Feminist Literary Criticism Research Articles

Dark Identities in Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura: A Psychoanalytic Feminist Perspective

This research paper explores the key concepts of dark identities in Mizuki Tsujimura’s "Lonely Castle in the Mirror" through a psychoanalytic feminist perspective. The paper is focusing on the psychological struggles, repression, and gendered trauma experienced by its female characters. This study examines how societal expectations, patriarchal structures, and mental health struggles shape the characters’ fragmented identities using Freudian, Lacanian, and Kristevan psychoanalytic theories alongside feminist literary criticism. The analysis highlights how fantasy functions as a symbolic space for self-exploration and resistance, enabling the characters to confront their repressed fears and challenge oppressive gender norms. This research contributes to contemporary feminist literary studies by bridging psychoanalysis, trauma theory, and Japanese literature, offering new insights into the novel’s critique of social alienation and identity formation. While acknowledging limitations such as cultural translation nuances and the subjectivity of textual analysis, the study recommends future research on cross-cultural feminist comparisons, reader-response analyses, and interdisciplinary approaches to trauma and identity in contemporary fiction. This research establishes Lonely Castle in the Mirror as a significant work in modern Japanese literature, emphasizing its role in addressing mental health, gender oppression, and psychological resilience.

"Escaping the Dollhouse: Maternal Identity from A Doll’s House to Digital Motherhood"

This study examines the evolving expectations of motherhood by drawing parallels between A Doll’s House and contemporary digital parenting culture. Through a feminist literary and sociological lens, the research explores how maternal identity remains constrained by societal, economic, and digital forces, despite historical advancements in gender equality. A qualitative comparative analysis is employed, integrating feminist literary criticism, sociological research, and digital media studies. The study critically examines Henrik Ibsen’s portrayal of maternal expectations and contrasts it with modern “momfluencer” culture, where maternal labor is performed, monetized, and scrutinized in digital spaces. Findings reveal that while the mediums of maternal performance have shifted—from Victorian domestic ideals to social media branding—the fundamental expectations of self-sacrificial motherhood persist. Economic dependence, emotional labor, and gendered double standards continue to shape maternal experiences, reinforcing unrealistic standards of perfection. However, emerging forms of feminist maternal activism and digital resistance offer pathways for redefining motherhood beyond traditional constraints. Ultimately, this study argues that maternal autonomy remains an ongoing struggle, as societal pressures evolve rather than disappear. By critically engaging with historical and modern representations of motherhood, the research underscores the need for continued examination and resistance against restrictive maternal ideals.

The Duty of Women to Preserve Family Found in Fay Weldon's Weekend

This study examines the importance of women in preserving family structures, as represented in Fay Weldon's short story Weekend, with a focus on traditional gender roles. Using feminist literary criticism as the primary analytical framework, the study focuses on how the narrative depicts gender dynamics within the family. Marta plays the dual position of working woman and homemaker, combining agentic and communal features while fulfilling her responsibilities as a wife and mother. Martin, her spouse, follows traditional masculine duties as provider and decision-maker, but with less emotional involvement. The study also looks at ancillary characters like Colin, Janet, and Katie, who reflect different ideas on gender roles, from conventional homemaking to liberal feminism. The study uses a qualitative descriptive method to relate the story's characters and themes to larger feminist theories, demonstrating the interaction of gender roles, societal expectations, and family dynamics. This analysis helps to a better understanding of how literature can be used to explore and critique gender relations, as well as provide insights into changing social norms.

Revisiting a choq pa bursting shargo (women: the miserable): Feminist critique in Balti folktale

This study examines the Balti folktale “Choqpa Bursting Shargo” through a feminist lens, focusing on the representation of female characters and their societal roles. The research aims to explore gender roles, major themes, and the portrayal of patriarchal structures in the narrative. It highlights the elements of oppression and the marginalization of women in a male-dominated society, drawing attention to the societal norms that perpetuate gender inequality. The study employs a qualitative approach, utilizing feminist literary criticism to analyse the folktale. The research is based on textual analysis, examining key themes and character interactions to reveal underlying patriarchal ideologies. The methodology involves identifying patterns of gender discrimination and assessing their implications within the broader socio-cultural framework. The analysis reveals that women in the folktale are subjected to systemic oppression and are often portrayed in subservient roles. The narrative reflects the realities of patriarchal norms, illustrating how female identity is suppressed and controlled. The concept of double marginalization is also explored, emphasizing how women face compounded oppression both as individuals and as a collective. In conclusion, the research underscores the significance of feminist readings of folklore in unveiling deep-seated gender biases. The study highlights the continued relevance of such tales in contemporary discussions on gender equality, advocating for a more inclusive and equitable representation of women in traditional narratives.

