Affinities of Mind and Spirit between the Characters Essay

Regardless of cultural trends, the views and positions of representatives of different eras can have similar features, which manifests itself both in everyday affairs and in the context of attitudes toward high matters. As an example, several female images will be compared, and special emphasis will be placed on the similarities between their mind and spirit. The key figure in the assessment is Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who pioneered the women’s legal profession. After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1959, she became a prominent figure in her field, earning the respect of the entire legal community (Farlow & Creed, 2021). Her image and attitudes will be compared to those of such women as Elizabeth Cady Stanton (social activist), Edna Pontellier (Chopin’s “The Awakening” character), and Sojourner Truth (abolitionist and feminist). Their intelligence, determination, perseverance, fearlessness, and relevance as culture heroes bring these women together, highlighting them as prominent figures of their eras.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elizabeth Cady Stanton

The affinities of spirit and mind between these two women are obvious. Like Ginsburg, Stanton was not afraid to demonstrate her beliefs to the world and showed fearlessness even to the ruling elites by publicly expressing her position (Vetter, 2021). They both inspired their contemporaries, and although they lived in different eras, they became symbols of the struggle for women’s equality, albeit on different scales. In an effort to prove their worth, they were convinced that women were entitled to the same opportunities as men, including different areas of professional and cultural interests. For them, equality and justice were significant life concepts that they promoted.

Stanton is rightfully considered one of the first women to start promoting gender equality on the American social agenda. When talking about the differences between the two women, one might notice that Ginsburg had an easier time because her professional heyday came in the middle of the 20th century, when a number of freedoms had already been achieved. Stanton led her social activities back in the 19th century when equality was an illusory concept (Vetter, 2021). However, using intelligence and perseverance, both women decisively proved their capabilities among their contemporaries. As a result, one can talk about their relevance as culture heroes, which is largely due to innovative and fearless ideas that required not only intelligence but also fortitude.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Edna Pontellier

When comparing Ginsburg with Edna Pontellier, a literary character, one may note some distinctive approaches to social action and the use of internal resources, despite the similarities between them. Ginsburg was born into an immigrant family, while Pontellier came from a wealthy family and had a number of freedoms since childhood (Editors of KateChopin.org, 2020). However, both women demonstrated similar moral clarity manifested in their conviction in the correctness of their decisions. The persistence demonstrated by Pontellier and her determination toward family members shows that she, like Ginsburg, was ready to go against the social foundations of her time and realize her interests without sacrificing personal freedom.

Both women thought soberly; in the case of Ginsburg, her profession in the legal sphere allowed her to form clear life principles and set objectively achievable goals without fear for her reputation. Pontellier also displayed fearlessness; as Chopin (2018) writes, despite the woman’s sadness after leaving her family, she showed resilience and determination without betraying her ideals or abandoning her goals. The independence of both women allows for speaking of them as culture heroes who did not see anything reprehensible in following personal ideals and realizing themselves. Thus, one can safely assert the similarity of spirit and mind between Ginsburg and Pontellier.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sojourner Truth

While comparing Ginsburg with Sojourner Truth, one might notice that the former probably had even less fortitude, although her mind was structured. Truth, being a born slave, felt all the hardships of life in captivity, and only due to her perseverance and determination was she able to become a symbol of the struggle for freedom (Smiet, 2021). Although she did not possess an intelligence similar to that of Ginsburg, Truth showed admirable fearlessness, especially given the time and conditions in which she lived. Having no development opportunities, she managed to prove that her moral perseverance was stronger than fear, which brings her closer to Ginsburg. Both women can be called culture heroes, and although their eras offered distinctive social trends and opportunities, each of them had enough courage and inner strength to achieve what they wanted.

Conclusion

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, an outstanding female lawyer and pioneer in her field, is compared in the context of mind and spirit to other prominent female personalities, namely Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Edna Pontellier, and Sojourner Truth. One can note that each of them had sufficient tenacity and fearlessness to promote their values, despite social, cultural, and other constraints. Although the minds of some of these women differed from that of Ginsburg, which was largely associated with the era, all of them showed the strength of mind, and some even surpassed Ginsburg in this. As a result, the relevance of all women as culture heroes is undeniable.

References

Chopin, K. (2018). The awakening. The Kate Chopin International Society. Web.

Editors of KateChopin.org. (2020). Kate Chopin: The awakening. The Kate Chopin International Society. Web.

Farlow, J., & Creed, S. L. (2021). Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s contribution to legal education: Gender bias and law schools. e-Journal of Social & Behavioural Research in Business, 12(3), 5-9.

Smiet, K. (2021). Sojourner Truth and intersectionality: Traveling truths in feminist scholarship. Routledge.

Vetter, L. P. (2021). Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Lucretia Mott: Radical ‘co-adjutors’ in the American women’s rights movement. British Journal for the History of Philosophy, 29(2), 244-258. Web.