In Comparing Truths

In Comparing Truths

In comparing Truth’s essay, “Ain’t I a Woman?”, and Emily Dickenson’s poem, “In Vain”, the similarities are undeniable. For example, both of these works show women’s lack of control over circumstances that are beyond their control. For instance, Emily Dickenson falls in love with a clergyman who cannot love a woman because of his following of God, a rule set in place by the church. Likewise, Truth’s essay states that she is unable have a family that can stay together. When Truth spoke of having children, she stated that they were sold into slavery because of her lower class standing.
Other similarities include the public standing of women in these writings. In Emily Dickenson’s “In Vain,” Emily describes herself as being a nothing better than a housewife. Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman?” claims that she can do the same work as any man, but she cannot have the same rights. The restrictions of the rights of women in these works shows the struggles of women shared.
Another, and possibly the most depressing, similarity between these writings is the understanding that these women have that they cannot change what has been making them sad throughout their lives.
I chose to write my discussion about the similarities between "A Room of One's Own" and "Ain't I A Woman?". These two seemed the most similar to me in that they both discussed a so-called "woman's place" and how they can do all that a man can and more and yet, they are still just a woman. Through their writings they conveyed their messages that they are not content in the way that the world of men views women.
One of the lines that really hit me between the both of them was their lines aboutmen's opinions of women and discussing the possibility of a new role for them. Truth said "...and bare the lash as well! And ain't I a woman?" I compared this line to the reference in Woolf's essay where she discusses a man's "right" to beat a woman. Granted Truth was discussing the slaves in...