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.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The New Woman
- Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway
- Clarissa Dalloway
- Elizabeth and Miss Kilman
- Other Female Characters
- Angela Carter's Nights at the Circus
- Sophie Fevvers
- Lizzie
- Other Female Characters
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay compares Virginia Woolf's and Angela Carter's portrayals of female identity in their respective novels, Mrs. Dalloway and Nights at the Circus. The analysis focuses on how these authors represent evolving female roles and challenges to societal norms in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
- The evolving definition of the "New Woman" and its literary representations.
- The contrasting portrayals of female characters across different generations and social classes.
- The exploration of female agency and resistance to patriarchal structures.
- The impact of historical context (Victorian era and post-World War I) on female identity.
- The use of narrative techniques to highlight themes of gender, class, and identity.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This introductory section sets the stage for the essay, highlighting the historical context of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a period marked by significant shifts in the fight for female equality and the emergence of the "New Woman" concept. It introduces the key authors, Virginia Woolf and Angela Carter, and their respective novels, Mrs. Dalloway and Nights at the Circus, which will be analyzed to explore the complexities of female identity during this transformative era. The introduction establishes the essay's central objective: to compare and contrast the authors' perspectives on female identity.
The New Woman: This chapter explores the historical and social context surrounding the emergence of the "New Woman" ideal in the late 19th century. It delves into the writings of Sarah Grand and Ouida, who coined the term and championed the image of an independent and educated woman. The chapter examines the public and literary reception of the "New Woman," highlighting both the social reforms associated with the term and the criticisms leveled against it, portraying the "New Woman" as a threat to established male power structures.
Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway: This chapter provides an in-depth analysis of Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway, focusing on its portrayal of female characters and their evolving identities. It explores the generational differences between Clarissa Dalloway, representing a more traditional Victorian ideal, and her daughter Elizabeth, embodying the "New Woman" ideals of independence and professional aspirations. The chapter also examines other female characters such as Sally Seton and Miss Kilman, highlighting the diversity of female experiences in early 20th-century London. The analysis connects these portrayals to Woolf's own views on women's roles and their need for self-expression.
Angela Carter's Nights at the Circus: This chapter analyzes Angela Carter's Nights at the Circus, focusing on its depiction of female characters and their subversion of traditional gender roles. The analysis centers on Sophie Fevvers, a winged woman who refuses to be defined by societal expectations, and her relationship with the narrator, Walser. The chapter also examines Lizzie, Fevvers' adoptive mother, who exemplifies female independence and resilience. It explores how Carter utilizes fantastical elements to critique patriarchal norms and showcase the diverse experiences of women who challenge social expectations, drawing connections to the broader themes of female agency and resistance to oppression.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Female identity, New Woman, Virginia Woolf, Mrs. Dalloway, Angela Carter, Nights at the Circus, Victorian era, early 20th century, gender roles, feminism, social change, female agency, patriarchal structures, literary representation.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comparative Analysis of Female Identity in Virginia Woolf's *Mrs. Dalloway* and Angela Carter's *Nights at the Circus*
What is the main focus of this academic text?
This text provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of how Virginia Woolf and Angela Carter portray female identity in their novels, Mrs. Dalloway and Nights at the Circus, respectively. The analysis examines the evolving roles of women, their challenges to societal norms, and the impact of historical context on their experiences in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
What are the key themes explored in the analysis?
The key themes include the evolving definition of the "New Woman," contrasting portrayals of female characters across generations and social classes, female agency and resistance to patriarchal structures, the impact of historical context (Victorian era and post-World War I), and the use of narrative techniques to highlight themes of gender, class, and identity.
Which novels are analyzed in this text?
The text analyzes Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway and Angela Carter's Nights at the Circus. It compares and contrasts how these authors represent female characters and their experiences within their respective historical and literary contexts.
What specific female characters are discussed?
From Mrs. Dalloway, the analysis focuses on Clarissa Dalloway, Elizabeth (Clarissa's daughter), Sally Seton, and Miss Kilman. In Nights at the Circus, the main characters analyzed are Sophie Fevvers and Lizzie.
How does the text approach the concept of the "New Woman"?
The text explores the historical and social context of the "New Woman" ideal, examining its literary representations and the social and political debates surrounding it. It then uses this framework to analyze how both Woolf and Carter depict characters who embody or challenge this ideal.
What is the role of historical context in the analysis?
The historical context of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, marked by significant shifts in the fight for female equality, plays a crucial role. The analysis shows how the Victorian era and the post-World War I period influenced the portrayal and experiences of female characters in both novels.
What narrative techniques are considered in the analysis?
The analysis examines how both authors use narrative techniques to showcase the themes of gender, class, and identity. This includes exploring the authors' stylistic choices and their impact on the reader's understanding of the female characters.
What is the overall objective of this comparative analysis?
The primary objective is to compare and contrast how Virginia Woolf and Angela Carter portray female identity in their novels, focusing on the complexities and nuances of women's experiences during a period of significant social and political change.
What are some of the keywords associated with this text?
Key words include: Female identity, New Woman, Virginia Woolf, Mrs. Dalloway, Angela Carter, Nights at the Circus, Victorian era, early 20th century, gender roles, feminism, social change, female agency, patriarchal structures, literary representation.
- 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
