In this essay, I aim to compare Woolf’s and Carter’s take on the female identity as shown in their work. I will focus on the novels, “Mrs. Dalloway” and “Nights at the Circus”, respectively, and their female characters.
The fight for female equality experienced a high during the turn of the 19th to 20th century. It was defined by the suffragette movement that gained the voting right for women in 1928. However, it all started in the 1890s, when the term “New Women” was introduced by the American novelists Sarah Grand and Ouida. In a pair of articles, published in the North American Review, the writers laid focus on the independent and educated woman that was not merely an object of desire for men and a means for reproduction. By the public, the term was soon related to social reforms, in literature, however, the New Woman was heavily criticised. She was often portrayed as selfish and over-educated, hence a danger to the male ego. Virginia Woolf, born in 1882 in Victorian London and one of the few partially recognised female writers of her time, experienced the social changes and the adoption of a new view of the woman first hand. As a young woman she first came in contact with the women’s rights movement in Britain, which later influenced her work to a great extent. More recently, in light of the first and second wave feminism, her work has been interpreted as showing early forms of feminist thinking. Angela Carter, born more than half a century later in 1940, is known for her openly feminist writing that presents familiar stories and themes with a twist on gender and class issues6. Her novels and short stories are often set in the past and explore the issues of identity for women from the light of the first and second wave feminism during the 1970s and 1980s.
Table of Contents
1. Breaking with the Conventions
2. Female Identity in the Late 19th and Early 20th Century
3. Primary Sources: Virginia Woolf, “Mrs. Dalloway”, Angela Carter, “Nights at the Circus”
Objectives and Topics
This essay aims to perform a comparative analysis of how female identity is constructed and portrayed in the works of Virginia Woolf and Angela Carter, specifically focusing on the novels “Mrs. Dalloway” and “Nights at the Circus”.
- Comparative analysis of female identity across different literary eras.
- Examination of Virginia Woolf’s “Mrs. Dalloway” in a modernist context.
- Exploration of Angela Carter’s “Nights at the Circus” through postmodern feminist lenses.
- Analysis of the generational shifts and societal pressures faced by female characters.
- Deconstruction of traditional gender norms and the struggle for independence.
Excerpt from the Book
Breaking with the Conventions
The fight for female equality experienced a high during the turn of the 19th to 20th century. It was defined by the suffragette movement that gained the voting right for women in 1928. However, it all started in the 1890s, when the term “New Women” was introduced by the American novelists Sarah Grand and Ouida. In a pair of articles, published in the North American Review, the writers laid focus on the independent and educated woman that was not merely an object of desire for men and a means for reproduction. By the public, the term was soon related to social reforms, in literature, however, the New Woman was heavily criticised. She was often portrayed as selfish and over-educated, hence a danger to the male ego.
Summary of Chapters
Breaking with the Conventions: This introductory section outlines the historical context of the feminist movement and the emergence of the "New Woman" archetype at the turn of the 19th century.
Female Identity in the Late 19th and Early 20th Century: This section introduces the research focus, contrasting Virginia Woolf’s modernist themes with Angela Carter’s postmodern perspective on gender and class.
Primary Sources: Virginia Woolf, “Mrs. Dalloway”, Angela Carter, “Nights at the Circus”: This analytical part evaluates the character developments in both novels, exploring how protagonists like Clarissa Dalloway and Sophie Fevvers navigate patriarchal constraints and societal expectations.
Keywords
Female identity, feminism, Virginia Woolf, Angela Carter, Mrs. Dalloway, Nights at the Circus, gender norms, Victorian values, suffragette movement, patriarchy, literary analysis, Marxist feminism, utopian feminism, independence, social reform.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper explores the representation and construction of female identity in literature, focusing on the works of Virginia Woolf and Angela Carter.
What are the primary thematic fields?
The key themes include feminism across different waves, gender inequality, the rejection of traditional domestic roles, and the evolving portrayal of the "New Woman."
What is the research goal of this work?
The research aims to compare how these two authors address female identity through their specific female characters and differing literary approaches.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The work employs a comparative literary analysis, examining the primary texts within their historical contexts and integrating secondary feminist theory.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body examines character motivations in "Mrs. Dalloway" and "Nights at the Circus," the impact of societal expectations, and the authors' respective engagements with feminist movements.
How would you summarize the work in a few keywords?
Key concepts include female identity, feminist literature, gender hierarchy, Modernism, and Postmodernism.
How does Woolf's portrayal of Clarissa Dalloway reflect Victorian values?
Clarissa reflects these values through her role as a middle-aged wife and mother who is primarily concerned with organizing social gatherings and upholding upper-class social relations.
What distinguishes Sophie Fevvers from traditional female literary characters?
Sophie Fevvers is characterized by her rejection of conventional definitions; she asserts her independence and dominance, fueled by her "grand and vulgar" nature and her rejection of patriarchal constraints.
How do the authors differ in their approach to feminism?
Woolf addresses identity in a subtle, contemporary fashion, while Carter takes a more provocative, historical look at gender oppression using overt feminist strategies.
- Quote paper
- Marie Will (Author), 2019, Female Identity in the Late 19th and Early 20th Century in Virginia Woolf's "Mrs. Dalloway" and Angela Carter's "Nights at the Circus", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1369023