The educational role of children's literature and bibliotherapy in primary schooling (towards new beliefs about healing education)

Children's literature educates, nurtures, and heals, and through its interdisciplinary nature, it offers teachers in primary schools rich interdisciplinary and creative approaches that constantly must be researched and improved. This paper wants to draw attention to the fact that the teaching of children's literature in Bosnian and Herzegovinian primary schools must be taught more within the framework of ethical criticism, interculturality, feminist literary criticism, and gender studies, etc., and that all of the above can be done through Gestalt therapy and different bibliotherapy approaches and methods, which are concurrently the methods of research in this paper. Also, this paper offers an original educational questionnaire containing elements of bibliotherapy, which can be used in any mother tongue and children's literature course, and is intended for 3rd-grade primary school students (8–9 years old). Namely, only through creative, relaxing, and healing ways of teaching, children's literature can give its full educational meaning and potential. Keywords: education, children's literature, teaching, bibliotherapy, educational questionnaire

Via Crucis of the Body: Clarice Lispector visits advertising

ABSTRACT If anyone could write a story about a 77-year-old lady dreaming of shagging a pop star, it was Clarice Lispector. The Ukrainian refugee immigrated to Brazil as her Jewish family fled in the wake of the Russian Revolution. She is one of the most enigmatic writers of the twentieth century and her modernist prose is highly introspective and autobiographical. In this paper, I draw on two of her later collections, Where Were You at Night and The Via Crucis of the Body, both published in 1974, to outline several modes of ‘meno representation’, which offer alternatives to pathological perceptions of the menopause transition, and which can be adopted in advertising and marketing communications. Through feminist literary criticism of her stories, which focus in part on the lives of ageing women, I contribute to cultural strategy by suggesting new forms of meno representations in advertising.

Modalidades de la crítica literaria feminista sobre las letras centroamericanas (1980-2023)

This article delimits the main trends of feminist literary criticism between 1980 and 2023. Through bibliographic research and documentary analysis, five specific types of critical work carried out within the framework of contemporary Central American literary studies are characterized and analyzed: (a) biographies and historical studies on Central American women writers, (b) anthologies of literature written by women, (c) translations of women’s literature, (d) monographic, comparative, and analysis cases works, and, (e) dictionary entries on regional women authors.

The Existence and Independence of Women in the Novel Isinga by Dorothea Rosa Herliany: A Review of Feminist Literary Criticism

The Existence and Independence of Women in the Novel Isinga by Dorothea Rosa Herliany: A Review of Feminist Literary Criticism

INTERSECTIONALITY AND OPPRESSION IN R. F. KUANG’S THE POPPY WAR NOVEL

This research presents a discussion of the main female character who experienced oppression in the novel The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang. The first part of the analysis describes the forms of oppression experienced by Rin in the novel based on the intersectional perspective. The second part analyses how Rin responded to the oppression that is caused by intersectional identity. This research employed feminist literary criticism as a literary approach. This study focused on oppression that is caused by intersectional identity that occurred to the main female character in The Poppy War novel. The results of this study showed that the types of oppression Rin experienced include marginalization, powerlessness, cultural imperialism, and violence that intersect with gender, race, and class. Rin was marginalized by her foster parents and peers who perceived her as unworthy. They limited her opportunities due to her gender and lower socioeconomic status. She faced powerlessness as her foster parents treated her as a shop girl and forced her to marry an old man due to her status as an orphan girl. She experienced cultural imperialism when she was forced to become a bride at a young age as her foster parents believed in the village culture. The last form of oppression was violence. In this case, she was mocked because of her skin colour, underestimated because of her gender, and kicked off because she originated from a lower-class society. Finally, the study showed that Rin’s response to oppression that is caused by intersectional identity was in the forms of negotiation and self-protection. These responses were carried out to escape from forced marriage, negotiate with her parents, and have more training to revenge the peers in The Poppy War.

