This paper examines the role of women in pandemic fiction, focusing on the actions of female protagonists in two novels and their impacts on society during a pandemic.
The analysis centers on the depiction of women in Emma Donoghue's "The Pull of the Stars" (2020) and Ling Ma's "Severance" (2018), discussing how the female protagonists, despite the challenges brought on by a pandemic, remain resilient and positively influence society.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction: Interrogating the Role of Women in Pandemic Fiction
- Theoretical Backgrounds
- (Academic) Women in Fiction
- Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Heteronormativity in Fiction
- The Female Bonus in Emma Donoghue's The Pull of the Stars: The Impact of the Protagonists on Society
- Nurse Julia Power and Bridie Caught in a Pandemic Romance
- Whither the Placenta? The Value of (Continuous) Education and the Insignificance of Degrees
- Visible Pandemic and Invisible Women: Altruism Resulting in Heroism
- One Woman One Blog: How Candace Impacts the Society in Ling Ma's Severance
- Heteronormativity in Ling Ma's Pandemic Bedrooms
- The Influence of Candace's Education and Former Job
- The Absence of Unemployment: The Outcome of Candace's Digital Backup Plan "NY Ghost"
- Conclusion: Imaginary Glimpses of the Female Future
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the role of women in pandemic fiction, focusing on the actions of female protagonists in two novels: Emma Donoghue's The Pull of the Stars and Ling Ma's Severance. The paper analyzes how these characters' private and public performances impact society during a pandemic.
- The impact of female protagonists on society during a pandemic
- The representation of women in academic settings and professional roles
- The themes of education, social responsibility, and personal resilience
- The influence of heteronormativity on relationships and societal expectations
- The exploration of women's roles as caregivers and their contributions to societal well-being
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The paper begins by establishing the context for its inquiry, highlighting the significant role of women in the healthcare sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. The introduction discusses the challenges faced by healthcare workers, particularly women, including increased risk of exposure and mental stress. It also introduces the concept of contagion in pandemic fiction and its potential for exploring social, cultural, and political aspects of society.
The theoretical background chapter examines the representation of women in fiction and academic settings, drawing on studies by Nieves Pascual Soler and Michael V. Belok. It explores the historical marginalization of women in academia and the persistent stereotypes associated with female intellectuals. The chapter then contrasts these historical perspectives with the portrayal of women in the selected novels, highlighting the presence of female protagonists with academic degrees and their contributions to society during a pandemic.
The chapter on Emma Donoghue's The Pull of the Stars focuses on the impact of the female protagonists, Nurse Julia Power and Bridie, on society during the 1918 influenza pandemic. The chapter analyzes their roles as caregivers, their resilience in the face of adversity, and their contributions to the well-being of expectant mothers.
The chapter on Ling Ma's Severance examines the influence of the millennial protagonist, Candace Chen, on society during a fictional pandemic. The chapter analyzes her creative pursuits, her coping mechanisms in a post-apocalyptic world, and her ability to maintain a sense of purpose and connection in the face of isolation.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords of the paper are pandemic fiction, female protagonists, societal impact, women in healthcare, education, heteronormativity, resilience, social responsibility, and caregiving. The paper examines the role of women in pandemic fiction through a lens of social and cultural analysis, exploring themes of gender representation, social expectations, and the complexities of human connection in times of crisis.
- Quote paper
- Ilayda Can (Author), 2021, Women in Pandemic Literature. An Analysis of Resilience and Societal Impact of Female Protagonists, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1383257
