Change and Choices in Two Romantic Relationship - myassignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theChange and Choices in Two Romantic Relationship. Answer: The two pieces of writing-Doris Lessings To Room Nineteen and Ernest Hemingways Hills Like White Elephants describes romantic relationships prominently and are chosen for comparison and contrasting. The similarities between the both stories are highlighted-Susan and Jig was lonely at heart and wished to make decisions about their lives on basis of their choices. The similarities in both pieces of writing are about the atrocities afflicted on women by patriarchal society while the contrast is about the circumstances in both the stories. Readers will be able to learn the dominating role of men in romantic relationships. In Hemingways story, The American man trying to convince Jig with romantic words, Well, I care about you I love you now. You know I love you (p.644).In Lessings story, Susan and Mathew commend themselves on the fact that they are well matched. They feel that the reason of this bonding must be their love for each other that holds it all together. They love each other? Well, that was nearest it. If this wasnt a centre, what was? (p.865).Both stories depict a similar situation when Matthew asked Susan Im not putting any sort of pressure on you. Are things going to go on like this? (881). Similarly, In Hemingways story, The American man said to Jig, I think its the best thing to do but I dont want you to do it if you dont really want to? (644).The quotes portray vividly that both male partners care about their female partners. Moreover, both women are reluctant to discuss the troubling situation confronted by them; Susan tries to avoid confronting by making vague and idiotic comments, wh ile Jig requests her partner to stop talking. In comparison, one significant difference that can be marked in the stories, of course, are their circumstances such as in Hemingways story, Jig and her partner discussing the abortion and man convinces the woman by saying its Perfectly simple and everything will be normal after the abortion. This can be contrasted with the other story- Lessings ceases to have a life besides her family, while the husband stays more absent from home. Matthew returns home late after a party, confessing that he has slept with a girl. This incidence distanced the couple and their relationship changed afterward. Susan rents a room in London and tries to find solitude. Susan makes a decision to kill herself in room 19. In Hemingways story, Jig portrays dilemma about the choice of abortion, when she said, And if I do it youll be happy and things will be like they were and youll love me? (p. 644).This quote vividly reflects Jigs compulsion to make the decision of abortion just for the sake of her partners lo ve. On contrary, Susan says in Lessings story, Im a different person. Im simply not myself. I dont understand it(p.871). These phrases vividly reflect the sharp contrast of the emotional state of both women toward their partners. In Doris Lessings Story To Room Nineteen, it is clearly depicted that the social culture in London imposed restrictions on women. Susan went insane when she found that her husband was having extramarital affairs. Susans journey of self- discovery throws light on the fact that social restrictions on women in London proved to be detrimental for the emotional and physical well being of women who were compelled to play the role of housewives confiding themselves to serve the needs of household, husbands and children. Similarly, in the story Hills like White Elephant by Ernest Hemingway, Jig is emotionally manipulated by the American man to undergo an abortion. Jig feels tired of letting his man be his guardian and dictating terms on her. Her man makes every decision for her and he seems to be quite ignorant about Jigs feelings. Both the stories depict the atrocities inflicted upon women by patriarchal society.The contrast in the stories depicts that dilemma is demonstrated by Jig to make choice about abortion and Susan made a choice to attempt suicide. Both the stories ended up depicting the submissiveness of women and emotional torture of the patriarchal society is also reflected in both the stories. Work Cited Hemingway, Ernest. Hills like White Elephants. The Norton Anthology of short Fiction.8thEd., edited by Richard Bausch and R.V. Cassill. New York: W.W. Norton company, 2015. Print. Pp. 642-646. Lessing, Doris. To Room Nineteen.The Norton Anthology of short Fiction.8thEd., edited by Richard Bausch and R.V. Cassill. New York: W.W. Norton company, 2015. Print. Pp. 863-886.