Essay Questions

Show how Feminism as a theme is brought out in Gertrude Stein’s Three Lives

On top of clearly presenting the socio-economic gaps that exist in contemporary America, and in particular the struggle and battle of lower-class women, Gertrude Stein also presents the theme of feminism in Three Lives. The female struggle is also presented in the way that Melanctha suffers abuse at the hands of her father while in her teens. When finally Melanctha manages to achieve sexual freedom, it is against the society's expectations as women often face criticisms with regards to the same; in particular, women of colour, like Melanctha, are often at the receiving end of this criticism. Additionally, another aspect of the novel Three Lives that can be regarded as the novel writer's attempt to incorporate feminism in the novel is Melanctha’s declaration, after having suffered abuse at the hands of her father that she would need to use her power as a woman in order to fight male chauvinism and gain her position in the male-dominated society.

Illustrate how Gertrude Stein portrays the psychological underpinnings of the women characters that she presents in her novel Three Lives.

Three Lives can be argued to be Gertrude Stein’s exploration of the psychological bedrocks of the three women protagonists that she chooses for this magnificently crafted literary piece. In this line, Stein presents each of the characters in association with the people they interact with. Through her well designed and careful thought over approach, Stein manages to bring out with absolute sensitivity and understanding as well as insight, the three substantially different and distinct personalities, each with its role in love and life. Lena marries Herman without question just because she has been told to do so by an aunt—Mrs. Haydon. Anna, on the other hand, is presented as being quite resolute as opposed to Melanctha. She is unswerving and intractable. Stein thus uses the novel to provide a deeper understanding of the mental construction of the characters that she employs.