Blog Activity: Vagina Monologues

Perspective and Sub-Text
Diderot’s Indiscreet Jewels and Ensler’s Vagina Monologues

The purpose of this activity is to compare two texts that address the same theme, and yet which were written several centuries apart and by authors of different gender. As you read these excerpts, I would like you to do the following:

(1) Compare and Contrast the two texts. Here are some questions to get you started, but you are by no means limited to these issues: Do they serve the same purpose (meaning, are they written as entertainment, Satire to correct social ills, informative news, etc.)? Do they invite the same type of reader? Do the authors share the same opinion about the subject matter? Stylistically, how do the two compare (look at the vocabulary, metaphors, grammar, voice, etc)? How does the gender of the author affect the style and content of the text? Do you feel each of these texts would be acceptable and useful in other centuries and cultures? Note the qualities that make them either “universal” or “limited.”


The Indiscreet Jewels by Denis Diderot (18th Century French Enlightenment male philosopher; written as a NOVEL)

Cucufa said, “I wish women to tell me of their amorous adventures past and present, and no more.” “But it is impossible,” said the genie, “to expect women to confess their adventures. That has never been and never shall be.” Then the genie said, “You see this ring? Put it on your finger, my son. Every woman toward whom you turn the stone will recount her intrigues in a loud, clear, and intelligible voice. But do not imagine that they speak through their mouths.” “From whence,” cried Mongogul, “shall they speak then?” “From the most honest part of them, and the best instructed in the things you desire to know, From their jewels.” “From their jewels!” repeated the sultan, bursting into laughter. “This is something new. Talking jewels! How preposterous!”…
First Test of the Ring: An emir consulted his mistress, Alcina, about the newspaper scandal of her reputed affairs with his mere squire. Alcina swore to him that the slander was the gossip of wretches who would have kept silent had they any reason to speak; furthermore, nothing had been done, and he was free to believe what he wanted. The sultan turned his ring toward her. A loud burst of laughter seized Alcina, and was suddenly syncopated by the workings of the ring. Immediately a murmuring noise was heard from beneath her petticoats: “Well, now I have a title. I am truly glad of it. There is nothing like having a station. Of course, if she had listened to my first advice, she could have found me something better than an emir. But still, an emir is better than nothing.” Silence fell and the jewel continued: “a husband must be an important guest, judging from the precautions taken to receive him. So many preparations! Two more weeks of this regimen would have been the end of me…in my opinion, the emir did not require such a fuss, although I understand my mistress’s prudence. She was preparing for the worst, and I was readied for the emir and his squire alike.” The sultan then turned his ring, the emir already having disappeared at the first words of his wife’s jewel, and Alcina, unabashed, feigned a fainting spell, then sat down to play cards as if her jewel had said nothing, or had said the nicest thing in the world.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Let's Talk About What We're Not Supposed to Really Talk About...

Though both these texts talk about Vaginas and Penises, they approach the subject matter in totally different ways. In the Vagina Monologues, Ensler is trying to empower the female by saying it’s okay to be proud of your Vagina. It’s not something that has to be discussed behind closed doors and it’s okay to talk about your Vagina and what you do with it. I can see why the monologues would not be accepted in certain places and cultures because even in this day and age, women are taught to be proper and “quiet” in some cultures.
In Diderot’s Indiscreet Jewels, I think it sends a different message. Alcina lies to the emir about having an affair with his squire and the emir finds out the truth from Alcina’s “Jewel.” It’s amusing because this was written such a long time ago and Diderot did not use the word Vagina and I can assume it was not proper to blurt out such a word in those days. I think this story teaches you not to be so open about your Jewels and that you should be embarrassed at the mention of it.
In both of these writings the Vagina speaks. In the Monologues, Ensler talks about what the Vagina might say if it were to speak to you and Diderot uses the woman’s Jewel to tell the truth of Alcina’s behavior. I find both the Monologues and Indiscreet Jewels very amusing and I think both these writings reflect the times that they were written . Diderot writes a more discreet and censored story while Ensler’s Monologues are very blatant and does not use words such as “Jewels.” I think Ensler would cringe at Diderot’s mention of a woman’s jewels while Diderot may not be able to sit through the Vagina Monologues.

1 comment:

Yu Peng said...

Yes, in some cultures, women are not allowed to show their Vaginas. This is sacred to there own cultures. It's like Jewish people. They have their own religion ways of acting like putting a small head on top of their head or dress in black suits. They follow these rules to satisfy their own cultural actions. This is what makes them unique and this symbolizes that people are from that particular religion. They don’t want top wearing no hats or dress in black when it comes to a Jewish holiday celebration like Yom Kippur. If it does, this will break their promises as both following rules or disobeying to their own religion as being a Jewish. That’s, why in the vagina monologue, certain people have rules not to show something will actually hurt themselves and their own religion or culture. People intended to keep them own beliefs as their own nature and who they actually are. Everyone tends to do things in a certain way based on their own culture and as we see people are not allowed to disobeyed rules in their culture. It’s kind of interesting why people follow these rules. I mean, don’t they ever get tired and just go and do something else for one day. I think they like it that way and it’s just life. It’s like people believing in god and hope one day god will help them when they’re stuck in life.