In todays
society men are constantly reminded of what it is to be a man. What
divides men and women are the characteristics they might possess of
masculinity and femininity. To be distinguished as a man with
feminine qualities would be considered an insult. In order to avoid
such an insult men oftentimes go to far lengths to achieve
societies idealized form of
masculinity. Masculinity and its characteristics have changed
throughout our continuously developing society. One dominant
feature that continues to serve a purpose in defining masculinity
is
violence. To
further examine the connection between violence and masculinity
this essay will first examine Leo Braudys introduction to his book
and will clarify his perception of the word masculinity.
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He argues that
traditional notions of masculinity in modern culture in some way
or another emphasize war values and the violence of it. Although
masculinity and its meaning varies within each culture and their
social demands, war and violence has greatly affected what is
regarded as masculine or feminine. As explained by Braudy, in past
history men who fought in wars were glorified and admired for their
manly attributes. Such men were titled as brave heroes who
possessed strength, immense power, and were valiant. On the
frontlines, men were expected to be both physically and mentally
ready to take on and defeat the enemy. In the process of defeating
the enemy the prime purpose of war thus became to kill anyone on
the opposing side. But, wars were not only a way to end lives they
were also a way of defining what it was to be a
man. As explained
by Braudy, the perception of war and the men who fight them,
trickle into the bloodstream of a culture and into the
imaginations of individuals (Braudy, xvii), to create a long
lasting image of what an ideal man should be like. This image of an
ideal man, that arose from war and violence, is still relevant
today in modern society in terms of defining
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