“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.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Contemporary Portuguese Women Writers
- Hélia Correia: The Gothic Tradition
- The Old Woman
- Doroteia
- Teolinda Gersão: The Importance of Translation
- The Red Fox Fur Coat
- A Mulher que prendeu a chuva
- Lídia Jorge: A Mainstream Author
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This text examines the challenges faced by contemporary Portuguese women writers in navigating the complex landscape of literary tradition and achieving recognition within a predominantly male-dominated field. It delves into how these authors negotiate their position of "double marginalization" and explore themes of cultural appropriation, translation, and the influence of foreign literary traditions.
- The Impact of Historical and Cultural Marginalization on Portuguese Women Writers
- The Role of Translation and Foreign Literary Traditions in Achieving Recognition
- The Influence of Folklore, Myth, and Fairy Tale Motifs in Contemporary Portuguese Literature
- The Representation of Gender and Identity in the Works of Featured Authors
- The Relationship Between Literature, Society, and Cultural Change in Portugal
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The text begins by outlining the historical and cultural factors that have contributed to the marginalization of Portuguese women writers, highlighting the impact of censorship and traditionalist attitudes. It then explores how contemporary authors like Hélia Correia utilize foreign literary traditions, particularly the gothic genre, to negotiate their position within the Portuguese literary landscape. The chapter on Teolinda Gersão emphasizes the importance of translation in achieving international recognition and examines how her work has been adapted for an Anglophone audience. Finally, the text introduces Lídia Jorge, a mainstream author who has achieved significant success both within Portugal and abroad, and discusses her views on the role of women in literature.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The text focuses on contemporary Portuguese women writers, their experiences with marginalization, the influence of foreign literary traditions, the impact of translation, and the representation of gender and identity in their works. Key themes include the gothic genre, folklore, myth, fairy tale motifs, cultural appropriation, and the relationship between literature and societal change.
- Citation du texte
- Laura Smith (Auteur), 2015, About Marginalisation Among Contemporary Portuguese Women Writers, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/295718
