Paper #1 Heidi Holland and Feminism in The Heidi Chronicles Wendy Wasserstein The Heidi Chronicles attempts to demonstrate the futility of the womens rights movement, and its incapacity to fulfill the needs of all women. We trace the main character, Heidi, from the time she develops an interest in men, 1964, to the time where she gives up on men and decides to fulfill her own needs for a family by adopting a child. Wasserstein shows the infiltrating changes in the life of American women with humor and sentimentality. Trapped between the controlling factors of responsibility and love, men and motherhood, gender and political theory, Heidi and her friends search for understanding and selfhood over a 40-year span. In many ways, Heidi is a passive character.
She is torn between her own desires and the influence of those around her when deciding the course of her life. For example, in Act 1 Scene 2, she meets Scoop. It is obvious she does not want to talk to him, but instead if being direct, she lies about her name: I know your name is Heidi because it says so on your name tag. Heidi. H-E-I-D-I (Wasserstein 173).
Scoop catches her in her lie, putting her on the spot. The whole situation could have been avoided, however, had she a more confrontational temperament. She is also very non-committal in her involvement with womens rights. There is even a hilarious 1970 s consciousness-raising session set in an Ann Arbor church basement. Act 1 Scene 3 demonstrates the general voice of the womens movement. Although she is not a lesbian, as are some others in the group, Heidi participates, although only half-heartedly.
The Essay on Believes That Men Women Man Stereotypes
Looking At Women Scott Russell Sanders's essay portrays men as sex crazed animals and uses the protagonist to illustrate men's use of derogatory terms of men's views of women, and even the little, "How should a man look at a woman?" , he suggests that men see women as something to look at. He portrays the males condition the idea of the types of men in today's society. Sanders builds on the ...
As Fran then says to her, You either shave your legs or you dont (Wasserstein 180).
That is to say, she can either be involved or not, there is no in between path. In Sue Ellen Cases article titled Radical Feminism and Theater she writes: Feminism is a theory; Lesbianism is th practice. This statement embodies the feelings invoked at the meeting Heidi attends. She separates herself from women due to her involvement with men, and can therefore never truly put the theory into practice. Her involvement with men is unsuccessful, to say the least.
One of Heidi biggest problems is that she cannot seem to form new group of friends who will suit her needs. Rather, she sticks by the friendships she formed in her youth, although they leave her empty and unfulfilled. For example, her relationship with Scoop is both futile and maddening. Scoops behavior is intolerable, yet appealing because he is direct and unconventional. When they meet, he says to her, Are you a virgin If you choose to accept this mission Ill find out one way or another (Wasserstein 174).
Coming from any other man, that comment deserve a slap across the face, but Heidi is intrigued by Scoop because he is so original and forthright.
However, they are both repelled by each others ambitious and acquisitive nature. Scoop could never marry a woman like Heidi because she is strong of mind, outspoken, and competitive. All these are non feminine personality attributes, and he is basically scared off as he later admits in Act 1 Scene 5, at his wedding. Scoops relationship with Heidi is so frustrating because of the combination of the fact that he is not in love with his wife, he is in love with Heidi, yet he strings her along and never commits to her.
It is obvious that he is in love with Heidi; he kisses her on his wedding day. He says to Heidi: Is she an A+ like you No. But I dont want to come home to an A+. A- maybe, but not A+ (Wasserstein 201).
He knows that Heidi embodies a multitude of qualities that he both adores and are somewhat intimidating. Therefore, he chooses to marry Lisa Freidlander, the opposite of all the things Heidi represents to Scoop..
