In the book The Westing Games there are many characters, but the women and their personalities are the things that shape the book to what it is. I believe that Feminism is shown through out the book for several reasons such as J.J. Ford and Angela. Now when I state that there is Feminism in the book I do not mean that these women are men haters or burning bras. What I do mean is that at the beginning of the book each woman seems to be unstable, except for Judge J.J Ford, who seems to be a woman that worked her way up in a male dominated world. She is our strongest woman in this story. J.J Ford isn't married, lives alone, and mainly focused on her career; this is why she is the strongest woman character. Then there is Angela, who is completely opposite of the Judge. She is completely submissive to everyone, even her own mother. For example, we see her mother telling her what to do constantly even to the point of what Angela can wear; on page 61 Grace Wexler says, 'I can't understand What go into you, Angela, coming to this party in that old checkered dress and those awful accessories. Just because your partner dresses like a freak...' Angela barely stands up for herself. These at the beginning of the book are at two ends of the Feminism chart but at the end of the book something changes.
At the end of the book J.J. Ford has grown in her career as an appointed judge for the supreme court system, this is what she wanted to be strong and stable. Now for Angela she has made a complete transformation from the beginning of the book. At the end of the book, she has gone back to college to become a orthopedic surgeon, doesn't let her mother tell her what to do, and become a strong woman that she has wanted to be. Readers are shocked by Angela's growth into her own self. In the end it builds to the strong characters in the book.
I agree very much so, J.J. Ford was a strong female character. I also think that Turtle was another female lead that shows strength in women, and proved herself worthy in a male dominant society. As the sister of Angela, (the angel) Turtle has a lot to compare to. The two Wexler sisters are the complete opposites of each other. Strong, confident, independent Turtle is practically shunned by their mother Grace who treats Angela as "The Chosen One". Turtle is lucky in the sense that because of this misfortune she is able to grow into her true self, and be all that she can. While Angela, who wanted to go to medical school, was told that medical school is way to hard for women by her mother. I think the ending is a complete turn around, a way of the book showing that times change, and that women's rights will evolve.
ReplyDelete