Women's Agency and the Shadow of Patriarchal Domination: Reflections on Kinokawa by Ariyoshi Sawako

Kinokawa (The River Ki) is Ariyoshi Sawako's first work, which is about three generations of Japanese women living in different eras. Ariyoshi's efforts in writing this novel are evident through the plot which tells the stories of women who lived during this period. Ariyoshi describes in detail the aspects of humanity affected by the rapid changes of the times. Like the seemingly calm Ki River that hides swirling currents underneath, this novel reveals the story of women who strive to cope with the dynamic changes of the times. In analysis, this study uses a feminist literary criticism approach, focusing on the stories of three female characters, Hana, Fumio, and Hanako. In addition to showing the gap between generations and is influenced by epochal changes toward Japan's new age, this study also reveals the dominant representation of women's agency. Through this novel, Ariyoshi exposes the demands that others and Japanese women place on themselves and reveals their strength. With a strong yet calm voice, Ariyoshi develops vivid female characters that make their mark in a world dominated by men.

Negotiating Silence: A Comparative Study of Female Agency in Shashi Deshpande's That Long Silence and Anita Desai's Fasting, Feasting

Silence often functions as a nuanced metaphor in literature, encapsulating themes of suppression, resilience, and resistance. In Shashi Deshpande's That Long Silence and Anita Desai's Fasting, Feasting, silence emerges as a central motif that shapes the protagonists' lives within patriarchal frameworks. This paper explores how silence is used to reflect and negotiate female agency in these two novels. Deshpande’s Jaya and Desai’s Uma, though different in their socio-cultural contexts, grapple with similar struggles of identity and autonomy. Jaya’s imposed silence in marriage and Uma’s enforced silence in a patriarchal household underscore how silence perpetuates gender inequality. However, both authors also depict silence as a space for introspection and a subtle form of defiance. Through a comparative analysis, this paper examines how the interplay between silence and voice is integral to the characters' journeys toward self-realization. Drawing from feminist literary theory and cultural criticism, it investigates the layered role of silence as both a tool of oppression and a strategy for survival. Ultimately, the study reveals how silence is repurposed by the protagonists to assert their agency and resist patriarchal constraints.

Feminism in Realist Fiction in the East and the West: A Comparative Analysis of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and Cao Xueqin’s Dream of the Red Chamber

Feminist literary criticism has now become one of the important research directions in the field of literary criticism. Increasingly more scholars are focusing on the works of different eras, and through these works studying the development of feminism in the current era, as well as the attitudes of different writers and cultures towards feminism. Realist fiction, as an important part of literature, deserves to be associated with feminism. In order to study feminism embodied in both Eastern and Western realist novels, this thesis chooses feminism revealed in Pride and Prejudice and Dream of the Red Chamber as its research topics. The two works are compared and analyzed from multiple perspectives through the comparative literature research method. By analyzing two works, this paper summarizes the ways of presentation of feminism in both Eastern and Western realist novels, including the characters in the novels, the plot narratives of the novels, and the attitudes of the authors as well as the social context towards feminism.

Divine Influences of Haradhanu and The Goddess in Shaping Sita’s Destiny: A Study of Her Spiritual Path in The Forest of Enchantments

This paper highlights Sita’s spiritual journey as influenced by Haradhanu, the divine bow of Lord Shiva, and the Goddess, who guides her in preparing for her destiny in Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s, The Forest of Enchantments. It examines the interplay of these divine forces in enabling Sita to navigate the challenges and turbulences of her life and fate. By revisiting the Ramayana through a feminist lens, Divakaruni reimagines Sita as a woman balances traditional submissiveness with profound spiritually empowerment. Haradhanu and the Goddess, functioning as spiritual agencies, reinforce Sita’s resilience and inner strength. This paper applies Feminist Literary Criticism and Archetypal Theory to analyze the significance of these divine and spiritual elements as metaphors and catalysts for Sita’s personal growth and fulfilment of her destined role. Ultimately, the study provides insights into Sita’s dual evolution as both delicate and empowered within mythology and contemporary literature.

