An Analysis of Écriture Féminine in The Selection Series: The One (2014) Novel

Abstract

This paper aims to investigate ecriture feminine features in The Selection Series: The One novel written by Kiera Cass (2014). Female writers of dystopian literary works have increased in the past current years. The fact that the story of The Selection Series by Kiera Cass is narrated from a female perspective in a patriarchal country has drawn a connection to feminist study. This research used descriptive qualitative method and textual analysis that employed the theory of Ecriture feminine by Helene Cixous (1976) and patriarchy by Gerda Lerner (1986). It is found that two primary features of ecriture feminine , namely patriarchy and bisexual writing, are depicted in the novel as being interrelated. Patriarchy in the novel is mostly found in public sphere; therefore, a large amount of evidence of bisexual writing is found as responses to the patriarchal system. Three main forms of bisexual writing are found in the novel: negotiation, empowerment, and plurality. It seems that Kiera Cass successfully adapts ecriture feminine in her novel. However, the end of the story of The One (2014) also implies that the deconstruction of patriarchy occurs when there are acceptance and willingness, not only from women but also from men.