Literature and Feminism: Breaking the Conventional Norms

This essay explores the works of women authors in English literature that subject feminism and incite social change. It focuses on Miles Franklin, Alice Walker, and Virginia Woolf and their contribution to breaking the conventional norms of gender and sexual biasness. The study gives a close consideration of the sexual orientation way of life as depicted by Franklin and Walker in their novels ‘My Brilliant Career’ and ‘Color Purple’ respectively. In the meantime, the paper additionally gives reference from ‘A Room of One's Own’ that was written by Virginia Woolf.

Running head: LITERATURE AND FEMINISM
Literature and feminism
Name of the student
Name of the University
Author note

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Consider the ways in which women authors develop in readers a critical consciousness that
is necessary in discerning gender and racial/cultural practices of discrimination in society
and inciting social change.
Introduction: Over the years, English literature has been highlighting the issue of social
discrimination through the works of great authors. Focusing their views on the issue of social
discrimination, the flock of writers articulated and presented the problem from different
perspectives. Some of the great works are even based on the real-life incidents of the authors
itself. In the form of drama, poetry and novels, social discrimination has been portrayed as a
dominant voice against the bias within the society (Gilbert, 515-543). In this regard, the
contribution of the women authors indeed deserves mention. Realizing the issue and the need of
bringing the issue into the limelight, famous women authors enriched the treasure of English
literature with the great works that subjected feminism (Collins, 12).
The objective of the works was not only to contribute to the English literature, rather the
authors, novelist and poets, especially the women authors penned down the great works with the
aim of developing a conscience within the readers or the audience regarding the need of
elimination o racial and cultural discrimination. Thus, they conveyed the message of the need for
social change through their works. Miles Franklin’s novel ‘My Brilliant Career’ is one such
work that depicts the struggle of a girl and her final realization of her self-identity (Franklin, 1).
Setting an example, Franklin showed how a girl transforms into an empowered woman who
prefers career over her marriage. The lines “accidents had no power over me” and “fear I knew
not” implies Sybylla, the protagonist’s win over the ultimate fear (Franklin, 17). Through her
novel ‘Color Purple’, Alice Walker introduces her perception regarding gender as well as the
gender with the purpose of developing a consciousness within the reader (Walker, 11). Various

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characters have been employed by Walker in order to make them more engaged with the subject
of gender inequality while exclusively highlighting on the topic of sexual orientation (Walker,
11). The essay will be giving close attention to the gender identity as portrayed by Walker in his
novel. At the same time, the paper also gives reference from ‘A Room of One’s Own’ that was
written by Virginia Woolf (Virginia, 47). Therefore essay will be strictly focusing on how
Franklin, Walker and Woolf established the traditional norms breaking the gender inequality and
sexual biasness.
Discussion: Since17th century, the issue of social segregation is being featured through
the articulation of extraordinary writers. Concentrating their perspectives on the subject of social
segregation, the many of the great authors enunciated and exhibited the issue from an alternate
point of view. A portion of the significant works is even in light of the actual occurrences of the
creators itself (Gilbert, Sandra and Susan, 34). Through dramatization, verse and books, social
segregation has been depicted as a noteworthy voice against the separation inside the ordinary
people. In such manner, the commitment of the women authors to be sure merits say.
Understanding the issue and the need to acquire the issue in the spotlight, well known women
authors advanced the fortune of English writing with the extensive works that subjected women
liberation (Gilbert, 515-543).
The aim of the works was not exclusively to add to the English writing, instead the flock
of authors particularly the women section penned down the their thoughts, vision and perception
through the works with a point of building up a soul inside the readers in regards to the need of
the end of racial and social segregation (Humm, 2). Subsequently, they passed on the message of
the need for social change through their works. Miles Franklin's novel ‘My Brilliant Career’ is
one such work that portrays the battle of a young girl and her last acknowledgment of her self-

