Post 1: Introduction to "The Norton book of women's lives" by Rose, Phyllis, 1942
Word Count: 366
Upon reading the introduction of "The Norton book of Women's
Lives" by Rose Phyllis, much was revealed about the author as well as the
impact of the women’s writing to her as how these stories impact others as
well.
The writer of this book reveals herself at the very beginning of the chapter
to be very introspective about her identity and sought out autobiographies and
examined them throughout her life. Despite what she had read earlier in
her life she was not content with the role model of ones such as Eleanor
Roosevelt. In her words, she preferred “something different” (p. 12). She
instead preferred women who “lived life to the full” (12).
Through the autobiographies mentioned in the introduction, she illustrates an
image of how women expressed themselves through writing and how their stories
had an impact on many who read their works. The way the writer goes through the
autobiographies mimics an experience similar to hers with each
autobiography having a greater impact than the last. This creates an experience
that helps the reader resonate with the writer through the
progression of the chapter.
This experience carried to the point where the author then confronts her
own understanding of how she views the autobiographies and writings of women’s
lives. On page 24 the author writes, “I think it’s possible not to applaud the literature
of women’s lives. It’s possible to accuse the whole tradition of narcissism and self-absorption”
(p. 24).
She then wrote, “The more I thought about what I read, the more I
realized that the opposition I had set up between experience and literature was
false. No experience was so interesting that it carried the whole narrative” (p.
26). The author shows a level of reflective thinking and introspectiveness that
has no problem dismantling her own perceptions of how she views something and
then comparing it with different angles to create a new understanding.
Rose sparks interest in her writing and crafts a new foundation at the same
time to help highlight how she sets up the book to go in a direction to reveal
more about the stories of women to be told.
Rose, Phyllis. The Norton Book of Women's Lives. W.W. Norton, 1995.
The way Rose writes about how she relates to each of the female authors she discusses is so real. Some of the authors she has nothing in common with, but she still has a deep respect and admiration for each woman. All these women led such different lives with a long diverse range of values and challenges. When Rose reflects on the lives of these women it allows us to reflect on our personal narrative as well which allows you to start the book with an open mindset. I like how you focused on her reflections and how Rose relates to these women.
ReplyDelete