Role of Power and Mastery Differ in Ancient Novels and Modern Novels

¶ … Mastery and Female Submissiveness

Prevalence of the model of mastery through female submissiveness: literary analyses of the classic works of Petronius, Apuleius, and Horace Walpole

Literary works created and published in the early classical period of Western history reflects the kind of social order that prevailed during the time. Through the author's point-of-view and interpretation of his/her realities during a particular period in history, readers become knowledgeable of the conditions that people in that society had lived, survived, and adapted to social changes. Evidences from early literary works in Western history showed that one of the most prevalent theme discussed was the dominance of men over women -- the institutionalization of patriarchy depicted through the model of mastery (of males). While males assumed the role of the 'master' in almost all institutions significant to daily life, women were relegated to roles that did not only reflect submissiveness to, but passivity towards male dominance as well.

The model of mastery and submissiveness of females in classic literature works were the themes reflected in the novels "Satyricon" by Petronius, "Golden Ass" by Apuleius, and "The Castle of Otranto" by Horace Walpole. In these literary works, women had been illustrated as subordinates to men, dominated due to the long tradition of patriarchy in the society. What these works also reflected was that society during the classical period acknowledged women's subordination, shown through the authors' prejudiced portrayal of women characters in their novels. In this paper, the researcher posits that the classical period of Western society highlighted its long history (from the 1st to 18th century) of prejudice and oppression against women through the model of mastery, the portrayal of women as generally weak, unintelligent, and mere objects of sexuality to be used or 'commodified' by men.

The Roman writer Petronius Arbiter (1st century) had illustrated his subjective interpretation of women as subordinates to men and as objects of sexuality in his novel, "Satyricon." This literary work highlighted the lives of Romans during the 1st century, a period that, evidently, did not differ so much as the 18th century social order (that will be discussed in Walpole's "The Castle of Otranto"). In his description of Roman life in 'Dinner with Trimalchio,' Petronius laid bare his prejudiced view of women, which portrayed them maliciously, citing their primary purpose as being wives and 'beneficiaries' of men's finances. This was evident in his commentary on his observation of Fortunata, Trimalchio's wife: "Fortunata is her name and she counts her money by the sackful. And before, before, what was she? You'll pardon me saying so, but you wouldn't of touched a bit of bread from her hand ... But she's got a rough tongue and she's a real magpie when she gets her feet up ... "

From Petronius' description, Fortunata lacked credibility and morality in the public's eye. Though married to the rich Trimalchio, wealth did not elevate her social position in her society, of which she remained an immoral woman. As a single woman, she was criticized for her questionable morality and purity as a female, whole as a married woman, Fortunata suffered people's judgment, wherein her cleverness was associated with greed and unrefined character. This seemingly trivial observation in Petronius' narrative in "Satyricon" was actually an insightful look into the author's reality and subjective view of what women were in his society during the 1st century.

A century later, Petronius' views in "Satyricon" was still reflected in literature, most particularly in the work of Apuleius, "The Golden Ass." If there had been changes in the theme of males being masters of the society and women as their subordinates, it was that female subordination greatly intensified. In "Satyricon," Petronius acknowledged that women were indeed subordinate to men, although this was expressed implicitly. In "The Golden Ass," Apuleius addressed women's weak character directly through the character of Lucius, whose mediocre view of his wife Photis did not change even when he metamorphosed into an ass. Instead of humbling himself, Lucius (as an ass) remained arrogant and superior to his wife, though he was aware that he would depend on his wife's help:

Though I was now a perfect ass, a Lucius-turned-beast, I still preserved my human faculties, and I gave long and serious thought to whether I should end the life of that most nefarious and abominable woman by kicking her repeatedly with my hooves and by tearing her apart with my teeth. But second thoughts deterred me from that rash course, for I feared that if Photis suffered the punishment of death, I should lose all my prospects of saving help.

Despite his being an ass, Lucius remained the 'master' who ruled over his wife. This interesting scenario depicted in the novel showed how, even in times of immediate need, a man would never subsist a woman's help. 'Help' was considered by Lucius himself as synonymous to trying to 'outwit' his wife from turning her back on him, knowing fully well the he is helpless and she has all the power to finally become the 'master.' Apuleius' characterization of Lucius and Photis' stubborn clinging to her submissive role as wife to her ass-husband showed the reality of his time (2nd century), wherein female prejudice remained, and in fact increased, in the society.

In "The Castle of Otranto," Manfred's character resembled that of Lucius, whose limited view of women as mere sex objects and subordinates to men became one of the central themes in the novel. Through Walpole's characters, readers were shown how Manfred considered himself as the master and Isabella as commodity, whom he willed to marry his son Conrad to reign over Otranto; his prejudiced view worsened when he tried to marry Isabella after his son's (Conrad) death. Manfred's preoccupation to gain power and control Isabella were reiterations of men's privileged life's as masters in the society: "Manfred rose to pursue her, when the moon, which was now up, and gleamed in at the opposite casement ... waving backwards and forwards in a tempestuous manner ... " This model of mastery had not changed even slightly centuries after Petronius and Apuleius' times.