Citra Dewi Saraswati Being Cunningham’s Women: The Portrayal of Women in Michael Cunningham’s

Being Cunningham’s Women: The Portrayal of Women in Michael Cunningham’s The Hours

by:

Citra Dewi Saraswati English Language and Literature Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia [email protected]

ABSTRACT This present study entitled Being Cunningham’s Women: The Portrayal of Women in Michael Cunningham’s The Hours is aimed to unearth the way in which Michael Cunningham, as a male author, portrays women in the novel The Hours. This study employs qualitative descriptive method coupled with textual analysis approach. It can be seen from the portrayal of women as the ones who are unconfident and exhausted in domestic sphere yet powerful enough to make their own decision to liberate themselves from the exhaustion caused by their life. In other words, Cunningham subverts Gubar’s (1980, cited in Lange, 2008) notion that male authors perceive women as “blank page.” With the benefit of stream of consciousness method, Cunningham has successfully portrayed women’s experience and their situation accurately while, at the same time, diffusing liberal feminism value in his work.

Keywords: Feminism, Liberal Feminism, Portrayal, Stream of Consciousness

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INTRODUCTION conducted by Roger (1996), Miner Most portrayal of life from female (1997), and Ruunaniemi (2001). point of view in literature is written Roger (1996) conducted an analysis by women authors (Lange, 2008, p. of how women are portrayed in Ian 1). However, male authors too have McEwan’s fictions. From her study, written fictions about women and it is concluded that, in some of some of them ‘have attempted to see McEwan’s fictions, women are life from a woman’s perspective’ portrayed in a way that ‘encapsulates (ibid.). Feminism has been the idea of Simone de Beauvoir, that suspicious towards fictions written the construction of woman as by male authors as they provide incidental to man and only reference feminine idealization that, ‘through to man can be accepted by woman’ the centuries, have served as (Roger, 1996, p. 11). It is due to the propaganda to keep women in their fact that during his adolescence, he place’ (Williamson, 2001, p. 2). In had a little knowledge of girls since her extended essay, he was sent to all-boys boarding argues that female characters school. This research is similar to featured in early literary works such that of Ruunaniemi (2001) which is as Sophocles’, Shakespeare’s, concerned with the portrayal of Tolstoy’s, Flaubert’s ‘have burnt like women in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s beacons…lacking in personality and fictions throughout his literary character’ (Woolf, 1929), giving an career. The study shows that the impression that male authors have portrayal of women in F. Scott never been portraying female Fitzgerald fictions changes accurately and attempt to either make throughout time. In his early fictions, themselves feeling superior or make Fitzgerald portrays women as the women ‘completely insignificant’ ones who aspire to acquire personal (ibid.). liberation and want to be free, while Some research regarding the in his later works Fitzgerald portrays way male authors portray women in ‘women who actively work to reach their work of fiction have been that goal’ (Ruunaniemi, 2001, p.

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116). However, his later works whose stories are intertwined in the shows some sensitiveness in the end of the novel. Written by a male condition of women while portraying American novelist, Michael the yearning for independent in some Cunningham, each of the stories tells aspects such as financial, education, ‘the experience of a particular and occupation field. woman during the course of one day’ Miner (1997) has also (Nogueira, 2009, p. 32). The Hours is conducted an analysis of how Andre opened with a prologue which later is Dubus wrote about women in his followed by three narrative threads. short stories. Miner discussed about They are Mrs. Woolf’s section where women’s voice and women’s (‘fictional but entirely plausible’ experience represented in the three (Wood, 1998)) Virginia Woolf writes works of Dubus – Anna, Leslie in her Mrs. Dalloway while longing for California, and Rose – that focus London lifein the end of World War intently on female characters. The I Richmond; Mrs. Brown section study shows that in Dubus’ stories where a housewife Laura Brown the female characters are in an prepares a party for her husband’s attempt to establish ‘herself as birthday in 1950s America; and Mrs. herself’ (ibid., p. 20), meaning that Dalloway section where Clarissa each of these women is portrayed as Vaughan, nicknamed Mrs. Dalloway, autonomous individual who seeks an editor living in the end of 20th her identity through the events she century New York is preparing a experiences. party for her AIDS-striken friend. One of works written by These women have a similarity: they contemporary male author that are experiencing an existential focuses on the life of women and anguish that makes them rethink and women’s experience is The Hours. reconsider the choices they had made Published in 1998, The Hours is a in their life. In the end of the novel, Pulitzer Prize winning novel that the readers are made known that tells about three different women those women are connected in a way from different historical periods

