The Laugh of The Medusa, written by Helene Cixous, is an empowering work of literature due to the fact of how Cixous got her words across. She writes about how women have always been viewed as lesser than men throughout history and how occasionally, certain stories have been written again to make sure the woman is seen to be blamed instead and seen as the issue. By changing these truths, it becomes harder and harder to come back to what was original because of personal beliefs in society. Cixous was very motivated to create this piece in order to let women know they must speak up and make their voice clear about what hardships women go through. By sticking together and not allowing men to make women feel lesser by words and actions, change will occur. Women should not have to put up with men teasing, lying, and depreciating women, in fact women should stand up and show how much stronger we can be. Towards the end of The Laugh of The Medusa, Medusa gently smiles while releasing a faint laugh. This small yet powerful gesture shows how something that could be so overseen can display the power and dominance being taken back.
Women have been twisted to be seen as the “bad guy” or one to blame in many different stories for many years and Medusa’s story is one of the best examples to show this. Cixous questions that “Infinite woman who, immersed as she was in her naiveté, kept in the dark about herself, led into self-disdain by the great arm of parental-conjugal phallocentrism, hasn't been ashamed of her strength?” (876). This passage is emphasizing how innocent women doubt their own thoughts due to men constantly dominating the Earth and walking over women, therefore making women question their strength and abilities. Women writers were not seen as professional or correct just because she was not a he: “There’s no room for her if she’s not a he. If she’s a her-she, it’s in order to smash everything, to shatter the framework of institutions, to blow up the law, to break up the ‘truth’ with laughter” (888). This gives an insight on how works written by women explaining the way men are in society, are seen as incorrect or seen as how women want to be a disturbance in society. Women are trying to reveal the truths meanwhile men are trying to switch the roles and place the blame on women. Stories will continue to be told or made as powerful women speaking the truth, turn into someone who is evil and not trusted.
"The Laugh of The Medusa" Helene Cixous
VH.
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