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An Existential Feminist Reflection on
the Struggle for Voice in “Vox Humana”
Hifsah Rashad
Ted Morrissey’s “Vox Humana” touches the very heart of what it means to seek individuality and reclaim autonomy in a world where identities, particularly those of women, are so often dictated by patriarchal constraints. The title itself, vox humana, meaning “human voice,” hints at this central struggle for expression. The short story becomes a quiet but profound meditation on the way characters navigate the tension between societal expectations and their need for self-determination, with a particular focus on the women whose stories linger beneath the surface.
The Journey of Annette and Harry
Set against the backdrop of rural life in the late 1950s, Morrissey’s story explores the lives of Annette Wilson and her brother Harry Gale. Harry, though physically whole after serving in the Korean War, returns haunted by memories of violence, a man disconnected from the world he left behind. Meanwhile, Annette’s struggles are of a different kind, but no less poignant, abandoned by her husband, she wrestles with the weight of her roles as mother, homemaker, and a woman striving for something more.
Annette’s story is familiar to many women: the sense of being boxed into predefined roles, with little room left for personal growth. Yet through her introspection, she hints at desires that refuse to be silenced. It is in these quiet, internal battles that Morrissey captures the essence of what it means to search for meaning in a world that offers little room for deviation. While Harry confronts the physical and emotional scars of war, Annette’s war is one of identity, a battle for her own voice in a space that has already assigned her a role.
Feminist Theory Versus Existential Feminism
The lens of existential feminism offers a unique way of reading “Vox Humana.” Traditional feminist critique might focus on the visible, systemic forces that oppress women, namely the overt patriarchal structures that dictate the lives of Annette and the other women in Morrissey’s world. However, existential feminism takes us deeper, exploring the personal, individual struggles for freedom, for identity, and for self-definition.
In this context, Annette’s story is more than just a reflection of patriarchal limitations. It becomes a portrait of quiet rebellion. She is not loudly defiant, but in her thoughts and small actions, she expresses her yearning for a life that is truly hers. Morrissey writes of Annette’s desire to “plant something truly her own,” a vivid metaphor for the quiet yet powerful need to carve out an identity that is not dictated by the expectations of others. It’s a small but telling gesture one that underscores the story’s exploration of personal agency, of the delicate dance between societal roles and the inner self.
The Boundaries of Gender and the Desire for Freedom
The question of freedom is at the very heart of “Vox Humana.” For women like Annette, freedom is not about grand declarations or sweeping changes but about the subtle ways in which they push against the edges of what is expected of them. Morrissey’s depiction of women navigating their domestic lives, tending to homes, caring for children, might seem, on the surface, like a reaffirmation of traditional roles. Yet, beneath these outward gestures is a simmering desire for self-determination.
Annette’s garden, for instance, becomes a powerful symbol. In the act of planting, of creating life, she asserts a small but significant piece of autonomy. This act of nurturing something wholly her own speaks to her deeper need to reclaim her identity, one that is too often subsumed by the duties of motherhood and wifehood. These quiet acts of resistance may seem insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but they carry within them the seeds of existential freedom.
De Beauvoir, Young, and the Women of “Vox Humana”
The existential struggles faced by Morrissey’s female characters find resonance in the works of existential feminists like Simone de Beauvoir and Iris Marion Young. De Beauvoir’s The Second Sex reminds us that femininity is not something inherent but is shaped by the societal forces that surround women. This notion is reflected in Annette’s inner turmoil. She had been trying to fulfill society’s expectation of what it meant to be a good wife.
Iris Marion Young’s insights, particularly in her essay “Throwing Like a Girl,” speak to the ways women internalize societal restrictions. Characters like Beth Ann Ferguson in “Vox Humana” reflect this internalization. Beth Ann’s reluctance to attend Harry’s homecoming party despite her personal connection to him reveals the subtle pressures placed on women to conform, to remain passive, and to not draw attention to themselves. The hesitation is quiet, almost invisible, but it carries with it the weight of societal expectation.
Morrissey’s characters understand that self-determination is not a clear path, but one fraught with internal and external challenges. The freedom to choose, to act, to be is not always met with applause or understanding. Rather, it is often met with silence, with judgment, with exile. And yet, for these women, the act of choosing remains essential, even when the world offers little support.
Reclaiming the Voice
In a world where silence is often expected of women, Morrissey’s characters find ways to reclaim their voices. Annette, with her thoughts and her quiet musings, asserts her individuality in ways that may seem small but are profound in their defiance. Beth Ann succumbs to social pressure and attends Harry’s welcome-home party, but in the end she is the instrument of his liberation, which may foreshadow her own. Morrissey gives these women their moments of triumph, not through loud speeches or grand acts of rebellion, but through the simple, human act of finding and using their voices.
These acts, though quiet, are a reminder of the power of personal agency. They reflect the core of existential feminism that freedom is often found in the small, everyday choices we make to define ourselves, even when the world is watching.
“Vox Humana” resonates deeply with the themes of existential feminism, offering an opinionated portrayal of women grappling with their identities. Through Annette and the other women in the story, Morrissey introduces a world where the quest for self-definition, voice, and autonomy is a quiet yet persistent battle. It is not a loud or overt rebellion, but one marked by subtle, meaningful acts of resistance. In these moments, Morrissey captures the quiet dignity of reclaiming one’s voice and choosing to assert one’s individuality, even in the face of societal silencing. It is this relentless pursuit of identity and refusal to be stifled that gives “Vox Humana” its true power and beauty.
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Hifsah Rashad is a literature graduate from the National University of Modern Languages (NUML), with a keen interest in literary analysis, discourse studies, and contemporary fiction. As a content writer and researcher, she explores the intersections of narrative structure, identity, and cultural discourse. In her article, she investigates how women quietly resist patriarchal constraints and reclaim their voices. Drawing on the ideas of de Beauvoir and Iris Marion Young, her analysis sheds light on the subtle struggles for self-determination found in contemporary literature.
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