Fermina Daza A Strong Independent Woman - Literature Essay Samples

The idea of equality of the sexes in Latin America is a relatively new phenomena. Until the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century, the time period of Love in the Time of Cholera, women were predominantly treated as the inferior sex. Therefore, women were also often excluded from taking part in public life like their male counterparts in areas such as those pertaining to politics, economics, and education. Although women of the time period do not enjoy the same social freedom of their male counterparts, Gabriel Garcà ­a Mà ¡rquez in his novel Love in the Time of Cholera does not portray women as oppressed. Rather, Mà ¡rquez portrays several of his female characters as strong, resourceful, and independent individuals. This is particularly evident in how the novel presents Fermina Daza in her marriage to Dr. Juvenal Urbino as a strong, independent woman who is the intellectual equal of her husband. Despite not having received the same level of education as her husband, Fermina demonstrates that she is still the intellectual equal of her husband by outsmarting his rules. Unlike Fermina, who never finishes her studies nor receives her baccalaureate degree, Urbino had completed advanced studies in medicine and surgery to the point that none of his contemporaries seemed as rigorous and as learned as he in his science (Mà ¡rquez 105). Yet, Urbino comes to appreciate his wifes abundant domestic knowledge and skills after she becomes tired of his lack of understanding and asked him for an unusual birthday gift: that for one day he would take care of the domestic chores (Mà ¡rquez 222). Through the course of her birthday, Urbino demonstrates himself to be completely helpless regarding domestic knowledge and skills so that Fermina must resume command of the house prior to lunch. Regardless of his claims that Fermina would equally struggle to cure the sick, both Urbino and Fermina learn from this experience that each must appreciate the others unique knowledge and skills. Similarly, after discovering a discrepancy in Urbinos proclamation that nothing that does not speak will come into [their] house, resourcefully Fermina discovers and then buys a royal Paramaribo parrot, who speaks in a voice seemingly human (Mà ¡rquez 23). Thus, Urbino bowed to the ingenuity of his wife and recognizes that she is capable of outsmarting him and his rules (Mà ¡rquez 23). Therefore, by outsmarting Urbinos rules Fermina demonstrates that despite her lacking as advanced tutelage as her husband received, she is still his intellectual equal and he should appreciate her as such. Ferminas strong character and resolve is most evident in her determination and refusal to let others, particularly her husband, influence her choices or make decisions for her. This is clearly seen when she decides to leave and go live with her cousin Hildebranda after she becomes aware that Urbino is having an affair. Since Urbino knew the strength of her character very well, he simply accepted her decision with humility (Mà ¡rquez 235). However, this does not prevent Urbino from seeking to persuade Fermina in her decisions, especially using the intervention of religious authority figures. However, instead of swaying her in favor of Urbino and his ideas, the involvement of religious authority figures in Urbinos and Ferminas relationship makes her even more adamant in her own opinions and choices. This is particularly evident prior to their courtship, when Urbinos last resort in wooing Fermina was the mediation of Sister Franca de la Luz, Superior of the Academy (Mà ¡rq uez 125). Since Fermina hates her, she becomes outraged and becomes increasingly more vehement in her refusal to speak with Urbino. Similarly, this occurs when Urbino sends the Bishop of Riohacha on a pastoral visit to Fermina while she is living with Hildebranda in order to convince her to return home to him (Mà ¡rquez 236). Rather than give Urbino the satisfaction of her giving in to his request, Fermina refused in an amiable but firm manner when the Bishop asks to hear her confession with the explicit argument that she had nothing to repent of (Mà ¡rquez 236). She does not allow her decision to be influenced by the Bishop, but does leave with Urbino when he visits only because she would be happy to leave with him (Mà ¡rquez 254). This can also be seen during their honeymoon in how, although Fermina wanted to turn on the light in their suite, she wanted to be the one to do it, without anyones ordering her to, and she had her way (Mà ¡rquez 158). Overall, Fermina is a strong ch aracter who does not allow others, especially her husband, to persuade her or make decisions for her, instead choosing what she wants or what is most beneficial to her. Although Fermina Daza is dependent upon her husband like most women of her time, her husband is equally if not more dependent upon her. This is particularly evident after their golden wedding anniversary, when both were not capable of living for an instant without the other and that capacity diminished as their age increased (Mà ¡rquez 26). However, neither Fermina nor Urbino could have said if their mutual dependence was based on love or convenience (Mà ¡rquez 26). Urbinos dependence on Fermina is best illustrated through his need for her to care for him in his old age. Since Urbino is ten years older than Fermina, as he grows older he continually becomes weaker leaving Fermina as the strongest of the pair. At first, Fermina simply assists her husband with tasks such as bathing and dressing out of love, but for the last five years of Urbinos life she had been obliged to do it regardless of the reason because he could not dress himself (Mà ¡rquez 26). As Urbino decline s in health with his increasing age, he increasingly comes to depend upon Fermina in order to live. Basically, Urbino depends on Fermina more than Fermina depends on him. Despite Ferminas seeming dependence on Urbino for stability and companionship, she is still very independent minded. Unlike many other women of her time, she is independent in how she does not necessarily rely on her husband for a place to live. This can be seen in how Fermina threatened to move back to her fathers old house, which still belonged to her during the escalating argument between herself Urbino over whether or not there is any soap in the bath (Mà ¡rquez 29). This is also demonstrated when she leaves and goes to live with her cousin Hildebranda after she becomes aware that Urbino is having an affair. However, her independence is most clearly illustrated in how Fermina continues living after Urbinos sudden death. Despite his fear of any possible pain associated with death, what worried Dr. Urbino most about dying was the solitary life Fermina Daza would lead without him (Mà ¡rquez 45). However, Urbinos fear is unfounded because from her first moment as a wid ow, it was obvious that Fermina Daza was not as helpless as her husband had feared (Mà ¡rquez 46). When Ferminas son suggests his wife should accompany her on her riverboat journey, Fermina says that she is too big to have anyone take care of [her] (Mà ¡rquez 325). Unlike her husband, Fermina is independent and does not need anyone to take care of nor provide for her. Ferminas marriage to Urbino reveals that she is a strong, independent woman who is the intellectual equal of her husband. Urbino depends on Fermina more than Fermina depends on him since she does not need anyone to take care of nor provide for her. Despite her lack of as advanced tutelage as her husband received, by outsmarting Urbinos rules Fermina demonstrates she is still his intellectual equal and that he should appreciate her as such. In addition, Fermina is a strong character since she does not allow others, especially her husband, to persuade her or make decisions for her, instead choosing what she wants or what is most beneficial to her. Overall, by presenting Fermina Daza in her marriage to Dr. Juvenal Urbino as a strong, independent woman who is the intellectual equal of her husband, Mà ¡rquez in his novel Love in the Time of Cholera does not portray women as oppressed but rather as quite equal to their male counterparts.