The Female Experience in the Mayor of Casterbridge: A Feminist Critical Analysis

This study aims to examine Thomas Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge from a feminist viewpoint. It examines how women are portrayed in the novel, focusing on their independence and how society's expectations and gender roles affect their lives. The study closely analyzes the text, using feminist literary criticism to understand the characters, their relationships, and the overall social context of the novel. The analysis explores feminist themes such as women's independence, the impact of societal expectations, and the consequences of a patriarchal society. It compares how male and female characters are presented in the novel and examines the role of marriage as a social institution. The study critiques the oppressive power structures of Victorian society and shows how the novel challenges traditional gender roles. The findings reveal that women in the novel face significant limitations imposed by a male-dominated society. Characters like Susan Henchard demonstrate the harmful effects of rigid gender roles and limited opportunities for women. Lucetta Templeman's story highlights the challenges women encounter when seeking freedom and independence in a conservative world. However, the study also identifies instances where female characters show strength and resilience despite societal pressures. Overall, this study argues that The Mayor of Casterbridge offers valuable insights into the struggles and potential of women in a patriarchal society. By examining the female characters, their experiences, and the broader social context, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of Hardy's work and its importance in feminist literature

The Shadow of Childhood Trauma: Psychoanalytic Exploration of Color, Isolation and Insecurity in Kamala Das's Literary Works

This paper examines how Kamala Das’s childhood experiences of colourism, isolation, and insecurity shape the recurring themes of identity and emotional struggle in her literary work. Das, a significant voice in Indian feminist literature, often challenged societal norms, particularly around female desire and identity. This study aims to highlight the psychological underpinnings of her narratives, focusing on how her personal traumas inform the lives and conflicts of her characters. Drawing on Freudian and Jungian psychoanalytic theory, this analysis explores how Das's repressed emotions surface in her writing, particularly through themes of alienation and resistance. A close reading of My Story and selected poems reveals how Das’s characters mirror her own unresolved psychological conflicts, using symbolic imagery to reflect the internal battles shaped by her early experiences. The research also integrates feminist criticism, examining how societal expectations compound personal trauma, particularly for women in patriarchal contexts. This intersection of personal and collective experiences of oppression provides a new lens through which to read Das’s work. Ultimately, this study enhances our understanding of Das’s literary contributions, offering new insights into the complex relationship between personal trauma and artistic expression. It also broadens the scope of psychoanalytic and feminist literary criticism in postcolonial literature.

FEMINIST LITERARY CRITIQUE OF WOMEN’S REPRESENTATION IN NAGUIB MAHFOUZ’S LAYALI ALF LAYLAH

This research examines the portrayal of women in Arabian Nights and Days by Naguib Mahfouz through the lens of feminist literary criticism, focusing on the character of Dunyazad. The analysis explores her physical, psychological, and social dimensions, emphasizing how these aspects reflect broader societal perceptions and treatment of women. Employing a qualitative approach, the research utilizes feminist theory to uncover the depiction of Dunyazad and her interactions within the social context of the novel, which mirrors the condition of women in the Arab world. The formal object of this study is feminist literary criticism theory, while the material object is Mahfouz’s novel. The study is confined to analyzing Dunyazad’s character and her relationship with societal norms. Findings reveal that the representation of women in the novel is shaped by three main elements: physical idealization, psychological conflict, and social subordination, all of which are framed by patriarchal structures. Dunyazad’s physical portrayal reinforces the objectification of women, her psychological depiction reflects the inner turmoil of women constrained by social expectations, and her social portrayal underscores the systemic subjugation of women. In conclusion, Mahfouz critiques the societal norms that restrict women’s roles and exposes the persistence of gender inequality within patriarchal societies.

Analisis Pendekatan Feminisme dalam Novel Wonder Women Rush Karya Septiana Nugraheni

This research aims to analyze aspects of feminism in the novel Wonder Women Rush by Septiana Nugraheni. The method used in this research is descriptive qualitative, with a feminist literary criticism approach. Data collection for this research was carried out by recording every data found in the novel Wonder Women by Septiana Nugraheni. Based on the results of data analysis, the following data was found. 1) Women are tough figures. 2) Women's independence in facing social pressure. 3) Women's multitasking ability. 4) Women's powerlessness against male power. 5) Women support other women. 6) Women must be brave in making decisions. This research emphasizes the need for awareness of the importance of gender equality and women's courage in making decisions for their own lives. This novel not only depicts individual struggles, but also reflects broader social dynamics related to women's emancipation. Therefore, the relationship between feminist theory and the novel "Wonder Women Rush" is interrelated. There are many problems about women in this novel that are related to feminist theory.

