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Simone de Beauvoir & Ayn Rand There are certain similarities to be found in co

There are certain similarities to be found in comparing the lives and careers of Simone de Beauvoir and Ayn Rand. Both women were writers and both rose to prominence during the middle of the twentieth century. In addition, both women were novelists who were also known as philosophers. Against all odds, both women became successful in careers which were dominated by men at the time. Because of these factors, Beauvoir and Rand are both regarded as inspirations to the contemporary women's liberation movement. However, there is also one important difference to be found in comparing the works of Beauvoir and Rand. Whereas Beauvoir's views were compatible with those of the contemporary women's movement, Rand's views were usually in sharp contrast to them.

In The Second Sex (1952), Simone de Beauvoir claimed that a powerful myth exists in modern society. This is the myth that women are subservient to men. According to Beauvoir, this myth is perpetuated by the works of modern literature. In The Second Sex, Beauvoir emphasized the works of male writers such as Montherlant, D. H. Lawrence, Claudel, Breton and Stendhal. However, it may be noted that modern women writers have also been responsible for perpetuating the myth of male dominance. In this regard, Chien has pointed out that rape is a common theme in the works of both male and female writers. In such works, women not only accept rape but fantasize about wanting it. This glorification of rape is clearly opposed to the ideals of the women's liberation movement. All feminists agree that rape is a symbol of male domination over women. Despite this fact, Chien notes that even "sexually liberated modern writers" often assume that women "like to be possessed, dominated, and even raped" (1027).

In Ayn Rand's novel, The Fountainhead (1943), the main female character is a strong-willed woman named Dominique Francon. In the course of the novel, Dominique discovers that she ...

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Simone de Beauvoir & Ayn Rand There are certain similarities to be found in co. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 22:04, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1705443.html