Rosalind Franklin

 ROSALIND FRANKLIN

At some point in our lives, someone will say something completely untrue, unforgivingly unsolicited. But what happens when they do it behind your back? To someone incapable of defending themselves? To someone who isn’t present? What if someone slandered your name in it’s entirety, belittling your greatest accomplishments just to, inevitably, take credit for themselves?

Rosalind Franklin was exceptionally bright, known for her unique intellect at the ripe, young age of six by her family.[1] She attended the most prestigious schools available to her, setting standards that baffled those around her. Though even her own family tended to the social order of gender inequality, (her own father only ever hired men),[2] Rosalind went to the same school as her eldest brother, until she later attended a boarding school, eventually returning to London to attend a girls’ school known for its academics. She excelled in academics, taking entrance exams to college a year before she was of age. She attended a women’s college focusing in science and mathematics, despite her parents’ wishes of her having a more maternal career. In a letter home, she referred to one professor as “very good, although female,” noting and persevering through a predominately male workforce.[3]

She graduated at the top of her class, earning herself a scholarship, leading to her PhD in 1945.[4] In her early career following school, she was offered a position as a chemist in Paris, making her one of only fifteen researchers in the Central National Laboratory. This facility treated the employed men and women equally, and it is said that her four years in Paris may have even been the happiest years in her life.[5] Though she was happy, she returned home to a new position- to work with DNA using x-ray diffraction at King’s College, a part of the lab normally run by Maurice Wilkins. Wilkins argued that she was only hired to be his assistant, when in fact she was not.[6] He didn’t handle the newcomer too well, eventually stealing her lab notes and ideas. Unlike the lab in Paris, Rosalind worked around the gender segregation, with even the lunchroom off limits to her.[7]

Ultimately, it was Wilkins, James Watson and Frances Crick that took undeserved credit for the entirety of the chemical structure of DNA, accepting a Nobel Prize, after Rosalind’s death at the age of 37.[8] Prior, Rosalind, with the help of her PhD student, had built a camera that had given the clearest x-ray images to date, which was later taken by the men, along with all of her lab notes, that created the DNA model.[9]

The biggest slap in the face, though, was Watson’s book, depicting Rosalind as an abrasive, brutish woman who knew not how to be feminine. He gave her the nickname “Rosy,” which she did not go by. He depicted her with every imaginable, unattractive trait even if they weren’t true, as to make her out to be some pushy smartass taking over his lab.[10] In fact, it is mentioned that others had the pleasure of working with her, and that she was extremely smart and precise with her work.[11] After Watson’s lies were published, a friend of Rosalind, Anne Sayre, wrote Rosalind Franklin and DNA, correcting all of the misleading ideas set forth by Watson, claiming that she had been “unjustifiably robbed” of proper credit.[12] She gave Rosalind the credit that was due, and slashed through all of the insulting ideas brought on by Watson with Rosalind’s true self. Rosalind worked until almost the day of her death- the day she died some of her work was published. She was an extremely intelligent woman, set out and destined to break records.

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[1] Galvin, Eileen A., Aphrodite, Clamar, Siderits, Mary Anne, Women of Vision: Their Psychology, Circumstances and Success, Springer Publishing Company, January 2007. See page 262

[2] IBID. 

[3] IBID. See page 263.

[4] IBID. See page 264.

[5] IBID. See page 265.

[6] IBID.

[7] IBID. See page 267.

[8] IBID. See page 269.

[9] IBID. See page 267.

[10] Sayre, Anne. Rosalind Franklin and DNA. New York: Norton. 2000. p 18-19.

[11] IBID. See page 21.

[12] Galvin, Eileen A., Aphrodite, Clamar, Siderits, Mary Anne, Women ofVision: Their Psychology, Circumstances and Success, Springer Publishing Company, January 2007. See page 270.