“Within the Borders of a Monastery” by Ekaterine Gabashvili: The Representation of Female Desire and the Feminine

Within the Borders of a Monastery is a story by Georgian feminist writer and activist Ekaterine Gabashvili (1851-1938). The goal of the paper is to explore the representation of female desire in the story. As Georgia was the part of the USSR, the humanities in Georgia were ideologized – the scholars would analyze literary texts from strictly Marxist point of view. Therefore, the process of reviewing Georgian literature from feminist perspective has started only recently. The paper contributes to the process and suggests an innovative reading of Gabashvili’s story. As Gabashvili thematizes hysteria and psychosis from feminist-psychoanalytical perspective and challenges gender roles, the paper uses the methodology of the Feminist Literary Criticism with French Feminist and the Gender Performativity Theories. The paper argues that the story depicts female desire as a destructive, incontrollable force which is pre-oedipal, opposes the Symbolic (i.e. the patriarchy) and manifests itself either through hysteria/psychosis or through the semiotic metaphors (e.g. dance). It transcends the female body and is connected to the feminine: the female and male protagonists (Salo and Tevdore, respectively) who love each other, experience and express their desire identically. The feminine is shown as a performative phenomenon through the androgenous male protagonist Tevdore. The opposition between the Semiotic and the Symbolic is reinforced through the semantics of space. The end of the story (the protagonists committing a suicide) reveals the theme of the story: banishing the female desire and the feminine from the symbolic order.

Revisiting Classical Literature Through the Lens of Modern Feminism

This study embarks on a critical exploration of classical literature through the lens of modern feminist theory, focusing on iconic works such as Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Othello by William Shakespeare, and Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. By employing feminist literary criticism, the research seeks to reveal the underlying patriarchal frameworks embedded within these texts and examine the ways in which gender roles are both constructed and contested. This analysis delves deeply into the lives and struggles of central female characters, including Elizabeth Bennet, Desdemona, and Estella, illuminating how each woman navigates the constraints of a male-dominated society. These characters serve as focal points for understanding the complex interplay between gender expectations and individual agency, highlighting moments of resistance, complicity, and subversion. Moreover, this paper emphasizes the relevance of feminist readings in re-contextualizing these classical works for contemporary audiences. By drawing connections between the gendered struggles of historical contexts and ongoing debates about women's autonomy, identity, and power, the study illustrates how these texts remain potent and relevant in today’s discussions about equality and justice. In doing so, this research aims to contribute to both literary scholarship and feminist discourse, positioning classical literature not as relics of the past, but as living texts that continue to inform and inspire debates on gender dynamics.

A Feminist Approach to the Images of Women in <i>That Long Silence </i>and <i>Palace of Desire (Qasr Al-Shawq)</i>: A Comparative Study

This paper investigates the depiction of women in Shashi Deshpande's That Long Silence and Naguib Mahfouz's Palace of Desire (Qasr Al-Shawq) according to the feminist approach. The study seeks to compare and contrast the way these two novels, which are considered among reputable 20th century fiction, represent female characters and their struggles for asserting their individualities in two types of male-dominated societies. That is to say, Shashi Deshpande, the Indian authoress of That Long Silence fathoms the struggles of women in a traditional Indian society. In this novel, she mirrors the great challenges that women face in such a patriarchal system. Therefore, this research traces the heroines’ experience highlighting how the novelist has tackled misogynism and biased societal prospects. On the other hand, Mahfouz's Palace of Desire sheds light on the stereotyped images of women and feminists attempts to free women within the changing political and societal setting of Egypt then. Aida's personality represents the ambitious woman who reconciles with her desires and does her best to assert herself in a male-dominated society despite all the social constraints trying to limit her aspirations. In this comparative study between the two concerned novels, the researcher seeks to reveal the similarities and differences in the representations of women in two different cultural backgrounds. So, the paper examines how each of these two novelists criticizes the patriarchal structures and advocates feminism in his/ her society exposing the ways through which gender roles and societal norms are presented. The study shows a deep understanding of feminist literary criticism by highlighting the cultural influence of the two societies in which women’s sufferings are revealed. So, the findings of the research offer new insights into the gender roles, misogynism, stereotyped images of women, old traditions and patriarchal systems in literature.