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personality (Magarey, 389). Setting a case, Franklin demonstrated how a young girl changed into
an engaged woman who finally leans towards profession over her marriage. Franklin through the
novel brings the stereotype of the society that perceives marriage as the ultimate destination of
women. Generally, women are married off without providing the opportunity to build up their
career, while at the same time; men are encouraged to focus more on their career. Thus the
segregation or the discrimination lies that have been considered as one of the significant issues to
be highlighted (Henderson, 165).
This social issue encouraged Franklin to portray the character of Sybylla with the
hardships and mental determination of towards making way for her career in spite of the
struggles of life. Through her novel 'Color Purple’, Alice Walker presents her discernment
viewing sexual orientation and also sexuality with the motivation behind building up an
awareness within the readers. Different characters have been used by Walker to make them more
drew in with the subject of sexual disparity while solely featuring on the point of sexual
orientation. The study will give a close consideration of the sexual orientation way of life as
depicted by Franklin and Walker in their novels ‘Color Purple’ and ‘My Brilliant Career’. In the
meantime, the paper additionally gives reference from ‘A Room of One's Own’ that was
composed by Virginia Woolf. In this manner, the paper will be nearly concentrating on how
Walker, Franklin and Woolf built up the conventional standards breaking the sexual imbalance
and sexual biasness.
The novel ‘Color Purple’ revolves around a young girl named Celie. The story brings a
darker side of the society with the rape scene of Celie. Celie was raped by her father, and then
later the children that she gave birth to were also sold by her father. Not only that, her father
forces her to marry with Mr. Albert who kicked out Nettie, Celie’s sister as Nettie could not be

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raped by him (Lewis, 167-18). The novel unfolds different equations of relationship with the
characters of Shug, Celie, Nettie and Mr. Albert. Sexuality plays a bigger role as the story begins
which reveals the patriarchal society’s perception towards women as a commodity. “He beat me
today cause he say I winked at a boy in church. I may have got somethin in my eye but I didn’t
wink. I don’t even look at mens,” reveals the violence of Celie’s husband on her (Walker, 6).
Thus Walker brings the darkest side of the society where women were dishonored and lost their
independence while marrying someone else whom she does not love (Lewis, 167-184). As
Walker highlights the cruelty of the society, she also concludes the novel where the characters
were seen overcoming the issue.
The novel concludes with the scene in which Celie breaks the traditional norms of the
society and comes out from her marriage and starts living with Shug. Thus it can be said that the
entire novel is a piece of excellent work which gives an explicit portrayal of a girl who even after
being the tortured, overcomes the ill conventions of the society (Hite, 3). This additionally
develops a sense of conscience among the reader on overcoming the sexual prejudices. Walker
clearly shows the social biasness which depicts different attitude towards men and women.
Sexuality assumes greater part as the story starts which uncovers the male-centric culture's
observation towards women as the commodity (Raghunath, Hema and R). In this way, walker
brings the darkest side of the general public where women were shamed and lost their autonomy
while wedding somebody.
As Walker features the brutality of the general public, she likewise finishes up the novel
where the characters were seen beating the issue. The story closes with the scene in which Celie
breaks the conventional standards of the general public and turns out from her marriage and
begins living with Shug (Hite, 11). Along these lines, one might say that the whole novel is a bit

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of pleasant work which gives an unmistakable depiction of a young woman who even in the
wake of being the tormented beats the evil traditions of the general public. This also builds up a
feeling of inner voice among the readers on conquering the sexual biases. Walker demonstrates
the social biasness which delineates distinctive mentality towards people.
The feminism aspect again comes to the forefront with Woolf’s novel ‘A Room of One’s
Own’. The main theme of the novel is to shed light on the existence of women in the society.
Woolf through her novel hurls on the social conventions of the society that do not take the
women into consideration. At the same Woolf focuses on both the confinement as well on the
freedom of women. The theme or message that Woolf wanted to convey through her novel is
aptly implied by the title of the novel itself (Virginia, 47). The title conveys a woman’s need of a
room in which she will be able to confine them in order to give them the freedom to write. Thus
she hurls on the ill-nature of the social convention which does not allow a woman to access the
fundamental rights (Humm, 8). The narrator stresses on the fact that money is the most crucial
element in life.
The narrator further states that women must be financially independent of writing poetry
successfully. Woolf’s view is of the opinion that women tend to write novel rather than poetry as
writing poetry demands more concentration which is possible if she gets a lonely place where
she will be able to give her complete attention to give her best through the line which is perhaps
the most famous one of the novel, “a woman must have money and a room of her own if she is
to write fiction” (Virginia, 1). The novel implies that women’s existence is in second place, but
they can also be in the first place provided they are financially independent. The women rights
again go to the bleeding edge with Woolf's novel ‘A Room of One's Own’. The main subject of
the novel is to reveal the insight into the reality of women in the general public. Woolf through