Camille Claudel

The Isolation of a Muse

Figure 1: Painting Camille Claudel
Author Unknown

Everyone wants to become something great in life. Everyone has some sort of goal they would like to accomplish. Even if you think you may not want to do something so extraordinary in this world, I believe there's at least one thing you are passionate about.

Camille Claudel was a vibrant, intelligent, women. She is an influential sculptor who was judged and not accepted by the world of art. The 19th century was a time in history where gender equality was not practiced, people's lifestyles more so females were judged and controlled.

Claudel is known for being Auguste Rodin's muse. Yet, she was so much more than just a muse. She created sculptors in which many people did not know how to understand them. She was rejected and isolated by the most important people of her life.

She was born in  France on December 8, 1864.She was the eldest sister of three.

Her father worked on mortgages. Her mother was a housewife who came from Catholic farmers.

As a child, Claudel was fascinated with stone and soil. She took interest in studying at Academie Colarossi. It was one of the few schools female students were allowed to enroll. As a young artist Claudel was an inspiration to her peers and also her teacher/lover Rodin.

During the 1800's  female artist  were not given many opportunities so when they accomplished major task not all were praised like men, but were overshadowed.  She became a well-known sculptor and designed many pieces that revolved around her life experience. Claudel was able to create a narrative of anything she wanted using marble and bronze.

Due to her infamous relationship with her teacher Rodin, she felt as if her presence was not appreciated. Much of Rodin's work was inspired by Claudel. Rodin was Claudel's teacher, mentor, and intimate lover. She went through an abortion and was very emotional expressing how she felt. Rodin was married and having an affair with Claudel. When Claudel's mother found out she was angry.

Many people did not expect the work Claudel created to come from a woman. After her break up with Rodin, Camille established herself as an independent artist. As an independent women Camille struggled paying her own bill. Claudel's lifestyle was uncommon to see. Why? Well during the 1800's women were bound by their family or by a male. Seeing someone especially a female who is independent was very foreign and strange. Though she was praised by many eminent critics, Claudel's early work was produced under Rodin's name which only worked according to his favor. This left Claudel with no benefactors leaving her broke.

We see this happening in society women not being paid enough for their work but making less and allowing men to make more. Claudel felt the oppression as a woman during her time. She was alone, neglected, and her family was not supportive over her dreams. As she grew up she became more and more isolated within herself. She knew she was an important figure to the world but was not accepted.

Right now in our history, Claudel is recognized for her impeccable talent. She is known to be the most influential sculptors of her past. During her era the early 19th century, Claudel was a brilliant women. She is an influential sculptor who was judged and not accepted by the world of art. The 19th century was a time in history where gender equality was not practiced, people's lifestyles more so females were judged and controlled.

On March 10, 1913 she was committed involuntarily by her mother and brother to an asylum. Many of her friends as well as well as her doctors believed she did not need to be an in asylum. Her family was very bitter and did not want Claudel to be a part of society so they constantly rejected doctor's request for Claudel to join a family environment. They knew deep down her breakdown was due to the ignorance and hate of the world. As a family they should of been there for her and support her through her breakdown. They should've inspired her to create more of her work and be that figure she needed for herself. Not having that support from her mother or her brother really took a toll on her. Her father, who was the only person who did support Claudel, passed away during a time she herself did not know. Losing him was enough for her because he was the only one who really supported her and her craft. She died on October 19, 1943 spending more than 30 years in an asylum.




Bibliography
"Rodin and Camille Claudel." Rodin and Camille Claudel | Rodin Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2017.

"Rodin and Camille Claudel." Rodin and Camille Claudel | Rodin Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 FEB. 2017.

The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "Camille Claudel." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 07 July 2015. Web. 14 FRB. 2017.

"Académie Colarossi." Académie Colarossi | Artist Biographies. N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2017.

"The triumph of tragedy." The Economist. The Economist Newspaper, 07 Jan. 2006. Web. 01 Mar. 2017.