The purpose of this study is to analyse the representation of women in utopian and dystopian literature. The research question of this paper is: To what extent is the representation of women and their status in the fictional societies determined by gender relations in the context of the distribution of power?
To explore this question the historical context in which s/he wrote the novel is also assumed to be important. The approach applied to this thesis is based on gender and literary studies. In order to analyse the representation of women, this thesis offers a coherent structure consisting of four important steps. Firstly, each novel will be introduced with a brief paragraph on the historical background. Secondly, the power relations of the society have to be observed. Thirdly, the resulting gender relations will be analysed. Finally, in the context of the prior three steps of this thesis, the representation of women will be observed. In addition, I will use traditional female stereotypes in literature as a criterion for the analysis of the representation of women.
The novels chosen for this purpose are Herland, written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman in 1915, followed by the dystopia Brave New World, written by Aldous Huxley in 1932. The final novel will be the dystopia The Handmaid’s Tale, written by Margarete Atwood in 1985. The last section of this thesis will compare the results of the analyses and clarify in how far power and gender relations determine the representation of women in utopian and dystopian literature in the light of the historical context of the novel.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 Research Field
1.2 Selection of Novels
1.3 Structure and Methodology
2. Theoretical Aspects
2.1 Definition of Utopia and Dystopia
2.2 Traditional Stereotypes in Literature
3. The Representation of Women in Herland
3.1 Historical Context
3.2 A Country Called Herland
3.3 Gender
3.4 Women in Herland
4. The Representation of Women in Brave New World
4.1 Historical Background
4.2 The World State
4.3 Gender
4.4 Women in the World State
5. The Representation of Women in The Handmaid’s Tale
5.1 Historical Context
5.2 The State of Gilead
5.3 Gender
5.4 Women in Gilead
6. Discussion and Conclusion
7. Works Cited
Objectives & Research Focus
This thesis examines the representation of women and their status within fictional utopian and dystopian societies, specifically analyzing how these depictions are determined by gender relations and the distribution of power, while considering the historical context of each work.
- Analysis of power dynamics in utopian and dystopian social structures.
- Application of gender studies and traditional literary stereotypes to female characters.
- Comparative analysis of Herland (Charlotte Perkins Gilman), Brave New World (Aldous Huxley), and The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood).
- Investigation into how historical backdrops influence the authors' construction of gender roles.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2 A COUNTRY CALLED HERLAND
The country called Herland is a utopian place which is only inhabited by women. It is placed on a plateau, separated by inaccessible high mountains in South America. Charlotte Perkins Gilman sends three male characters out on a journey to find this country. It had not been explored before, because the invention of airplanes was necessary to reach it. What the three men find is a nearly perfect, peaceful, highly developed society.
Approximately 2000 years ago, most of the male population of Herland has died in an earthquake. Afterwards, the women killed the remaining men, mainly slaves, because they revolted against the remaining women (Gilman 47). The women were desperate because they were convinced that their population would extinct without men. Nevertheless, they didn’t stop caring about their country and a few years ago a woman became pregnant without having contact to a man. This process is called parthenogenesis (49). This woman is regarded as the mother goddess of Herland. Without male aggressors, the children grow up in a peaceful environment and receive excellent education (ibid). The principles of this society are sisterhood, motherhood, community spirit and a deep connection with nature. Although they worship their mother goddess and elderly wise women, there is no hierarchy in Herland. The division of labour is organised by intrinsic motivation and labour is not paid, but regarded as a contribution to society (65). Every decision regarding the country is discussed collectively, therefore Herland`s political system can be analysed as a grassroots democracy which is comparable to the ideal of socialism.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Presents the research question concerning the representation of women and defines the interdisciplinary approach combining Literary and Gender Studies.
2. Theoretical Aspects: Establishes definitions for utopia and dystopia and categorizes traditional literary stereotypes like mothers, angels, tempted women, and spinsters.
3. The Representation of Women in Herland: Analyzes Gilman's utopian society, focusing on parthenogenesis, the lack of traditional hierarchy, and the deconstruction of gender through male perspectives.
4. The Representation of Women in Brave New World: Examines Huxley’s World State, discussing the role of promiscuity as a tool of repression and the depiction of female characters within a technologically conditioned society.
5. The Representation of Women in The Handmaid’s Tale: Explores Atwood’s Gilead, detailing the control of female fertility, the rigid classification of women, and the critique of second-wave feminism.
6. Discussion and Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, confirming that patriarchal power structures and historical context are the primary determinants in the representation of women across these literary genres.
Keywords
Utopia, Dystopia, Gender Studies, Literary Studies, Representation of Women, Power Relations, Patriarchy, Stereotypes, Herland, Brave New World, The Handmaid’s Tale, Motherhood, Sexuality, Feminism, Totalitarianism
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary objective of this bachelor thesis?
The thesis aims to analyze the representation and status of women in selected utopian and dystopian novels, specifically investigating how these are shaped by power and gender relations within the fictional societies.
Which literary works are being analyzed?
The study focuses on Charlotte Perkins Gilman's Herland (1915), Aldous Huxley's Brave New World (1932), and Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid’s Tale (1985).
What methodology does the author employ?
The author uses an approach based on Gender Studies and Literary Studies, analyzing the novels chronologically and applying traditional female literary stereotypes to the characters.
How does the historical context affect the novels?
Historical context is identified as a crucial factor, as each author’s contemporary society—its fears, political upheavals, and movements—directly influences how they construct gender and power in their work.
Are the stereotypes analyzed in the paper universal?
No, the author uses specific traditional stereotypes—mothers, angels, tempted women, and spinsters—as criteria for analysis, acknowledging that these concepts are historically and socially constructed.
How does power manifest in these fictional societies?
Power is achieved and secured primarily through the control of reproduction and sexuality, particularly in the dystopian regimes discussed.
Why is Herland considered a contrast to the dystopian novels?
Unlike the dystopian societies, Herland depicts a peaceful, non-hierarchical community without patriarchal oppression, where decisions are made collectively.
How is reproduction treated in the dystopian narratives?
In Brave New World, reproduction is technologically managed to ensure stability, whereas in The Handmaid's Tale, women are reduced to biological "bearing-machines" due to systemic infertility.
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- Katharina Kirchhoff (Autor:in), 2012, The Representation Of Women In Utopian And Dystopian Literature, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/208924
