The Lives and Deaths of Anna, Emma, and Edna. A Scientific Approach to "Anna Karenina", "Madame Bovary", and "The Awakening"

Essay , 2018 , 14 Pages , Grade: 100

English Language and Literature Studies - Literature

Since their debut in the nineteenth century, Anna from Tolstoy’s "Anna Karenina", Emma from Flaubert’s "Madame Bovary", and Edna from Chopin’s "The Awakening" have been misunderstood due to a lack of scientific knowledge regarding female physiology and psychology, as well as the climate caused by the patriarchal societies in which the novels are set.

Close readings of the primary texts and an examination of the biological and evolutionary principles in Brizendine’s "The Female Brain" and Yuval Harari’s "Sapiens", as well as previous criticism concerning the characters, reveal the motives behind the characters’ decisions. Contrary to prior criticism, the three protagonists were neither angels nor monsters; they were mere humans, controlled by their physiology and instincts, and constrained by a dictatorial patriarchy, resulting in their deviant actions and their suicides.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• The Lives and Deaths of Anna, Emma, and Edna: A Scientific Approach to Anna Karenina, Madame Bovary, and The Awakening
• The Misunderstood Protagonists
• The Roles of Victorian Society
• The Beginnings of Unhappiness
• The Role of Biology and Evolution
• The Result: Suicide

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

The main objective of this paper is to provide a scientific perspective on the lives and deaths of three iconic female characters: Anna Karenina, Emma Bovary, and Edna Pontillier. By examining the characters' actions through the lens of biology, evolution, and societal influences, the paper aims to challenge traditional interpretations of these characters, particularly those that portray them as mentally unstable or irresponsible. The work seeks to demonstrate that the women's actions, including their suicides, were rooted in biological and psychological factors, as well as in the constraints of a patriarchal society.

• The influence of biological and evolutionary factors on female behavior
• The impact of societal expectations and patriarchal structures on women's lives
• The portrayal of female characters in nineteenth-century literature
• The concept of suicide as a complex phenomenon influenced by both psychological and societal factors
• The need for a scientific understanding of female physiology and psychology to better interpret literary characters.

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• The Lives and Deaths of Anna, Emma, and Edna: A Scientific Approach to Anna Karenina, Madame Bovary, and The Awakening: This chapter introduces the paper's main objective, which is to analyze the lives and deaths of the three female protagonists from a scientific perspective. The chapter highlights the historical context of the novels, including the prevailing societal norms and expectations for women in the late nineteenth century.
• The Misunderstood Protagonists: This chapter examines the traditional interpretations of Anna, Emma, and Edna as mentally unstable or deviant. The author challenges these views, arguing that the characters' actions were not driven by insanity but by their biological and psychological makeup, influenced by a repressive social context.
• The Roles of Victorian Society: This chapter explores the impact of Victorian society on the lives of the protagonists. The author discusses the rigid societal norms that governed women's behavior, the lack of understanding of female psychology, and the prevailing views on suicide.
• The Beginnings of Unhappiness: This chapter focuses on the initial stages of the protagonists' unhappiness in their marriages. The author examines the circumstances surrounding their marriages, including their lack of choice and their desire for fulfillment beyond the confines of societal expectations.
• The Role of Biology and Evolution: This chapter examines the biological and evolutionary factors that may have influenced the protagonists' behavior. The author draws on scientific literature to support the argument that human happiness is influenced by biological factors, particularly the release of specific hormones.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The main keywords and focus topics of this paper include: Anna Karenina, Madame Bovary, The Awakening, female characters, nineteenth-century literature, Victorian society, patriarchy, biology, evolution, psychology, suicide, female physiology, hormonal influences, scientific interpretation.

• College: American Public University System
• Grade: 100
• Author: Natalie Perdue (Author)
• Publication Year: 2018
• Pages: 14
• Catalog Number: V1312621
• ISBN (PDF): 9783346792785
• ISBN (Book): 9783346792792
• Language: English
• Tags: Anna Karenina, The Awakening, Madame Bovary, Edna Pontillier, Emma Bovary