“The great art of writing consists in selecting what is most stimulant from the works of our predecessors, and in uniting the gathered beauties in a new whole, more interesting than the tributary models.” (Anon: 1797b, 451). This anonymous eighteenth-century reviewer demonstrates why a pre-existing literary tradition is so important for authors. If, however, the ‘works of our predecessors’ refers solely or predominantly to the works of men, from what literary tradition does a modern female author draw? The lack of literary ancestors for Portuguese women has resulted in a culture dominated by the works of men, in which the few women writers struggle for success. The level of marginalisation experienced by Portuguese women in particular is indeed higher than that of other women when one considers the effects of the censorship laws of the Estado Novo dictatorship. The traditionalist and conservative views of a Roman Catholic State frowned upon women as authors and it wasn’t until the Carnation Revolution of April 25th 1974, which overthrew the regime, that women were to have the chance to write freely.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction: Contemporary Portuguese Women Writers and Marginalisation
2. Hélia Correia: Gothic Elements and Folklore Traditions
3. Teolinda Gersão: Translation and Digital Media
4. Lídia Jorge: Fairytale Motifs and Gender Roles
5. Inês Pedrosa: Feminist Crónicas and Political Overtones
6. Conclusion: Negotiating Positions of Marginalisation
Objectives & Research Topics
This work examines how contemporary Portuguese women writers navigate and negotiate their social and literary marginalisation by re-appropriating traditional literary forms, utilizing digital media, and seeking international reach through translation.
- The impact of historical marginalisation on female authorship in Portugal.
- The subversion of gothic, folklore, and fairytale tropes to challenge gender norms.
- The role of international translation in overcoming limited market reach.
- The use of digital media and the "epitext" to build authorial presence.
- The intersection of feminist activism and political commentary in modern literature.
Excerpt from the Book
The Red Fox Fur Coat
The Red Fox Fur Coat was translated by Margaret Jull Costa to fit in with a collection of short stories. It was, in fact, adapted from its original form in order to make it more palatable for an Anglophone, predominantly American, audience. Originally a text fragment, the story became just that – a completed short story. The text was so popular oversees that the adapted version was then translated back into Portuguese. It is easy to understand why a foreign reader is so readily able to identify with the narrative: it’s not obviously Portuguese. There are no geographical markers and a general lack of temporal ones, much like a fairytale. The story begins in medias res, without a lot of unnecessary build up or additional information about the protagonist; she is simply “a humble bank clerk” (Gersão, 2007: 34).
The writer of a short story must also hold the reader’s attention throughout, and Gersão does so skilfully. The reader is perplexed by the woman’s slow transformation into a fox but the overall message is so obviously positive that the sense of liberation at the end cannot only be felt by the protagonist. The metamorphosis itself is reminiscent of Franz Kafka’s short story about a man who turns into a cockroach, no doubt an influence from Gersão’s days as a student and professor of German. She twists the classic transformation story and presents it to a new audience, with a subtle underlying theme of women’s liberation.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: Contemporary Portuguese Women Writers and Marginalisation: Explores the historical context of women in Portuguese literature and the "double marginalisation" they face in a male-dominated literary canon.
2. Hélia Correia: Gothic Elements and Folklore Traditions: Analyzes how Correia uses gothic elements and folklore to subvert traditional portrayals of women and address provincial life.
3. Teolinda Gersão: Translation and Digital Media: Discusses how Gersão bridges the gap between local Portuguese identity and international audiences through translation and active online engagement.
4. Lídia Jorge: Fairytale Motifs and Gender Roles: Examines Jorge’s use of fairytale subversion and magical realism to comment on modern gender roles and corporate environments.
5. Inês Pedrosa: Feminist Crónicas and Political Overtones: Focuses on Pedrosa’s overtly feminist and political writing style and how her work as a journalist informs her literary advocacy.
6. Conclusion: Negotiating Positions of Marginalisation: Summarizes how these diverse authors leverage tradition and modern platforms to establish themselves as enduring literary voices.
Keywords
Portuguese literature, marginalisation, female writers, Hélia Correia, Teolinda Gersão, Lídia Jorge, Inês Pedrosa, feminism, translation, gothic fiction, fairytale motifs, Lusophone literature, digital media, epitext, post-revolutionary literature.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this study?
The study investigates how contemporary Portuguese women authors address and overcome their social and literary marginalisation within the post-dictatorship Portuguese cultural landscape.
Which authors are the primary focus of this analysis?
The research centers on four prominent Portuguese writers: Hélia Correia, Teolinda Gersão, Lídia Jorge, and Inês Pedrosa.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to determine how these authors use literary strategies, such as the appropriation of foreign traditions and the use of new media, to secure a stronger position within the literary canon.
Which methodologies are employed?
The author uses literary analysis, examining specific short stories and novels, while also considering historical context, translation impacts, and the strategic use of media.
What is discussed in the main body of the work?
The work covers individual case studies of the four authors, exploring how they use specific literary devices like the gothic, folklore, and fairytale tropes to challenge societal norms.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key concepts include marginalisation, Portuguese literature, feminist writing, literary tradition, and globalization of local literature.
How does translation affect the success of these writers?
Translation is presented as a vital tool for these writers to reach a global, particularly Anglophone, audience, which in turn elevates their status within their home country.
Why is the "epitext" important for these authors?
The epitext, including media appearances and online engagement, serves as an essential tool for authors to maintain visibility and control their public narrative in a competitive market.
How does Pedrosa’s work differ from her contemporaries?
Pedrosa is noted for her overt feminist stance and her integration of journalistic styles, such as the crônica, into her creative writing to provide direct political commentary.
- Quote paper
- Laura Smith (Author), 2015, About Marginalisation Among Contemporary Portuguese Women Writers, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/295718