How Students Can Reduce Their Carbon Footprint

Simple Things Students Can Do to Go Green This Year Everyone should do their part to protect the planet, and for some students "going green" can also be a valuable opportunity to explore a pressing cause that has become a major focus in the US lately. Recent reports have found that the Earth is warming much faster than previously thought – raising concerns among teens around the globe. A recent survey found that a majority of US teens are worried about climate change and 1 in 4 have participated in some form of activism on the topic of the Earth's climate. When students are in the midst of preparing for college it can be easy to become totally consumed with SAT scores and personal statements. While preparing for college and making the most of their high school experience is certainly important, students can also remain mindful of their surroundings and find simple ways to reduce their carbon footprint. Especially for students where environmentalism is a particular topic of interest or specialty, it's important to lead by example. Whether you want to be the next Greta Thunberg – the teen climate activist making headlines – or you just want to do your part to help reduce your carbon footprint this semester, keep reading to learn some simple eco-friendly steps you can take. Rethink Your Plastic Bottle HabitBuying plastic water bottles may seem like a convenient solution, particularly for students on the go. However, constant plastic use is not doing the environment any favors. Instead of relying on single-use bottles to quench their thirst students should consider picking out a reusable bottle and carrying it with them throughout classes and extracurricular activities. Not only is this a far more eco-friendly option, it can also cut down on spending in the long run. There are plenty of innovative water bottle brands, so don’t be afraid to spend some time perusing options before settling on a brand and design that matches your personal style. Students can also encourage their schools to go plastic bottle-free and advocate for water filling stations on campus. Ditch the Plastic StrawsStraw use may seem pretty inconsequential, but constantly opting for plastic for your beverages can add up in a pretty negative way. Switching from plastic to paper or metal straws is a small step students can take to reduce their carbon footprint. Many coffee shops have made the switch to paper straws and metal options are easy to find online. If your local shops don’t offer non-plastic options, consider making the suggestion to a store manager or salesperson. This is also another area where students can advocate for their school to go green by suggesting alternatives to plastic straws in the cafeteria. Find Alternate TransportationBiking is more than a solid exercise option! It’s also a fun and easy way to reduce your carbon footprint. Constant car use is harmful to the environment, so students should consider looking into alternate modes of transportation including biking, walking, and public transit like buses and trains. Biking not your thing? Consider other options like skateboarding, scooters, or even inline skates! While it may not be feasible for some students to take alternative transportation to school everyday, replacing short car rides with cycling or other modes of transport can be a great way to reduce your carbon emissions while also upping your physical activity for the day. Put Down the HamburgersReducing your meat consumption is another relatively easy way for students to become more eco-friendly. Greenhouse gas emissions from the agriculture industry are a major concern for the environment, so consider incorporating more meatless meals into your diet. Students can get creative by exploring alternative protein sources such as tofu, tempeh, and seitan as well as opting for beans, nuts, and legumes. While there’s no need to forgo meat entirely, even cutting back can have a significant impact on your carbon footprint. Forgo Fast FashionWhile buying cheap and on-trend clothing from major fashion retailers is always tempting, it’s not always an eco-conscious choice. Buying fast fashion contributes to massive annual textile waste as well as major contamination issues due to the vast amount of pesticides used on the genetically modified cotton many clothing items are made of. Instead of buying in bulk, consider investing in a few ethically made wardrobe staples you can repurpose for years to come. Buying clothing second-hand at local thrift stores is also another eco-friendly option that can help students go green while also saving some green! Second-hand clothing tends to be more affordable and can help you reduce waste – not to mention you can often find some one-of-a-kind pieces! By making a few simple changes students can reduce their carbon footprint and feel empowered to take action against climate change. Whether it’s environmental advocacy or another cause, it’s important for students to make an impact within their local communities. If you are looking for more ideas on how to make a change and highlight it throughout the application process, our team of college admissions experts are here to help!