Masculinity Theory From Novels Of Treasure Island, By...

Joseph Kestner writes, â€Å"In Treasure Island, Hawkins is forced to achieve an identity, but this process is riddled with ambiguity, including the fact that Jim commits murder and remains haunted by the experience as a nightmare,† (Masculinities in British Adventure Fiction, 1880-1915). He specializes in masculinity theory from novels written in the late nineteenth century. Kestner can relate to Jim because he is forced to become a new person, kill a human to save his own life, and questions why situations happen. Unlike in Stevenson’s text, Wyeth’s illustration depicts Jim’s stereotypical masculinity through poses and symbolism, thereby suggesting his gendered maturation begins in a domestic rather than adventure setting. Joseph Kestner’s†¦show more content†¦Jim’s pose shows that he is unemotional compared to his mother who is positioned behind him. In this illustration, Jim is shorter than his mother, but Wyeth uses the technique occlusion to make Jim appear larger than he actually is. Wyeth uses this technique to demonstrate the importance of Jim, implying that he is clearly the most powerful character. In the nineteenth century, gender roles were vastly different than they are today; for example, females acted feminine and showed their emotions, while men acted emotionless and tried to act tough. Wyeth shows this by having Jim posing in a way that accentuates his masculinity; he has a wide stance and his shoulders are pulled back. His stance shows his confidence, while his mother’s stance shows skepticism. Jim’s mother is crying and she is allowed to show her emotion, while Jim is trying to hold back his tears. Since Jim’s father had recently passed away , this image shows that Jim is ready to assume his father’s role as â€Å"the man of the house.† Jim is transitioning from adolescence to adulthood, which is seen at the point in the novel when he is about to set out on an adventure at sea. Their relationship would be diminished by the inability to see each other all the time. But, Jim is no longer dependent upon his parents, rather he is now an independent person, and this is shown in the illustration. The use of darkness and shadowing conveys a sense of mystery and ofShow MoreRelatedTheme Of Identity In Treasure Island1638 Words   |  7 PagesIn a quote by Joseph Kestner he said, â€Å"In Treasure Island, Hawkins is forced to achieve an identity, but this process is riddled with ambiguity, including the fact that Jim commits murder and remains haunted by the experience as a nightmare,†(______). He specializes in masculinity theory from novels written in the late nineteenth century. Kestner is able to relate Jim because he is forced to become a new person, kill a man to save his own life, and questions why situations happen. Wyeth suggests