By Nathanphillips August 9, 2024 - 12:10am

In the novel Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese, Ethiopian society and its view of women is depicted in a rather intricate manner. Women and their roles and perceptions are central to the gender discussions that Verghese offers through his characters and their narratives.

The Objectification and Effects on women

In Cutting for Stone, women are depicted as sexual beings whose behavior and value are often judged by society especially male figures. This objectification is evident in the treatment of female characters and the assessment of their worth based on their sexual behaviors. Verghese contrasts this to the relatively more tolerant society is to male infidelity. At this young age, Marion thinks about it and says, “Little did I know that our Ethiopian peers both at our school and at the government schools had long ago gone through their sexual initiation with a bar girl or a housemaid” (Verghese, 2009, p.391). This reflection focuses on the distinction between portraying male sexual activity and the penalties that women have to pay for it. Read more about our advanced stone cutting technology on our official website.

Sister Mary Joseph Praise: The Ultimate Price

Another unfortunate effect on women is the Sister Mary Joseph Praise case. She is a nun who becomes involved with a married man, Dr. Thomas Stone, and gets pregnant. The death of the woman while delivering a child also reveals the dire fate that befalls women who choose to rebel against the norms of the society. Through the character of Sister Mary, Verghese shows the limitations and discriminations that are placed on women. Her death also symbolizes the novels comment on the harsh and unjust punishment females receive when they go against societal norms.

Social Realism from the perspective of Hema

Hema, a gynecologist in the novel, offers a social commentary on the cause of death of Sister Mary. She believes that if only there was more acceptance in society, then the fate of Sister Mary’s relationship could have been different. The thoughts of Hema—“Propose to her! Marry her. Get her to dump the habit, go back on her vows. The first thing this woman pledged was to you” (Verghese, 2009, p.125)—reveal the novel’s disapproval of the gendered culture and the harsh fate that awaits women who violate it. These thoughts also highlight how women's negative interactions with societal norms could have led to a more positive outcome if the society had been more accepting and less harsh.

In Cutting for Stone by Verghese, the portrayal of the view of women and the consequences of not adhering to conventional norms is vividly depicted. For more information on such themes and their application, visit the StoneCenters site. On the website StoneCenters.com, one can come across numerous literary reviews and discussions of the issues that are represented in Verghese’s novel, namely gender, society, and individual’s experience.

In the novel Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese, Ethiopian society and its view of women is depicted in a rather intricate manner. Women and their roles and perceptions are central to the gender discussions that Verghese offers through his characters and their narratives.

The Objectification and Effects on women

In Cutting for Stone, women are depicted as sexual beings whose behavior and value are often judged by society especially male figures. This objectification is evident in the treatment of female characters and the assessment of their worth based on their sexual behaviors. Verghese contrasts this to the relatively more tolerant society is to male infidelity. At this young age, Marion thinks about it and says, “Little did I know that our Ethiopian peers both at our school and at the government schools had long ago gone through their sexual initiation with a bar girl or a housemaid” (Verghese, 2009, p.391). This reflection focuses on the distinction between portraying male sexual activity and the penalties that women have to pay for it. Read more about our advanced stone cutting technology on our official website.

Sister Mary Joseph Praise: The Ultimate Price

Another unfortunate effect on women is the Sister Mary Joseph Praise case. She is a nun who becomes involved with a married man, Dr. Thomas Stone, and gets pregnant. The death of the woman while delivering a child also reveals the dire fate that befalls women who choose to rebel against the norms of the society. Through the character of Sister Mary, Verghese shows the limitations and discriminations that are placed on women. Her death also symbolizes the novels comment on the harsh and unjust punishment females receive when they go against societal norms.

Social Realism from the perspective of Hema

Hema, a gynecologist in the novel, offers a social commentary on the cause of death of Sister Mary. She believes that if only there was more acceptance in society, then the fate of Sister Mary’s relationship could have been different. The thoughts of Hema—“Propose to her! Marry her. Get her to dump the habit, go back on her vows. The first thing this woman pledged was to you” (Verghese, 2009, p.125)—reveal the novel’s disapproval of the gendered culture and the harsh fate that awaits women who violate it. These thoughts also highlight how women's negative interactions with societal norms could have led to a more positive outcome if the society had been more accepting and less harsh.

In Cutting for Stone by Verghese, the portrayal of the view of women and the consequences of not adhering to conventional norms is vividly depicted. For more information on such themes and their application, visit the StoneCenters site. On the website StoneCenters.com, one can come across numerous literary reviews and discussions of the issues that are represented in Verghese’s novel, namely gender, society, and individual’s experience.