Feminism as Depicted in Mahfouz’s Palace Walk, Gordimer’s None to Accompany Me, and Coetzee’s Disgrace

Abstract

Feminism is among the common practices in the modern world and aims to proclaim gender equality. Mahfouz, Coetzee, and Gordimer are among the African Noel laureates who pioneered what could be termed a rebellion toward normality. Amina, a protagonist of Palace Walk, presents a character who purposes to challenge the biased and male-centric conventions. For instance, her choice of going to the mosque alone, in the absence of her husband, was a practice that was not acceptable in the Muslim culture; nevertheless, she took the bold step. On the other hand, Lucy is presented as a chain breaker who goes against the system of oppression by choosing a black husband. The choice of Lucy to leave her husband and start living with Rapulana, who was a black man, was a courageous move, and from that angle, she can be depicted as an agent of change. The same character is portrayed in Vera, who betrays her husband for another man, Ben – it is worth noting that Vera chose a black man, thus entering into an interracial relationship as in Lucy’s case. Such characters played a significant role in challenging what has been termed normalThe use of art presents a new perception of fighting for women’s rights non-violently. This study aims at answering questions on what causes gender inequality and how art, such as the use of novels, can be used to end this social issue.