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Perspective

“Barbara the Slut” (2015) by Lauren Holmes and “Cassandra among the Creeps” (2014)

by Rebecca Solnit are stories written from the first and second person perspectives, respectively.

The two narratives explore the experiences of women in the society including discrimination and

oppression by their male colleagues. The first and second person perspectives use enables the

authors to demonstrate the extent of oppression and discrimination of the women discrimination

and oppression in the society to the audience.

“Barbara the Slut” revolves around the experience of a young woman named Barbara.

Barbara is depicted in the story as a young woman who loves and cares for her autistic brother

and determined to reject the patriarchal societal system. Written from the first person

perspective, Barbara (the narrator) describes how the patriarchal societal system contributes to

the oppression and discrimination of women (Holmes).

Barbara is also portrayed as a brilliant student from a financially stable family

background. However, the height of female oppression and discrimination in the American

society forces Barbara to be indiscriminate of her sexual favors. Barbara explains that she avoids

romantic relationships with men due to her experiences in the society. Barbara specifically

describes her experience in the American high school at the age of 16 years. After explaining her
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stand regarding the life of sex and relationships, Barbara explains that the boys in her school

publicly bully and shame her. Barbara explains that the description of her principles to the male

colleagues in her school leads to a stereotype of a slut as evidenced by her statement, “ho, whore,

skank, Barbara Lewinsky, sticky-fingers Murphy, but mostly they called me slut.” “Slut” is the

slung word in the American society that serves as a synonym for “prostitute”.

Holmes uses the first person perspective in “Barbara the Slut” narrative for some reasons.

Firstly, she wants the audience to develop an immediate connection with Barbara, the

protagonist. Holmes enables Barbara to narrate her experience in a patriarchal society directly to

the audience. This ensures that the audience empathizes with her. Secondly, Holmes understands

that the first person perspective enhances credibility and makes the themes clearer than when the

same story is told in the third person perspective. Holmes hence enables the audience to

understand and empathize with women who experience discrimination in the American societies

and other societies across the globe that are still stuck in the conventional patriarchal systems.

“Cassandra among the Creeps” narrative revolves around the experience of a woman

called Cassandra in the ancient Kingdom of Troy. Cassandra is depicted in the narrative as a true

prophet because of the accuracy of her prophecies. Solnit gives the story of Cassandra in the

second person perspective as evidenced by the statement, “I have been thinking of Cassandra as

we sail through choppy waters of the gender wars…” (Solnit). Solnit explains that despite being

a true prophet, her gift is seen by her male colleagues in the ancient Trojan society as a curse.

Moreover, the men in this society describe her as “insane” and “liar” due to her determination to

oppose the expectations of the patriarchal societal system. Cassandra’s determination makes the

King of Troy (Agamemnon) make her a concubine as a method of defaming, shamming and

humbling her.
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Solnit’s use of second person perspective enables her to act as an “onlooker” for the

audience. From the second person perspective, Solnit is able to capture the attention of the

readers hence enabling them to share experiences with Cassandra, the protagonist. The second

person perspective enables Solnit to persuade the readers to understand Cassandra’s experience

in a patriarchal system that upholds female discrimination and oppression.

Although the “Barbara the Slut” and “Cassandra among the Creeps” are told from the

first and second person perspectives, respectively, the authors give a clearer picture of female

oppression and discrimination by their male colleagues in the society than when the same stories

were to be narrated in the third person perspective. It is evident that patriarchal system existed in

the ancient times and it still exists today. The two stories give the audience a first-hand

experience regarding the experience of women in patriarchal systems hence provoking empathy.
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Works Cited

Holmes, Lauren. "Barbara the Slut and Other People." Holmes, Lauren. Barbara the Slut. New

York City: HarperCollins Publishers Limited, 2015.

Solnit, Rebecca. "Men Explain Things to Me." Solnit, Rebecca. Cassandra among the Creeps.

Chicago: Haymarket Books, 2014.