The aim of this thesis will be to analyze whether the development of gender roles can in fact be found in Atwood’s newest short story collection "Stone Mattress", and if so, how that development unfolds in the writing. This paper will start with a definition of terms such as sex, gender and gender roles, which will aid in clarifying the meaning of those concepts and therefore simplify the following analysis. Furthermore, a historical overview over the women’s movement in Canada shall distinguish the three waves of feminism and highlight the different aims of each wave, as well as the evolution of women’s roles in their respective society.
With the theoretical knowledge gained in mind, we will look at Atwood’s earlier short fiction and briefly analyze a few of her earlier works with special attention to the way in which she portrays her characters regarding gender roles. This first analysis will lead to the main portion of this paper which will then deal with her short story collection "Stone Mattress". An in-depth analysis will take a look at both, her female and male characters and answer the question of whether or not they adhere to traditional gender roles. Additionally, I will establish if a change in the way Atwood portrays her characters can be detected. Finally, this thesis will be concluded by summarizing the findings and explicitly answering the question: Has Atwood’s writing changed parallel to the development of the women’s movement?
The Canadian author Margaret Atwood is one of the most important literary chroniclers of our time. Her works cover a great number of literary genres and have earned her a spot in the Canadian canon. Her novels, children’s books and short stories as well as her poetry merely portray the tip of the iceberg that is Margaret Atwood’s oeuvre. Literary critic, lecturer, teacher, active member in various literary organization and editor slowly begin to complete the long list of Atwood’s fields of expertise. Her works appeal both to literary scholars and the average reader, and are praised for their level of eloquence and wit. Not surprisingly, the list of Atwood’s achievements and awards is just as long as the list of her competences. Among aforesaid achievements are for example the Man Booker Prize and the renowned Governor General’s Literary Award, which she received twice.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. DEFINING TERMINOLOGY: SEX, GENDER AND GENDER ROLES
3. THE WOMEN’S MOVEMENT
4. GENDER ROLES IN ATWOOD’S EARLIER SHORT FICTION
5. GENDER ROLES IN MARGARET ATWOOD’S MOST RECENT SHORT FICTION STONE MATTRESS
5.1. ALPHINLAND
5.2 REVENANT
5.3 DARK LADY
5.4 THE FREEZE-DRIED GROOM
5.5 STONE MATTRESS
6. CONCLUSION
Research Objectives and Themes
The thesis analyzes the evolution of gender roles within Margaret Atwood's short story collection "Stone Mattress" by contrasting them with her earlier works and examining their alignment with the development of the women's movement in Canada.
- The relationship between fiction and the reflection of societal gender dynamics.
- A historical overview of the three waves of feminism in Canada.
- An analysis of power dynamics and gender role conformity in "Dancing Girls" and "Bluebeard's Egg".
- The reversal of traditional power roles and autonomy of female characters in "Stone Mattress".
- The intersection of themes related to aging, death, and gender in Atwood’s most recent works.
Excerpt from the Book
5.5 STONE MATTRESS
The most striking reversal of power dynamics probably takes place in the short story Stone Mattress, which gives the collection its name. Verna is described as an elderly woman of wealth, who enjoys the perks of being a woman such as make up and nice clothing (234), and therefore acts out her gender as expected. Verna also likes to be flirtatious with men, in order to enjoy the privileges of marrying into money. (233) Those two aspects go hand in hand with traditional values society expected from a wife before the 2nd movement commenced. To her ex-husbands she is an “attractive younger woman with deft hands, an encouraging manner, and an intuitive knowledge of when to say nothing” (242). This suggests Verna is nothing more than an accessory for her men. She is good looking, makes men feel good about themselves, but does not have an opinion of her own or at least does not share it. However, she not only controls those men without their knowledge, she also controls their fate. She manipulated all three of her ex-husbands into marrying her, true to the motto ‘he may wear the pants, but she picks them out’ (243). Furthermore, she is responsible for their deaths, as she manipulated their diets or medication and thus sped up their demise. Metaphorically speaking, Verna controls patriarchy.
Summary of Chapters
1. INTRODUCTION: This chapter introduces Margaret Atwood as a significant literary figure and outlines the thesis's objective to analyze the development of gender roles in the short story collection "Stone Mattress".
2. DEFINING TERMINOLOGY: SEX, GENDER AND GENDER ROLES: This section provides essential sociological definitions of sex, gender, and gender roles, establishing the framework for the subsequent literary analysis.
3. THE WOMEN’S MOVEMENT: This chapter contextualizes the work by providing a historical overview of the three waves of feminism in Canada and their impact on societal expectations.
4. GENDER ROLES IN ATWOOD’S EARLIER SHORT FICTION: This chapter examines Atwood's earlier collections, "Dancing Girls" and "Bluebeard’s Egg", to establish a baseline for how the author portrayed gender roles prior to her latest work.
5. GENDER ROLES IN MARGARET ATWOOD’S MOST RECENT SHORT FICTION STONE MATTRESS: This core chapter offers an in-depth analysis of "Stone Mattress" by exploring individual stories such as "Alphinland", "Revenant", "Dark Lady", "The Freeze-Dried Groom", and "Stone Mattress" to highlight power reversals.
6. CONCLUSION: The final chapter summarizes the findings, confirming that Atwood’s female characters in "Stone Mattress" exhibit autonomy and unlock their feminist potential, mirroring societal progress.
Keywords
Margaret Atwood, Stone Mattress, Gender Roles, Feminism, Women's Movement, Patriarchy, Literary Analysis, Power Dynamics, Sexual Politics, Canadian Literature, Aging, Identity, Second Wave, Third Wave, Autonomy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this thesis?
The work focuses on analyzing the representation of gender roles in Margaret Atwood's short story collection "Stone Mattress" and determining whether these portrayals reflect the development of the women's movement.
Which time periods of feminism are discussed?
The thesis concentrates primarily on the second and third waves of feminism, as these periods align with and run parallel to Margaret Atwood's extensive literary career.
What is the central research question?
The core question is: Has Atwood’s writing changed parallel to the development of the women’s movement, and if so, how does this development manifest in her latest short story collection?
Which literary methodology is applied?
The author uses a comparative literary analysis, contrasting the portrayal of gender roles in Atwood's earlier collections with the power dynamics, autonomy, and role reversals found in "Stone Mattress".
What defines the main body of the work?
The main body centers on an in-depth, chapter-by-chapter analysis of the short stories within "Stone Mattress", focusing on the characters' adherence to or defiance of traditional patriarchal gender roles.
Which specific terms define the research?
Key terms include gender roles, internal power dynamics, the women's movement, autonomy, patriarchal societal structures, and the evolution from victimhood to perpetrator or superior status.
How is the shift in power between characters within "Stone Mattress" explained?
The thesis argues that in "Stone Mattress", Atwood reverses traditional power roles: female characters often move from being victims of patriarchal oppression to autonomous individuals or even perpetrators, effectively challenging historical gender norms.
What is the role of aging in this analysis?
While the study focuses on gender, it notes that in "Stone Mattress", aging and death become dominant themes, contributing to the shift in how the characters experience and exercise power over their environment.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Anonym (Autor:in), 2016, Gender Roles in Margaret Atwood's Short Fiction "Stone Mattress", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1307328
