...the images of 'angel' and 'monster' have been so ubiquitous throughout literature by men that they have also pervaded women's writing to such an extent that few women have definitively 'killed' either figure.- Gilbert and Gubar
As a woman, it is interesting how, while I have seen the unfair treatment of women in literature, I never once considered how male writers have painted their counterparts as "angels" and "monsters." What is even more interesting is women continually write themselves in this either/or category. Just recently, I have finished reading a short story entitled, "Never Marry a Mexican" by Sandra Cisneros. In the reading, the character of Clemencia finds her identity through the eyes of the male figures in her life. She paints her self image through the image of man, and nothing else. Clemencia ultimately finds that she is "vindictive and cruel" as opposed to her given name, which means: merciful, mild and gentle. Even in the modern day, women have cast themselves into the roles of good and evil, but never in between.
Because Disney is extremely popular with young children and adults alike, it is easy to see that the writers of their movies have portrayed women in the same sense. Women are angelic or women are monsters like Cruella Deville. The name itself is allegorical and can be linked to root words such as: cruel and devil. For me, the most controversial Disney movie is the Hunchback of Notre Dame. It touches on subjects of religion and of sex. Looking at the character of Esmerelda (the only female portrayed in the movie) against her male counterparts of: Frollo, Quasimodo and Pheobus, we can discern how the her femininity is constructed.
...she also becomes herself an embodiment of just those extremes of mysterious and intransigent Otherness which culture confronts with worship or fear, love or loathing.- Gilbert and Gubar
Esmerelda is lusted after by three men. Frollo, while he loves her, considers her a demon. Her flesh is the sin that he craves but he fears the emotions that she is igniting within him. He tries to justify that it is just her gypsiness, but admittingly, he wishes to only have sexual relations with her. For Quasimodo, he puts Esmeralda on a pedestal. He worships her and he loves her. They all essentially love her, but it is only one who really fears and loathes her because of her beauty. But it is because of her beauty that makes her loathsome and feared.
Female sexuality is consistently equated with degeneration, disease, and death...- Gilbert and Gubar
In a more modern and adult version, Frollo stills shows this fear and loathing, and even has the audacity to claim that Esmeralda will "destroy me." However, the beauty portrayed in this classic seems to contradict Gilbert and Gubar's notions on beauty. They claim that women suffer and even go as far as to loath their own bodies. However, we never see the Esmeraldas in either the play or movie express loathing of their bodies. Instead, they seem to be empowered by their sexuality. In fact, their sexuality is the prominent characteristic and a motivation, almost. Only the men see this sexuality as fearing. The women embrace it. Depending on what angle one is looking at, a reader may take the man's argument and agree that women should not be so sexual, or the reader can take into consideration that women are blessed with certain features that should be embraced by men and not see it as something fearful. However, the fear that men draw from women's sexuality is perhaps due to the strange control and power which that sexuality holds over them. Men are used to being strong, and clearly in the case with Esmeralda, she makes the men around her fall weak.
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