Four Groundbreaking Women’s Novels
Women authors have created a rich history in the world of literature. A few novels stand out in their journey as landmarks in women’s literary accomplishments and individual careers.
The long road to succes for female authors has included many groundbreaking novels. A few have withstood the test of time as significant milestones in their careers and in literary history itself.
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The Awakening
Kate Chopin’s novel of feminine desire and lost dreams is still recognized as a benchmark in feminine literature. Her depiction of a female character desiring (and experiencing) physical passion — and desire for a relationship outside her marriage — has remained a controversial and gripping subject for scholars and readers alike. The novel’s tragic close has been interpreted differently by moralists and open-minded readers, but the intrinsically feminine voice of the novel remains rich and complex despite the changing worldview for women.
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Daniel Deronda
George Eliot’s high-spirited heroine shines forth in this dramatic tale of selfishness, survival, heritage and freedom. Told in half from the perspective of a woman, Eliot’s novel depicts a feminine attitude with a freedom and accuracy seldom observed in the literature of her male counterparts. An anomaly herself in the world of literature, Eliot’s skilled was hailed as equal to the greatest male authors of her time.
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Jane Eyre
Charlotte Bronte’s haunting tale of an quiet and plain governess and her brooding employer lives on as a gothic romance — but the independent nature of her heroine makes this novel deserving of a more profound place in literary history. Jane’s self-confident, resourceful nature makes her a true heroine as she defends and supports herself, and turns the literary tables to perform the typical male role of the rescuer whose actions save the story from tragedy.
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Herland
Charlotte Perkins Gilman is best remembered for the haunting short story “The Yellow Wallpaper”, but her feminist novel “Herland” is remembered for its unusual take on the Utopian ideal. A strongly feminist work, it preserves the feminine nature of its characters while emphasizing the capability and strength of womankind.
While the colorful landscape of women’s literature is ever-growing, the stories that paved the way for modern-day literature deserve recognition. Without them, the women authors might have been lost in the shuffle without a chance of success.
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