Nora’s first sexual act occurred when she had an affair with a sloppy married man in an alley. This experience was not a shame for Nora. Nora only explored life in this way. “Patriarchy requires women to remain chaste. Men have the right to satisfy sexual desire, while women’s sexual behavior is confined in marriage.” (2011)135 But for Nora it is different. Nora did whatever she wanted. She was never confined by patriarchy. She dared to face up to her sexual needs. Even if this man was not the ideal partner, as long as she liked, she would get it regardless of everything. In sexual behavior, she did not regard herself as an object to endure silently, but enjoyed the fun. “She would have him, by hook or by crook. She had a passion to know about Life, all its dirty corners, and this is how she started, in at the deep end, for better or worse” (1992)87. For Nora, the first sexual act was just her attempt. It didn’t matter who she was with. The important thing is that Dora could control her body and did what she wanted to do, so as to obtain a certain sense of pleasure and meet her desires. The body is just a tool for her to know about sex.
Chapter 6 Conclusion
There are many unique spatial features in Wise Children. First, Carter uses the nonlinear narration in the novel, which makes the narrative space broader and richer. Plots are juxtaposed and several stories are interspersed in this work at the same time, which makes it more colorful. It also enriches the text and creates a more far-reaching and broad narrative space through the coexistence of introspection and narration. The mental space of the heroine is broader and the changes on Dora’s growth is revealed.
Second, three physical spaces in novel including 49 Bard Road, theater and Lynde Court are essential on Carter’s feminist thoughts in this work. Women show their strength and charm in these places. They are independent, confident, brave and united in these spaces. Through the description of people and things in these spaces, it reflects the heroine’s gradual development of female consciousness, personal growth and a clearer understanding of patriarchy. By describing Dora and Nora’s life on 49 bard road and their performance in theater, Carter advocates that woman must maintain economic and spiritual independence. Wonderful friendship between women is also showed here. Through these events in physical space, Carter shows women’s good qualities and constructs a female dominated family.
Last but not least. Carter creates a distinctive gender space between male and female in the novel. In such a space, Female characters can actively control their bodies and emotions. They take practical actions to subvert the patriarchal society and strive for their own voice. These female characters are warm, enthusiastic, brave and free. However, Male may be stared at, materialized, abandoned and betrayed. In such characterization and plot development, the female space in the works has been expanded and the male space has been squeezed. Several times of incest in the novel express women’s complaints and dissatisfaction with patriarchy. Carter subverts the patriarchy society and constructs a unique gender space to express her pursuit of gender equality and harmony.
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