Djuna’s Characteristics as Seen from Her Relationship with Men
and feels the equal power in between. Djuna’s attraction toward Lillian is not an attraction as a friend or sister, but as a lover who wants to embody herself in her
lover. Djuna responded instantly to the quick rhythm, to the intensity. It was a
meeting of equal speed, equal fervor, equal strength. It was as if they had been two champion skiers making simultaneous jumps and landing together
at the same spot. It was like a meeting of two chemicals exactly balanced, fusing and foaming with the pleasure of achieved proportions 1995: 16.
Djuna empathizes Lillian’s sufferings in the relationship with men, therefore Djuna comforts and showers Lillian with such affection. Djuna wants to guide
Lillian and becomes a good companion for her. It is described in the novel: But each time she saw it in Lillian, flaring, uncontrolled, wild, blind, destroying itself
and others, her compassion and love were aroused. “That will be my gift to her,” she thought with warmth, with pity, “I will guide her.” 1995: 23. Djuna and
Lillian build a strong relationship between them. It is a relationship between two women whom both enjoy presenting devotion and affection. Both Djuna and
Lillian feels an equal power with no one side domination. And then Djuna was there, to remove the arrows implanted in Lillian, to
cleanse them of their poison, to open the prison door, to open the trap door, to protect, to give transfusion of blood, and peace to the wounded 1995:
41.
Besides, Djuna also has feminine characteristic which attracts Lillian.
Lillian sees Djuna’s feminine quality as something hidden and a pure treasure. As stated in the novel: Outwardly Djuna was the essence of femininity . . . a curled
frilled flower which might have been a starched undulating petticoat or a ruffled ballet skirt molded into a sea shell 1955: 22. Djuna’s femininity has also
fascinated Lillian’s powerful characteristic. In their relationship, they complete PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
each other by pursuing their own nature as shown in the following quotation: As Djuna enjoyed Lillian’s violence, Lillian enjoyed Djuna’s feminine capitulations
1995: 51. While Lillian falls in love with Djuna’s femininity, Djuna is amazed by Lillian’s beauty and admires it. As one of Djuna’s admiration of Lillian is
described in the following quotation: She looked like a white negrees, a body made for rolling in natural undulations of pleasure and desire. Her vivid face, her
avid mouth, her provocative, teasing glances proclaimed sensuality 1995: 44. Although Djuna builds relationship with Lillian, she still does not want to be
bounded in a relationship. This shows that Djuna is a self-governed woman. In
her relationship with Lillian, Djuna feels happy yet afraid. She feels trapped as a lover to give her whole self. Lillian often buys Djuna many gifts to gladden her,
yet Djuna precisely feels unhappy. She recognizes that every gift is bounded with Lillian’s demand toward Djuna and it will destroy her freedom.
Djuna is showered with gifts as in a fairy tale, but she could not find in them the fairytale pleasure. She felt that to each gift was tied a little invisible cord
or demand, of exactingness, of debt, of domination. She felt she could not wear all these things and walk away, freely. She felt that with the gifts, a
golden spider wove a golden web of possession 1995: 42.
Since Lillian’s need toward Djuna grows larger, Djuna decides to leave Lillian. Djuna is trapped in her relationship because she is obligated to give her
whole self whenever Lillian needs it. Therefore, she leaves Lillian and continues her life freely. Djuna gave herself in the most unexpected ways. She lived in the
cities of inferior. She had no permanent abode. She was always arriving and leaving undetected, as through a series of trap doors 1995: 162-163.
Djuna’s action of letting herself kept doing what she wants to do as a woman proves that
she is a self-governed woman. She argues that those who can make their own lives are not only men but also women.
B. The Reflection of Radical Libertarian Feminism Ideas on Lillian and Djuna’s Characteristics
After analyzing the characterization of Lillian and Djuna in Ladders to Fire, this part aims to answer the second formulated question which is how their
characteristics portray the ideas of radical libertarian feminism. Here, the writer mostly uses Tong’s radical libertarian feminism theories.