The Place of Women in Literature

When Bob is negotiating with David, Diane is listening form the other room, and her reaction shows that she is not merely an adjunct to the males but an equal:

The talk of old ladies brought Diane out of the bedroom. She just couldn't contain herself any longer. She had to be in on the action, and if there was going to be any hassling done se wanted to be sure to get her share (Fogle 27).

Diane is not treated equally in certain terms, though, and is deferred to as a woman rather than as an equal:

Diane was more or less the queen of the group, and always got first consideration when anything was being fixed (Fogle 15).

The basic issue of equality for women centers on economic questions and the right of the woman to work, and freedom in society derives very much from the economic role one achieves. Charlotte Perkins

. . .
eeking to use her abilities in the world. At the same time, though, it is evident that she has made herself dependent in a different way, dependent on drugs and even on the excitement of the way drugs are acquired by this group as they rob drugstores. In addition, she is very much tied to Bob Hughes, who is the leader of the group and who makes the elaborate schemes of which she is only a part, schemes to rob drugstores. The schemes are directed largely at distracting the clerks so the rest of the group can grab what they want--the narcotics that are locked behind the prescription counter. Diane is Bob's "old lady," in the parlance of the group, and he has her do such things as set fire to a part of the drugstore to distract everyone. At other times she plays a more singular role, as when she goes into a doctor's office for an examination and searchers the room for drugs before the doctor arrives: The first thing Diane did after entering the examination room was thoroughly shake down all the drawers and cabinets, looking for prescription blanks. This time she couldn't find any (Fogle 110). Again, though, Diane is very much controlled by Bob and is berated after her visit to the doctor's office because she complains about t
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Approximate Word count = 1643
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page)

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