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they are writer, reader, and character The reason why liberal of the novel Mrs. Dalloway. feminism is chosen as the guidance Cunningham uses stream of of this study is because it mainly consciousness narrative method in focuses on gender equality in society. The Hours. Stream of consciousness Its root can be traced back to a method refers to the presentation of publication written by Mary characters thoughts as they continue Wollstonecraft in 1792. In her work, to act in the fiction. This method she noted that biological differences gives the reader insight of what is between women and men should not going on in characters’ mind and be used as ‘the basis for differential what emotional process they feel rights and roles’ (Sample, 2006, p. (Humphrey, 1954; Barnes, n.d.; 334). She also asserted that access to Lethbridge & Mildorf, 2004). The education is necessary for women in method is commonly used by order to enhance their rationality so modernist novelist such as James that they can be more productive as Joyce, Virginia Woolf, William fully responsible moral agents (ibid.). Faulkner, and Dorothy Richardson. Echoing Wollstonecraft, John To a great extent, The Hours is Stuart Mill and his later wife, Harriet actually based on Virginia Woolf’s Taylor (Mill), also gave Mrs. Dalloway, and said as contributions in the study of liberal Cunningham’s act of homage to the feminism. Even though their later novel (Schiff, 2004, p. 365). approach to liberal feminism is Unlike the previous studies slightly different, they basically that have been mentioned above, this focus on equality between husband study takes one work written by a and wife in domestic sphere. male author as the object of the study In terms of women’s while using the framework theory of condition in domestic sphere, Betty liberal Feminism as a guidance to Friedan also plays an important role achieve the goal of this study. in the study of liberal feminism. Her contribution in feminist literature has made her elected as the first

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president of the National ‘assumed to be the final judge of Organization of Women (NOW) in their own interest’ (Sample, 2006, p. the United States. She believed that 333) and promotes the liberty for even though sexual equality and both sexes to decide their sexual women’s rights have been orientation and partners (ibid. p. acknowledged, women still suffered 334). from ‘the problem that has no name’ which refers to the sense of METHODOLOGY dissatisfaction experienced by most This study tries to reveal the suburban housewives in 20th century depiction of women in America (Freidan, 1963; Tong, 2006, Cunningham’s The Hours. To meet p. 28). In her later book, The Second the aim of the study, the data in the Stage, she urged both sexes to ‘work form of text are collected. Therefore, toward anandrogynous future in it makes this study qualitative in which all human beings manifest nature. Then, the technique of textual both traditionally masculineand analysis is adopted to complement traditionally feminine traits’ (Tong, the methodology. It includes textual 2006, p. 32). This notion is supported evidences that are gathered through by psychologist point of view multiple close-readings. Secondary assuming that androgynous person sources such as previous research who possesses both good masculine regarding women’s portrayal in and feminine traits are believed to be fictions, journals, and books related more effective and functioning as a to the subject being investigated are human being (Bem, 1989). also taken into account. Moreover, Based on these figures’ theoretical framework of liberal thoughts, in short, liberal feminism feminism is used as guidance to seeks to emphasize equal right and achieve the goal of the study. They liberation for both women and men are all analyzed in order to answer regardless their sexual differences. the research question. This form of feminism also underlines that educated women are

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FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION the kitchen, she stops only to feel WOMEN’S PORTRAYAL IN that she has no idea how to act in THE HOURS front of her husband and son (The Based on the finding of textual Hours, p. 43). evidences in the novel, the study Still within domestic sphere, revealed that womenare portrayed in Cunningham also portrays women as the level of main female characters’ the ones who are not being their true attitude in domestic sphere, main self. This can be seen from main female characters’ traits, and main female characters’ thoughts about female characters’ decision/action themselves around their domestic towards self-liberation by the author domain. For example, when Clarissa in the novel The Hours. is left alone in her apartment, she In regards to main female feels that her life she has built with characters’ attitude in domestic Sally, her partner, is not satisfying sphere, Virginia, Laura and Clarissa because it makes her feel like she is are identified as the ones who are not herself (The Hours, p. 92). This unconfident in performing domestic also happens to both Virginia and tasks and the ones who feel that they Laura. From the description in the are not their true self. It can be seen novel, Laura is described as the from the way the author presents the ‘bookworm, the foreign-looking one emotional process and thoughts of with the dark, close-set eyes and the the characters through the use of Roman noses, who had never been indirect interior monologue. The sought after or cherished; who had author, as the heterodiegetic narrator, always been left alone, to read’ (The guides the reader through the flow of Hours, p. 40). The reason why Laura characters’ consciousness with his married Dan is because it is her duty, commentary and description of the since Dan (an ex-soldier) has fought events. However, he remains close to for the country in the World War II the characters’ subjective perception. and saved the world. However, it is For example, when Laura Brown is actually not what she really wants. descending the stairs on her way to This feeling is shared by Virginia

