Analysis of King Solomons Mines and its Undertone of Sexism Essay

Analysis of King Solomons Mines and its Undertone of SexismDuring the nineteenth century, women were viewed as inferior to men. Men also saw women as prizes as headspring as possessions. We can see this undertone in the playscript King Solomons Mines by H.Rider Haggard. Here, the writer uses Lyn Pyketts essay Gender, Degeneration, Renovation Some Contexts of the Modern as the lynchpin for the comparison and discussion.As Allen Quartermain and company gets closer and closer to the diamonds, the description of the scenery is very feministic For the nipple of the mountain did not rise out of its exact center.(Haggard 101) As someone had checked out that the map included in the book also has a hint of a female body, if turned upside down. The Shebas breasts resemble the breasts of a female, and the location of the diamonds and treasures, which is further down the map, signifies the private of a female. Woman is a wholly versed creature, to be defined entirely in terms of sexua l relations and the reproductive function.(Pykett 23) When a man meets a cleaning lady, his ultimate goal is to get, as Haggard implied in the book, the treasures of the woman therefore, one can also come to to the scene where Allen Quartermain and company makes a great effort to reach Shebas breasts. During that phase of the trip, they face many hardships, such as starvation and dehydration. This donation of the book could be interpreted as the time when a woman tells her man to slow down because she is not ready to be intimate, yet man, like the characters in the book would continue to strive to their ultimate goal. It is also important to note that later the characters reached Shebas breasts they found a stream, killed an inco and had a big feast. Here is a quote from Allen Quartermain after the treat, complementing the view of Shebas breasts I know not how to describe the glorious panorama which unfolded itself to our enraptured gaze. I have never seen anything like it before, nor shall, I suppose, again.(Haggard 104) Another point that should be observed is the fact that the road to the treasure becomes wide and smooth It was a very different business traveling along down hill on that magnificent pathway. Every mile we walked the atmosphere grew softer and balmier, and the country before us shone with a yet more luminous beauty(Haggard 107). This part of the literat... ...he sick-room as swiftly, gently, and with as fine instinct as a trained hospital nurse. Day and night she watched and tended him.(Haggard 246) Also, Pyketts essay stated that during that time of the century, womens movement was trash for the political and social position of women. The developing scientific culture of the nineteenth century provided a range of very authoritative discourses which claimed to speak about woman and by extension, about and for women.(Pykett 20) This movement is surely against man and the norm during that time period. It seems like Haggard does not fully agree with this movement. Therefore, one can for certain identify the where about, the birth of this untainted character Foulata.In all, one can get an impression of anti-feminism from Haggard. For he accepts the old traditional way. Where, men dominate. Such believe can be interpreted through his story and characters in King Solomons Mines. Work CitedHaggard, H. Rider. King Solomons Mines. 1989. Oxford, New York Oxford World Classics 1998Pykett, Lyn. Gender. Degeneration, Renovation Some Contexts of the Modern. In Engendering lying (London Arnold, 1995) 14-