What functions do minor characters fulfil in Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf? (Essay Sample)

Name: Instructor: Course: Date: Role Of Minor Characters in Giovanni’s Room In the novel "Giovanni's Room" by James Baldwin, the reader follows a young man as he goes through the process of coming out to himself and, consequently, to the rest of the world. David feels he is suffocating under the weight of the heteronormative gender stereotypes that prevailed in the United States throughout the 1950s, so he resolves to run away and head to Paris to understand better who he is. Heteronormative is an adjective that defines or pertains to a worldview that supports heterosexuality as the normal or preferred sexual orientation. In other words, heteronormative worldviews consider heterosexuality as the normal or desirable sexual orientation. Gender roles can be defined as a set of characteristics and expectations that are placed on members of a particular gender by society. For instance, in the 1950s, women were considered "housewives" who stayed home and cooked, cleaned, and took care of the children, while men were considered the breadwinners and the head of the family. This perception of women as "housewives" continued far into the 1960s. Using the secondary characters Hella and David's fiance, James Baldwin highlights the issue of heteronormative gender norms and how individuals are imprisoned within them. Hella is one of the minor characters in Giovanni's Room who is held captive by the socially heteronormative gender roles that prevailed during the 1950s. In the 1950s, those gender roles for women included being somewhat confined to a domestic space. For instance, it was thought that women belonged in the kitchen, where they would cook, clean, raise, and take care of the children. When compared to men in those days, women were thought of as being nurturing and submissive. This is evident when Hella says to David, "Just let me be a woman, take me." Women were thought of as being submissive and nurturing. (Baldwin 161). This demonstrates that all Hella cares about is being David's woman, which amounts to being his property and having him have authority over her. A woman then was expected to have long hair, abstain from smoking, and have a low intellectual capacity. It is abundantly clear that Hella was brought up in an environment that strongly emphasized heteronormative notions of gender roles. This is made abundantly clear when, toward the end of the book, Hella expresses to David that all she wants to do is be his woman: "'David, please let me be a woman.'" It makes no difference to me what kind of treatment you give me. It makes no difference to me how much it will set you back. I will grow out my hair, I will quit smoking, and I will get rid of all of my books... Give in to my desire to be a woman and accept me. It's exactly what I have in mind for myself. That is the only thing I require. I Couldn't Care Less About Anything Else'" (Baldwin 161). The statements made by Hella demonstrate that she has come to the conclusion that all David wants is an ordinary woman. She does this to satisfy her own need not to be alone, and she tries to persuade him to take her back so that they can live a domesticated life together, which is what she was brought up to believe is her only goal in life. In a different scene that takes place earlier in the book, Hella and David are out for a stroll while having a conversation about women. In this conversation between the two, it is clear that Hella is aware of the negative aspects of gender roles. Still, she cannot do anything but follow them exactly: "'I don't see what's so hard about being a woman. At the very least, not so long as she's in a relationship.'" David says. Hella gives her response by saying, "That's exactly it... "Hasn't it ever occurred to you that doing so is an embarrassing necessity?" (Baldwin 124). This discussion demonstrates that a person's upbringing and the gender roles expected of them throughout their lives can significantly affect their relationships with others...