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her novel flings on the social traditions of the general public that don't think about the women
(Gilbert, Sandra and Susan, 6).
On the whole, Woolf’s novel centers around both the imprisonment also on the flexibility
of women. The title of the novel itself appropriately suggests the topic or message that Woolf
tried to convey through her novel. The title passes on a woman's need of a room in which she
will have the capacity to keep them to give them the flexibility to compose. In this manner, she
throws on the evil idea of the social tradition which does not enable a lady to get to the
fundamental rights (Gilbert, 515-543). The storyteller weights on the way that cash is the most
critical component throughout everyday life. The storyteller additionally expresses that women
must be fiscally free to compose verse effectively. Woolf's view is of the conclusion that women
tend to compose novel as opposed to poetry as composing verse requests more fixation which is
conceivable on the off chance that she gets a desolate place where she will have the capacity to
put forth a valiant effort. The novel suggests that women' presence is on the second place yet
they can likewise be in any case given they are monetarily autonomous.
Conclusion: To conclude it will be apt to assert that Franklin, Walker as well as Woolf’s
work essentially throw the light on their articulation as to how their works established the
argument which dwells on the societal issue gender discrimination and the ways through which
the characters of the two literary works overcome the barriers or how they breaks the social
convention. The issue of social segregation is being featured through the articulation of
extraordinary writers. Concentrating their perspectives on the issue of social segregation, the
many of the great authors enunciated and exhibited the issue from the alternate point of view. A
portion of the important works is even in view of the actual occurrences of the creators itself.

7LITERATURE AND FEMINISM
Through dramatization, verse and books, social segregation has been depicted as a unique voice
against the separation inside the ordinary people.
Women writers over the ages have been stigmatized to be working with the genres like
romance. However, making the difference there few writers like Alice Walker, Miles Franklin,
Virginia Woolf chose gender discrimination as a subject with the aim to motivate the readers,
especially the women over the issue. Their works not only dismantled the stereotype, instead it
encourages the society to change its view to the women. The women writers like Walker,
Franklin and Woolf primarily penned their works to invigorate the women to stand against the
discrimination, conventional social norms. While Alice’s novel focuses on sexual discrimination,
Woolf’s focuses on uplifting the position of the women poets. Thus the need of social change is
again and again raised by Walker as well Woolf in order make the existence of the women in the
society prominent. It is quite evident that these women writers’ works have been acclaimed as a
considerable success which inspires the future generation of women writers to work more with
the subject of gender discrimination so that this social issue can be abolished.
The study gave a close consideration of the sexual orientation way of life as depicted by
Franklin and Walker in their novels ‘My Brilliant Career’ and ‘Color Purple’ respectively. In the
meantime, the paper additionally gave reference from ‘A Room of One's Own’ that was written
by Virginia Woolf. In this manner study firmly concentrating on how Walker, Franklin and
Woolf have built up the conventional standards for breaking the sexual imbalance and sexual
biasness.

8LITERATURE AND FEMINISM
References
Collins, Patricia Hill. Black feminist thought: Knowledge, consciousness, and the politics of
empowerment. Routledge, 2002.
Franklin, Miles. ’My Brilliant career’. Broadview Press, 2007.
Garton, Stephen. "Contesting enslavement: marriage, manhood and “My Brilliant
career.” Australian Literary Studies 20.4 (2002): 336.
Gilbert, Sandra M., and Susan Gubar. "Sexual Linguistics: Gender, Language, Sexuality." New
Literary History 16.3 (1985): 515-543.
Gilbert, Sandra M., and Susan Gubar. The madwoman in the attic: The woman writer and the
nineteenth-century literary imagination. Yale University Press, 1980.
Henderson, Ian. "Gender, genre and Sybylla's performative identity in Miles Franklin's My
Brilliant Career." Australian Literary Studies 18.2 (1997): 165.
Hite, Molly. "Romance, Marginality, Matrilineage: Alice Walker's" The Color Purple" and Zora
Neale Hurston's" Their Eyes Were Watching God"." Novel: A Forum on Fiction. Vol. 22. No. 3.
Duke University Press, 1989.
Humm, Maggie. A readers guide to contemporary feminist literary criticism. Routledge, 2015.
Lewis, Christopher S. "Cultivating Black Lesbian Shamelessness: Alice Walker's The Color
Purple." Rocky Mountain Review of Language and Literature 66.2 (2012): 167-184.
Magarey, Susan. “My Brilliant career and feminism." Australian Literary Studies 20.4 (2002):
389.

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Raghunath, Hema Nalini, and R. Saravana Selvan. "Language as a Symbol in Alice Walker's The
Color Purple." Language in India 14.10 (2014).
Virginia, Woolf. "A room of one’s own." New York (1929): 47.
Walker, Alice. "The Color Purple. 1982." New York: Pocket(1985).