thing in the family proves that the man ’s position is very important. It is because
he is the one who has the power to decide, to chose, and to agree the thing that the women do.
In a nutshell, Richie ’s treatment to Sabrina shows that he exploits her
freedom. As an object of Richie ’s anger, Sabrina is like a bird inside the cage. She
has to fulfill Richie ’s request. She also has to obey Richie, even though she,
herself can make a decision whether it is good or not for them. The man also has an authority
over the woman because he is superior that determines everything. As an oppressed woman, she is exploited mentally by the way Richie treats her like
the situation mentioned above.
2. Richie and Eleanor
Eleanor ’s life changes a lot when Richie becomes her step-father. In her
teenage age, she receives unpleasant treatment from her step-father. Eleanor is not an object of Richie
’s anger, but her freedom is exploited by her step-father. Their relation can be explained like this: Eleanor is the one who has to obey Richie, and
Richie is the rule maker or decision maker. It is because Richie is the one who rules her and Eleanor cannot do anything if it is not allowed by Richie.
One day, it happens when Eleanor wants to go to her father ’s house. She
asks her mother if she wants to go there, but her mother should talk to Richie about her wish. Sabrina makes sure that Eleanor is allowed or not. Eleanor said to
her mother, ‘No don’t talk to Richie. He’ll just say no. And, anyway, he can’t tell
me that I can ’t see my father’ p. 89. The statement shows that Eleanor really
worries if she is not allowed to see her father. In this case, the practice of
patriarchy is shown when Eleanor has no right to go to her father ’s house. The
fears that she feels is because she doubts if she cannot go to her father ’s house
because Richie does not like if she goes there. The role of a man in this relation is very strong. As a center, he can make a
choice which has impact to the woman. Whether the woman does the thing or not depends on the man
’s decision. He has the power to rule the woman. Then, the woman has no choice to do it. She has to obey the man.
The other case is when Eleanor ’s uncle sends a letter about a camp
program for talented high school students from his university, Richie shouts that he does not agree,
“You can’t send her up to Minnesota by herself.”p. 189. He said no, and then the she should agree with his decision. It proves that the woman
has no power to choose her own choice. She is forbidden by the man. Then she cannot do anything.
Eleanor and Richie get different treatment in the house. As a woman, she gets different menu with Richie. It can be seen from the statement in the novel.
She even made him a totally different dinner. The kids would get grilled cheese, and Richie would get steak. Eleanor wasn
’t complaining about the grilled cheese either
– it was a nice break from bean soup, and bean rice, and huevos y frijoles . . . p. 26
Even though it is only a simple matter, it shows that the woman has no equality with the man. She just receives something that is not as expensive as the
man has. The difference proves that a man dominates the woman even in a dining table. The domination of the man is not only in a decision but also in the food
choice that is served. The menu of the foods between them shows the superiority of the position of woman and man.
Eleanor also gets the food that Richie does not like. “And her mom gave
her a fried egg sandwich that Richie hadn ’t wanted, and pinned an old, chipped
glass flower to Eleanor ’s jacket.” p. 161. The quotation indicates that Eleanor
does not get food that is deliberately for her. She gets the food that is for Richie instead. It means that the women can have what the man does not like. However,
the man does not get what the woman does not like. She only gets man ’s leftover.
Richie gets food that should be fresh from the oven. He is served food that is not a leftover from the woman.
The inequality between the woman and the man proves that patriarchy occurs. The choice of for food shows that the place of the man is higher than the
woman. The man gets steak. It is known that it more expensive than what Eleanor gets. The food that the man gets gives an example that the difference happens in a
small aspect in the family. Even the food is different. The woman and the man have discrimination in a form of food choice. The discrimination determines that
the inequality between them. The menu gives a depiction that the woman and the man are different in a matter of food service. As a subordinate class, the woman
cannot get what the man gets. The woman also cannot get fresh food. She gets the man
’s leftover instead while the man can get the fresh food. The matter of food shows the place of the man. He is the superior over the woman. It can be said that
he also gets the better thing while the woman cannot. It can be concluded that patriarchy occurs between Eleanor and Richie. It
can be seen when Richie is the one who makes the decision. Eleanor as the woman should obey the decision that Richie makes. Eleanor has no freedom to
choose what she wants to do. Her life is limited by Richie. She also has no right to have a friend because Richie controls her. In the house, Eleanor and Richie don
’t have same treatment. It can be seen when they are in dining table. Richie has
better food than Eleanor. However, the woman does not get what the man get. The difference also occurs in the food choice. Besides, the man has power over the
women. He can do many things rather than the woman.
B. Domestic Violence Experienced by Eleanor and Sabrina
