A certain lady by Dorothy Parker
Parker here through a satirical language portrays a typical woman of the 1800s who is actually in love, but very cynical about the concept of love and a woman’s role in a man's life.
Oh, I can smile for you, and tilt my head,
and drink your rushing words with eager lips,
She is simply supposed to sit there, listen and nod, smile a lot, and make tea, while inside of her she is dying to show her values to the world. It beautifully depicts 1800s female role, where women were just treated as porcelain dolls, and had to sit there, smile, and accept convents of the society, while they were screaming inside. She is pretending to be this happy, witty, charming creature for the man she is in love with who'll never know the pain she feels or the sorrow she experiences. She merely plays a role for him - the role he prefers.
And you believe, so well I know my part,
That I am gay as morning, light as snow,
And all the straining things within my heart
You'll never know.
She plays this role to keep him with her as long as she can, even though he will never know all the things that exist inside of her heart and mind. However, she knows he'll soon tire of her, and go off on other adventures or out with other women – but she gracefully accepts these norms created by the society of that time.
Oh, I can smile for you, and tilt my head,
and drink your rushing words with eager lips,
She is simply supposed to sit there, listen and nod, smile a lot, and make tea, while inside of her she is dying to show her values to the world. It beautifully depicts 1800s female role, where women were just treated as porcelain dolls, and had to sit there, smile, and accept convents of the society, while they were screaming inside. She is pretending to be this happy, witty, charming creature for the man she is in love with who'll never know the pain she feels or the sorrow she experiences. She merely plays a role for him - the role he prefers.
And you believe, so well I know my part,
That I am gay as morning, light as snow,
And all the straining things within my heart
You'll never know.
She plays this role to keep him with her as long as she can, even though he will never know all the things that exist inside of her heart and mind. However, she knows he'll soon tire of her, and go off on other adventures or out with other women – but she gracefully accepts these norms created by the society of that time.
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