Third Blog
This blog will focus on the second question:
What does the way women are depicted in contemporary fiction say about our culture and identity? Evaluate the purpose of presenting women in this way in your novel.
I feel that women are becoming more and more prevalent in contemporary fiction. I also think that female characters are becoming more independent and less of a support character for a male. I feel that this shows our progression as a culture towards a more equal ideal.
Now for evidence of that. Well, from the American literature class we are taking, very few of the main characters are women. And an even smaller number are independent of male counterparts. The Scarlet Letter is an example of this. Hester is the main female character of the book, but she is not independent from men in anyway. Her crime is directly related to her male counterpart, as are all her problems.
I feel that in today’s fiction, women are being portrayed with stronger personalities. Even though TV and movies will remain at their brainless norm, fiction does portray women as stronger figures. Take a look at Stephen King’s works. The women he portrays aren’t completely independent, but they are intelligent and have their own, strong personalities.
This novel presents women as being strong and independent. This is because Allende recognizes the fact that women today are ready to be equals to men. The glass ceiling is ever cracking, with more and more women coming into positions of power. Allende recognizes this change, and supports women with her portrayals.
