Age of Reason and political Absolutism

Write on one (1) of the following topics:

Topic 1:

Phedre illustrates the attitude of men toward women in the Age of Reason and political Absolutism, in which men represent logic, order, and strength while women represent emotions, weakness, and disorder. Using evidence from the play, discuss how Racine’s Phedre reinforces the stereotype of woman as a destructive force in nature, known as a femme fatale.

Topic 2:

Define “Baroque” and “Classicism.” Then, using these definitions, write a paper that contrasts the Baroque art of Bernini (e.g., “Ecstasy of St. Teresa,” in The Making of the West) with the Classicism of Poussin (e.g., “Discovery of Achilles on Skyros,” in The Making of the West). You might want to google other images by these artists to support your ideas.

Answer preview

In modern society, women are still perceived as femme fatale by some men and eventually their fellow females too. It is clearly illustrated in the play Phedre, whereby Phedre’s character as a female person is depicted as weak, emotional, and disorderly. Although the women today are more positively represented in the community compared to the past. It is because women were not considered to be strong enough to participate in functions such as elections or technical work such as astronauts. The sex of an individual was significantly used to determine their character and behaviors, thus depriving women of a self-identity.

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Age of Reason and political Absolutism
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