Being a great lover of mythological tales since childhood, I have early discovered
that certain traits and patterns of behaviour were usually ascribed to certain gender roles.
Yet even within the roles of the respective genders, considerable differences were to be
found. Those who shared many characteristics tended to end in similar ways. Strong and
capable Penthesilea ends dead on the battlefield of Troy and her corpse is raped by
Achilles. Atalanta, who beats male heroes in great adventures is tricked into marriage
against her will, by an offended goddess and a man who is not her equal. Helen’s beauty
has the power to launch thousand ships. Yet Helen herself is only a toy for men and gods.
Penelope sits and weaves for twenty years waiting for her husband to return from a Trojan
war while he is pursued and seduced by enchantresses. The more I read, in mythology and
other fiction, the more often I discovered some endlessly repeating characteristics and
patterns of behaviour of diverse roles.
During my studies I became very interested in gender roles in Anglo-American
literature, again particularly in those of female characters. Female roles in literature were
always the more interesting to me when read from the background of the historical period
in which they were created. Some of those fictional characters reflected the roles women
were expected to fill at that particular age and geographical area. Others again were bad
examples and warnings of what happens to women who do not fit into socially accepted
roles. Once in a while a heroine would rise above the expected roles yet in the end she
would return to the domestic area in which she was expected to be, or she would be
destroyed. Of course there were always exceptions. Yet the first permanent and
recognisable change of such roles in literature becomes obvious at the turn from the 19th to
the 20th century. It is no coincidence that the same time in history marks the rise of the
women’s liberation and suffrage movement with sweeping changes occurring in many
issues of gender and social class. For the next hundred years, the roles and characteristics
of women in literature underwent a greater change than in all previous centuries put
together.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Preface
- Introduction
- Selection of Novels
- Methodology
- Traditional Female Roles in Literature
- Basic Roles - Mothers and Prizes
- Angels and Jezebels
- Angels
- Jezebels
- Amazons
- Old Witches, Biddies and Wise Women
- The Old Witch
- Biddies
- Wise women
- Evaluation of Categories
- Selected Critical Studies on Female Roles in Literature
- Women in Early Utopian Tradition
- Looking Backward
- Bellamy and Feminism
- Reception of Looking Backward
- Women in Looking Backward
- Women and Work
- Wives and Mothers
- Female Characters in Looking Backward
- Female Fashion in Looking Backward
- Blurring of Gender Roles in Looking Backward
- Evaluation
- News from Nowhere
- William Morris, His Utopia and the 'Woman Question'
- Women in News from Nowhere
- Women and Work
- Women and Domestic Work
- Women and ‘Men's Work'
- Female Sexuality and Gender Relations
- Motherhood
- Ellen
- Women and Work
- Fashion in News from Nowhere
- Evaluation
- Ecotopia
- The Peculiarity of Ecotopia
- Ecofeminism
- Women in Ecotopia
- Women and Politics – The Survivalist Party
- Women and Work
- Partnership and Motherhood
- Female Characters in Ecotopia and the Change of William Weston
- Marissa Brightcloud
- Vera Allwen
- Sexuality in Ecotopia
- Ecotopia - an Equalitarian Society?
- Female Clothing in Ecotopia
- Evaluation
- Brave New World
- 1984
- Orwell and Misogyny
- Representation of Women in 1984
- Outer Party Women
- Party-determined Sexuality
- Prole Women
- Mothers
- Julia
- Outer Party Women
- Women's Clothing in 1984
- Evaluation
- The Handmaid's Tale
- Pre-Gilead society
- Roles of Women in Gilead
- Wives and Daughters
- Aunts
- Econowives and Marthas
- Handmaids
- Unwomen
- Colour Coded Female Clothing in The Handmaid's Tale
- The 'Women Only Enclave'
- Serena Joy
- Moira
- Offwarren/Janine
- Offred
- Female Sexuality in Gilead
- Historical Notes
- Evaluation
- Male Utopia - Female Dystopia? - Feminist Criticism
- Summary and Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This study investigates the portrayal of female roles in a selection of utopian and dystopian novels, focusing on how these portrayals reflect social changes in the late 19th and 20th centuries. By analyzing the depiction of women in these fictional worlds, the study explores how the authors envisioned the future of gender roles and the challenges and opportunities facing women in both ideal and oppressive societies. The key themes examined in this study include:- Traditional Female Roles and their Evolution in Utopian and Dystopian Literature
- The Influence of Social and Political Movements on the Representation of Women in Fiction
- The Role of Gender in Shaping the Vision of Utopia and Dystopia
- The Impact of Women's Suffrage and the Women's Liberation Movement on Utopian and Dystopian Literature
- The Intersection of Gender, Class, and Power in Utopian and Dystopian Narratives
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
This section focuses on the main themes, arguments, or narrative elements of each chapter, excluding summaries of the conclusion, final chapter, or any sections containing major revelations or spoilers.
- **Preface:** This section introduces the author's lifelong fascination with mythological tales and the recurring patterns of behavior observed in various characters, particularly women. The author emphasizes the importance of analyzing female roles in literature through the lens of their historical context, highlighting how they reflected the societal expectations of their time.
- **Introduction:** This chapter lays the groundwork for the study by defining the concepts of utopia and dystopia and their relevance to analyzing gender roles. The author discusses the importance of examining the representations of women in these fictional worlds as a reflection of the social and political realities of the time.
- **Traditional Female Roles in Literature:** This chapter delves into various archetypes and stereotypes associated with women in literature. The author examines the historical development of these roles, illustrating how they were influenced by societal norms and expectations.
- **Women in Early Utopian Tradition:** This chapter explores the portrayal of women in early utopian writings, such as Plato's Republic and More's Utopia, highlighting the limitations of these texts in providing detailed insights into gender roles.
- **Looking Backward:** This chapter examines Edward Bellamy's utopian novel "Looking Backward," analyzing the author's views on feminism and the representation of women in his vision of the future. The chapter focuses on women's roles in work, family, and society, exploring the potential for gender equality in Bellamy's utopia.
- **News from Nowhere:** This chapter analyzes William Morris's utopian novel "News from Nowhere," focusing on the author's perspective on the "woman question" and the representation of women in his utopian vision. The chapter examines women's roles in work, sexuality, and family life, analyzing the degree of gender equality in Morris's utopia.
- **Ecotopia:** This chapter examines Ernest Callenbach's utopian novel "Ecotopia," exploring the author's vision of a future society characterized by environmentalism and ecofeminism. The chapter focuses on the representation of women in Ecotopia, analyzing their roles in politics, work, and family life, exploring the potential for gender equality in this utopian society.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This study focuses on the representation of women in utopian and dystopian novels, exploring the intersection of gender, class, and power in these fictional worlds. Key concepts include: female roles in literature, utopia, dystopia, feminist criticism, gender equality, social change, historical context, and the evolution of gender roles in literature.- Quote paper
- Magister Jelena Vukadinovic (Author), 2009, Role of Women in Utopian and Dystopian Novels, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/126087
