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.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction: Interrogating the Role of Women in Pandemic Fiction
2. Theoretical Backgrounds
2.1 (Academic) Women in Fiction
2.2 Women during the COVID-19 Pandemic
2. 3 Heteronormativity in Fiction
3. The Female Bonus in Emma Donoghue’s The Pull of the Stars: The Impact of the Protagonists on Society
3.1 Nurse Julia Power and Bridie Caught in a Pandemic Romance
3.2 Whither the Placenta? The Value of (Continuous) Education and the Insignificance of Degrees
3.3 Visible Pandemic and Invisible Women: Altruism Resulting in Heroism
4. One Woman – One Blog: How Candace Impacts the Society in Ling Ma’s Severance
4.1 Heteronormativity in Ling Ma’s Pandemic Bedrooms
4.2 The Influence of Candace’s Education and Former Job
4.3 The Absence of Unemployment: The Outcome of Candace’s Digital Backup Plan – “NY Ghost”
5. Conclusion: Imaginary Glimpses of the Female Future
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the influence of female protagonists in pandemic literature, specifically analyzing how their private and public actions shape society during times of crisis. The research investigates whether these fictional portrayals reflect the essential and often overlooked contributions of women to social stability, welfare, and hope.
- Analysis of women's roles in pandemic literature as figures of resilience and altruism.
- Evaluation of how heteronormativity and social representation are constructed or challenged in pandemic narratives.
- Exploration of the intersection between professional expertise, volunteerism, and societal contribution.
- The impact of digital routines and creative output on preserving hope and order during societal collapse.
- Comparison of female representation in 20th-century settings versus 21st-century modern apocalypse fiction.
Excerpt from the Book
3.3 Visible Pandemic and Invisible Women: Altruism Resulting in Heroism
In The Pull of the Stars, the female protagonists, too, have an important role in “conflict prevention, mediation, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding” as the women had during the COVID-19 pandemic, described in 2.2. Bridie, for instance, makes up a story and tells the policemen that she did not see Dr. Lynn preventing a conflict between both parties (Donoghue 189). In this, Bridie risks a lie and performs altruism which is the “disinterested or selfless concern for the wellbeing of others, esp. as a principle of action.“ („Altruism”).
Julia also proves to be altruistic since she shares the following with the readers: “I was rarely aware of hunger on a busy shift; my own body’s needs were suspended.” (Donoghue 104, 105). Her service to society keeps her so busy and distracted that she forgets to eat regularly. Even Dr. Lynn notices that Julia works overtime and does not take any breaks (Donoghue 98). For the sake of the patients and colleagues, both female protagonists perform altruism, which, at the same time shows the absence of narcissism concerning their characters. From society’s perspective, the pandemic is visible since they witness deaths daily. The self-sacrifices of the service providers Julia and Bridie, in turn, are invisible. Julia, for instance, shares her condition only with the readers and not with the patients. Bridie’s action, too, is performed in silence. So, both protagonists prove to be heroines as they managed conflict prevention and peacekeeping in silence and without the aim to receive attention or praise.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Interrogating the Role of Women in Pandemic Fiction: Introduces the research focus on female protagonists in pandemic novels and highlights the societal necessity of women's labor during crises.
2. Theoretical Backgrounds: Provides the academic context regarding the historical marginalization of women in fiction/academia and defines core concepts like heteronormativity.
3. The Female Bonus in Emma Donoghue’s The Pull of the Stars: The Impact of the Protagonists on Society: Analyzes how the female characters in Donoghue’s novel overcome social and professional barriers to provide essential care and altruistic service.
4. One Woman – One Blog: How Candace Impacts the Society in Ling Ma’s Severance: Examines Candace Chen’s role as both an office worker and an anonymous blogger, exploring how her routine and digital footprint serve society.
5. Conclusion: Imaginary Glimpses of the Female Future: Synthesizes the findings, concluding that women across different historical and literary contexts are essential for societal reproduction and continuity.
Keywords
Pandemic Fiction, Female Protagonists, Heteronormativity, Altruism, COVID-19, Gender Representation, The Pull of the Stars, Severance, Social Impact, Peacekeeping, Emotional Labor, Digital Media, Women's Studies, Professional Identity, Societal Continuity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this research paper?
This paper explores the role and impact of female protagonists in two specific pandemic fiction novels, examining how their public and private actions contribute to social well-being.
What are the central research themes addressed in the text?
The core themes include the role of women in healthcare and peacekeeping, the critique of heteronormativity in literature, and the importance of daily work routines as an act of social stability.
What is the main finding regarding the research question "Is the Future Female?"
The author concludes that the future is indeed female, as women are foundational in systemically relevant sectors such as healthcare and social reproduction, which are crucial for the continuity of society.
Which academic and literary methods are utilized?
The paper uses a comparative literature approach combined with sociological analysis to evaluate gender roles, drawing on theoretical frameworks regarding academia, fiction, and disaster studies.
What does the main part of the work cover?
The main body performs a detailed literary analysis of characters in Emma Donoghue's "The Pull of the Stars" and Ling Ma's "Severance," focusing on their altruistic efforts and professional contributions.
How is this work characterized by its keywords?
The work is defined by its focus on gender, pandemic narratives, the sociology of work, and the intersectional critique of how society views the female contribution during crises.
How does the author analyze the contribution of Bridie in "The Pull of the Stars"?
The author highlights Bridie as a volunteer worker whose lack of formal education becomes insignificant compared to her essential practical support and altruistic acts during the 1918 flu pandemic.
How does the digital blog "NY Ghost" serve society in "Severance"?
The blog serves as a vital source of information in a collapsing world, providing a sense of lasting humanity and evidence of reality for those affected by the Shen Fever.
- 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
