When comparing and contrasting the character of Calliope in Middlesex, and Anais Nin, the famous writer and star in the movie Henry and June, I can think of many similarities. First of all, they both represent the Feminist theory that we discussed in class. Anais Nin is a sort of the role model for feminist theory because a). She is a writer in a time where woman were strongly discouraged from doing anything other than get married and pop out children. b). She was writing erotica, writing about sex in a very explicit way which was new and different, especially from a woman’s stand point c) She herself was engaging in sexual activity with MANY people, because she figured if men can do it, why can’t a woman. All these things sort of define the feminist theory that woman try to break down social norms and rewrite rules. Anais Nin did just this, because of her books she opened the door for many other woman writers of her time, and helped open the door for woman in sexuality.
Calliope from Middlesex can arguable be considered the role model for queer theory and also feminist theory. Queer theory, obviously Calliope is not “normal” by the worlds view, she is both man and woman and eventually chooses to become a man, even after being raised a girl for the majority of her life. Her entire family history (desdemona and lefty being siblings) down to even her own parents, who were cousins, is all explained by queer theory. She is also considered a femminist because although she was raised a woman, she always thought like a man and even engaged in some relationships with woman, she even became a hooker at one point, which socially is looked down upon but she did it anyways. Even down to the act of her getting a sex change is sort of femmist because she broke the rules of being a woman, period.
In conclusion, I can see how they are similar for these reasons, I think I covered them all?
