Women And Updike's Rabbit Run

A detailed Summary of Women And Updike's Rabbit Run

Women and Their Role In Updike's Rabbit, Run

Several common stereotypes of women are put forth in Updike's Rabbit, Run.

Utilizing the characters of Ruth Leonard, Janice, Lucy Eccles, Mrs. Springer, and Mrs.

Angstrom, Updike illustrates many different, classic, stereotypical views of women.

Through these women, examples of the whore, the wife, the (unknowing) temptress, and

the mother are presented. By examining each of these women, we learn about women as a

whole, and what they can be. There is no single dimension or picture of what a woman is,

or, for that matter, of what a human being is. The women in this novel are very

representational of images that are perpetuated by society. Updike illustrates several of

the innumerable aspects of a woman and womankind through his use of characters that,

while seemingly different from a distance, are not so dissimilar upon examination. They

are all, in some way, a form of protection standing between Rabbit and the outside world.

(Trachtenberg, 96) He shows, through the various portrayals of women, how society

views and classifies them. He makes them similar in many ways to show that a woman

can not easily be stereotyped because of the many dimensions to th

confuses love with sex and servitude. Janice revives, and stands up for herself as best as

reputation as a prostitute is shaky at best, Ruth Leonard is a self-admitted and properly

favorite toy. Janice is his wife, and the mother of his child. She is heavily pregnant with

If Rabbit shows little respect for his wife, his mistress, or the wife of his minister,

Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1979

one wonders how he acts towards his mother. In the beginning, in the eyes of Mrs.

inadequacy. How he veiws the women that he encounters differs sharply from how they

woman wants him sexually. The only time he has ever lived up to his potential, the only

leaving an even balance of motherly tenderness, and motherly discipline.

Religion, And Art . Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1998

Lucy is the wife of Jack Eccles, the minister. While Jack is trying to help Rabbit, and to

she can think to. She makes one small remark about Rabbit's 'whore', one frustrated,

Approximate Word count = 2622
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English

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