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when she feels that Richmond makes Meanwhile, the characters’ her not her true self. It is because masculine traits can be seen from the living in Richmond is not something way they decide on something. she wants. She wants to live in Virginia is described as firm and London but her illness causes her to ambitious for her work as a writer; move to quieter environment. All of Clarissa and Laura are able to make female characters’ feeling about their own conscious decision without themselves is presented by the author others’ interference or influence. in a great detail through the use of Thus, these good masculine and indirect interior monologue. feminine traits complement each In terms of traits possessed other, indicating that Cunningham by women characters, Cunningham supports Friedan notion about portrays them as the ones who androgynous individuals. While possess good feminine traits such as Fitzgerald and McEwan are rather nurturing, gentle, and tactful; as well hostile and misogynistic in treating as good masculine traits such as their female characters in their early ambitious, firm, and independent. fiction, Cunningham constructs his Virginia, Laura, and Clarissa have characters according to the value of both good feminine side and good liberal feminism claiming that masculine side. Their good feminine individuals, be it women or men, traits can be seen from the way they should ‘work toward anandrogynous treat others. For example, as a future in which all human beings mother, Laura makes sure that she is manifest both traditionally gentle with her son; as a good friend, masculineand traditionally feminine Clarissa tends Richard through his traits’ (Tong, 2006, p. 32). illness and brings flowers to cheer Moreover, the notion of him, which shows her as a nurturing androgyny does not only apply to person; as a housewife, Virginia is female characters. Cunningham also tactful in terms of taking care of constructs his male characters in The others’ feeling. Hours as androgynous, having and showing certain good feminine traits.

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Dan Brown, Richard ‘Richie’ Brown, respect of personhood and Louis Walter are (Schwartzman, 2006). Cunningham male characters who show some acknowledges this notion by traits that are associated with female portraying his characters as the ones such as nurturing, sensitive and who work towards their self- emotional. Dan Brown, Laura’s liberation. They want to escape their husband, shows nurturing trait when exhaustion and dissatisfaction by he is with his son in the kitchen, acting on something they are willing serving breakfast and ‘ministering to to do so they can be happy, if not Richie’ (The Hours, p. 38). Leonard free. This is in line with the notion of Woolf is also portrayed as “the liberal feminism stated by Mill husband who has nurtured her (1869) which calls to all individuals, (Virginia) through her worst regardless their sex, to pursue their periods.” Louis Walter, Clarissa’s own desire so that one’s happiness friend, exhibits emotional can be maximally attained (Mill, characteristic as he weeps during the 1869, cited in Tong, 2009). Virginia, conversation with Clarissa about the Laura and Clarissa strive for their person he is in love with. He does so happiness by doing something about because he is suddenly taken by the it. It’s a walk to a train station for ‘spasms of emotion’ (The Hours, p. Virginia; a trip to local hotel for 134). While, Richard “Richie” Laura; and a decision to live freely Brown shows his sensitive aspects without Richard (her former lover) and his appreciation of details in the for Clarissa. Unlike most canonical novel he wrote. male authors who portray women as Other level of women’s merely sexual object (LeBihan, portrayal in the novel is main female 1999), Cunningham shows his ability characters’ decision/action towards to comprehend that women are not self-liberation. Self-liberation is merely sexual entities, but rather as essential in liberal feminism as it is a persons who have their own symbol of the acknowledgement of autonomy. one’s individual choice and equal

