... not from within one's self, but from within the compulsory borders of a patriarchal society. The female writer cannot form an independent identity while conforming to an imposed one, and without a separate identity there can be no equality. In "Vesuvius At Home," another of Rich's essays, these borders are even more evident. This essay was written completely on the life and works ... with which I am familiar. But I feel that her portrayal of "man" in this essay, as earlier stated, strays a bit too far into reverse-chauvinism. Granted, this is a much more personal piece, dealing as it do...

• Word Count: 2594
• Approx Pages: 10