American Literature

Feminist ideals seek to set up enhanced and official protection as well as grant rights to ladies besides seeking to liberate women. This concept basically has to do with gender disparities, mainly focusing on advocating for the rights as well as the interests of women. In essence, feminist ideologies emphasize gender equity while quashing the established gender pecking order and terming it as merely a baseless socially-developed concept.

Lawrence Jerome and Robert Edwin Lees 1970 The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail play  is feminist is the sense that it depicts most of its female characters as exhibiting behaviors that seek to give them power and authority that resembles that held by the men in their society. Further, majority of the female characters in the play behave as though they disregard socially-sanctioned mores that place women below men as per the established social ladder.

For example, Lydian Emerson who is Ralph Waldo Emersons wife - is described as assisting her husband to regain his memory regarding Henry Thoreau  an old friend of Emersons - thus showing that women are useful because they can assist men in certain important issues. The fact that Emerson has forgotten about Emersons own friend - whom Lydian fortunately remembers - demonstrates that women can be mentally superior to men. A woman is thus depicted as serving the useful purpose of assisting her husband. Lydians action of assisting her husband to remember a past friend thus accords women more prominence in the play. This issue therefore delineates the play as feminist.  

Further, Mother Thoreaus - Thoreaus mothers - act of interrogating Thoreau about the reason why her son is incarcerated depicts women as having certain potent powers in this society. It is a notable fact that Thoreau cannot devise an appropriate answer for his mothers pointed question. In addition, the mother complains that Thoreau is exhibiting an unnecessarily antagonistic attitude. This is in reaction to Thoreaus act of challenging the arrangement of the elements of the English alphabet. Again, this issue demonstrates that female members in this community can pose philosophical and thought-provoking questions that can even confuse men like Thoreau. By depicting women as philosophical beings, the author designates ladies as intelligent beings whose wisdom can rival that of men. Such an attempt at bridging the socially-instituted gender divide thus delineates the play as a feminist work of literature.  

In addition, Ellen Sewells bold act of candidly rejecting John Thoreaus attempts at forging a loving union between the two demonstrates that Ewell is a principled and firm character who can even boldly go against the wishes of male characters. This aspect generally gives the females in the play added powers to always stand their ground. In effect, the determined nature of Ewell demonstrates that she has refused to conform to social norms whereby women are conventionally required to do as men like. Rather, she has resolved to chart her own destiny even regarding some controversial issues like selecting a lover. Ewells free spirit is also evident when she challenges Thoreaus classroom directives by insisting that students ought to have notebooks for writing notes on. Ewell issues this remark even after Thoreau - the teacher - has clearly demonstrated his dislike for books. Ewells actions thus categorize the play as inclined towards feminism.  

In conclusion, The Night Thoreau Spent in Jail play conforms to feminist ideals owing to the bold and unconventional behavior exhibited by some of its female characters. A notable case in point is Lydians act of assisting Emerson - her husband - to recall the name of Thoreau - a long-time friend of Emerson. In addition, Henry is interrogated by his mother regarding the reason why Henry is behind bars. The awkwardness and dilemma which Henry experiences as he attempts to answer this query demonstrates that the mother is wise and intelligent and that she has authority over her son. The mothers philosophical query thus presents a positive view of women - designating them as intelligent beings. Moreover, Ewell determinedly shuns Thoreaus struggles to forge an intimate relationship with her. This act shows that the girl desires to have the freedom to make her own independent decisions. The play is thus effectively rendered a feminist piece of literature owing to the aforementioned aspects.