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In general, Cunningham has Laura, the author mostly uses portrayed unconfident and exhausted indirect interior monologue, showing women in domestic sphere yet they Laura’s emotional process and are powerful enough to make their thoughts towards the given events as own decision to liberate themselves she feels unconfident doing certain from the exhaustion caused by their things related to domestic tasks such life. Women are constantly portrayed as being a housewife and a mother. as the ones who are having what Cunningham’s ways of Friedan calls as “problem with no portraying women in The Hours is name”; when women feel the sense different from those of most of dissatisfaction among the canonical male authors who make comfortable life they have built women insignificant in their fictions (Friedan, 1963). This can be seen in (Woolf, 1929). In contrary to those their attitude within the domestic canonical male authors, Cunningham sphere where they feel unconfident makes his female characters and being not their true self. This significant through his commitment portrayal is more apparent in Mrs. to “woman’s autonomy and a Brown section where Cunningham recognition of her individual and successfully illustrates the feminine independent importance” (Claridge& mystique discussed by Friedan. Langland, 1990, p. 3). While women However, Cunningham does not tell are mostly stereotypically portrayed about a woman who falls to the trap as sex objects in fictions by most of suburban comfort or the canonical male authors, Cunningham traditional belief that women should portrays women as autonomous glory in their feminity. Rather he individuals who have control over vividly pictures the unidentified their decision. problem experienced by suburban Some theorists like Gardiner women in 1950s America like that (1980) claims that the lives discussed by Friedan in her The experienced by men and women are Feminine Mystique. In order the different in “profound and regular reader to feel the sympathy for ways” so that it affects the depiction

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of gender in their writing (Gardiner, characters’ perspective, presenting to 1980 cited in Lange, 2008). On the the reader the insight into the main other hand, Gubar (1980) claims that female characters’ mind. This men perceive women as “blank narrative detail that Cunningham page” and that in literary works male employs seems to give the reader authors create something outside who stumbles upon his writing an themselves (Gubar, 1980, cited in assumption that the author of the Lange, 2008). However, those claims story is female. Cunningham remains do not apply to Cunningham in his subjective in terms of the female The Hours. Neither does characters’ perception of given Cunningham try to define what it is events. Humphrey (1954) argues that like to be a woman nor does he treat the authors using stream of women as “blank page.” Rather, he consciousness method in their bases his writing on real women’s fictions are ‘trying to depict life experience as depicted in Friedan’s accurately’ and ‘the life they were The Feminine Mystique and his concerned with was the individual’s interpretation of the lives of Virginia psychic life’ (Humphrey, 1954 p. 9). Woolf and on the character Clarissa Therefore, with the benefit of stream Dalloway in Woolf’s Mrs. Dalloway. of consciousness method, Finally, the ability of Cunningham has successfully Cunningham in portraying women portrayed women’s experience and has everything to do with his their situation accurately while, at the employment of stream of same time, diffusing liberal feminism consciousness method. Cunningham value in his work. portrays women’s exhaustion and dissatisfaction with complexity and CONCLUSION in such great details. The stream of To conclude, this study has answered consciousness method, especially the the research question pondered in the indirect interior monologue previous section. It is discovered that technique allows Cunningham to Cunningham shows the issues remain in the three female discussed in liberal feminism by

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portraying women in the level of the ones who are capable of acting or attitudes within domestic sphere, making decision towards their own traits, and the act/decision towards self-liberation. This includes acting self-liberation. out of their will and finding an Cunningham escape to gain freedom from the illustrates how women can be exhaustion they feel in the domestic unconfident in doing domestic tasks domain they inhibit. This is in line and how they are being not their true with liberal feminism value where self within the domestic sphere they individuals, be it men or women, inhibit. By this portrayal, he must pursue their own desire so that illustrates how domestic sphere can one’s happiness can be maximally be very exhausting and agitating for attained (Mill, 1869, cited in Tong, women. This illustration conforms 2009). Betty Friedan’s view on women who Lastly, it can be said that are having ‘the problem with no these portrayals of women in the name’. novel are different from that of most Cunningham supports liberal feminist critics claim. The author feminist belief that human being shows women’s dissatisfaction and should work towards androgynous exhaustion with complexity and in future by portraying women in The great details.Liberal feminism values Hours as androgynous persons who are found within the novel. As the possess good feminine and masculine result, with the benefit of stream of traits. The good feminine traits that consciousness method, the author has women in The Hours possess are successfully written women’s nurturing, gentle, and tactful. At the experience and their situation same times, the women in the novel without being hostile and also possess good masculine traits misogynistic. such as ambitious, firm, and independent. Besides being androgynous, women in the novel are portrayed as

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