears. The same feelings possess Alix in her adult life. She constantly strives for the betterment of something, particularly women.s menstrual protection, but she feels confused and scared when she becomes even the slightest bit unsure about it. She says, .I used to contend that if the tampon had been invented a few thousand years earlier, the whole history of womanhood would have been different. Now I.m not so sure.(156). Alix attests that women.s rights, like tampons, are on .the onward march of progress. and are .the liberator of womankind., but what this progress and liberation will bring puzzles Alix (155; 156). The fact that there is no plan on exactly how to solve the problem scares Alix. Alix needs concrete plans in order to be secure with the ideas, Otherwise there is no guarantee of success, which terrifies Alix. But even with all the insecurities, others view Alix as a strong, liberated, independent woman. On the inside she lacks the self-assurance to be assertive as she is on the outside. She speaks with strong words, but does not know how to carry out the high expectations she and others have for her. Drabble uses Alix to exemplify both the capable, independent side, and the unsure, dependent side of a woman. By doing this, she highlights both the power and the vulnerability in women.

For much of the novel Drabble hides Liz.s womanly side from the reader. It is not until in the heart of Southeast Asia and the center of chaos that her menstruation reappears and sends her on a whole new journey. At first glance she is .appalled. and it is a .shock. (377). This attests to her surprise and disbelief, but throughout the situation her sanity remains intact. While on her long journey in search of female protection, Liz searches through her purse and encounters .Some safety pins, a paper clip, some wooden toothpicks. A cheque book and a sea shell. An unidentifiable white pill and a rubber band.[And] Some bits of fluff. (378). This long list of things, among others, shows how willing and open Liz allows others into her life. Liz.s journey through her purse juxtaposes her journey through Southeast Asia. There are so many things that could distract Liz on her journey, but Liz remains focused on the search for Stephen. When she discovers her period, distractions loom everywhere, yet protection remains in the forefront of her mind. She encounters a whirlwind of emotions and bleeding controls her thoughts, she can do nothing else. Liz focuses her efforts to one cause and they remain there. This is a strength Liz uses to maintain her sanity in such chaotic conditions. Even with the most unlikely of things occurring, Liz keeps her sanity and control intact and perseveres through the situations. The situation does not make her paranoid, it does not even seem to phase her. Drabble uses Liz to show the capacity of women and their determination through trying times. Even with the biggest of distractions, women remain focused and capable of anything.

Unlike Alix Bowen or Liz Headeland, Mme. Savet Akrun feels not only pride about her menstruation, but also shame and sorrow. Both she and the women in her village have had very dramatic experiences with their cycles, and the poverty and the violence only help to accentuate the problems that they have had. The women in her village have had to become very in tune with their bodies and their cycles because of the problems they have with finding protection. Unfortunately, as Mme. Akrun says, this has led many women to .choose to cease to menstruate. (153). Drabble shows that it is a sense of depression, the women cannot anticipate the actions of their bodies, when they bleed, they cannot prote