The Affective Relationship Between Literary Characters and the Reader
Introduction
How does literature affect the minds of young girls?
Literature is something everyone encounters. Because of this widespread audience it is vital to portray story in such a way as not to limit readers. In many Young Adult (YA) novels that are published in our modern society, there is not special consideration as to how young girls will perceive gender roles. As much as society thinks we have grown and are more accepting, these novels show that discrimination when it comes to women is still a huge problem. By looking at wildly popular novels such as Twilight, Harry Potter, and, The Hunger Games as well as superhero comic books, we can see that the roles of women are greatly different despite their common fictional genre. The role of women that is shown in literature is a depiction on how they are seen and treated in society. [1] This provides social commentary on the injustices of society and the prevalent inequalities of gender representation. [2]
Literature Norms
Twilight
Bella Swan is ordinary, while glittering vampire; Edward Cullen is beyond her wildest dreams. The novel consistently objectifies women in that Bella is always in need of a man once she meets Edward. [3 ] This is dangerous to young girls because the book puts Bella’s self worth in Edward and giving a person this amount of power is demeaning to women and also sends the wrong message to young girls who have yet to experience what real life can offer. Along with Bella’s constant need for Edward’s attention, the novels label all of his actions as romantic. [4 ] Despite his clingy attitude that is reminiscent of a stalker, the book tells us that it is okay because Edward is a vampire and is apparently desperately in love with Bella. Edward and Jacob both completely undermine Bella’s capability to take care of herself. This tells girls that this is the norm. And although some women need to be protected, these books make it seem that women need protection all the time. This makes Twilight seem like a healthy relationship, and teaches girls that they should look for their own Edward. Really this “relationship” screams of abuse, and the glamorization of this is poison to the minds of young readers. Signs of this abuse, starting with Bella, include: Low Self-Esteem, which means that Edward can come in a fix all her worries which gives him power of her, Forbidden Love, Edward’s seemingly unattainable nature makes him more desirable, and Excited By Danger, she finds the danger that Edward brings to be “exciting” rather than undesirable. [5 ] When looking at Edward, he adopts many characteristics that identify him as an abuser: his control over Bella, his efforts to isolate her from her life before him, how quickly he develops their romantic relationship, and extreme intense jealousy and possessiveness. [6 ]
Harry Potter
In stark contrast to Twilight, Harry Potter celebrates the strength of women and shows that girls can be themselves. The character of Hermione Granger is one that has inspired young girls. She is intelligent and fiercely loyal. J.K. Rowling writes her in such a way as to prove that women can be protectors and heroines. [7 ] It is often said in the books how smart Hermione is or how Harry and Ron would not last long if not for her. Traditionally, the absence of strong females roles was rampant but Harry Potter creates a break from this common fantasy trope. [8 ] Hermione is described as physically strong like her male friends, but she is depicted as strong in her intellect instead, which is incredibly important. [9 ] It show girls that strength can be measured in a multitude of ways and it does not always need to be seen in the traditional sense of being physically able. J.K. Rowling also stays away from the common practice of objectifying women. She writes Hermione as plain with frizzy hair saying to young girls that we do not have to be flawless to be worth writing about. Instead, Hermione has lots of flaws, because everyone does. This makes her incredibly realistic and a good role model for young girls. Many stories suggest that women need to assume the “position of the beautiful, sexual being with power over men” [10 ] but Harry Potter says otherwise. It says that women do not need to have power over men and do not need to be what society deems as beautiful to be successful. This is what makes Harry Potter and its female characters so compelling to girls. This sense of equality does not just reside within Hermione, but it also bleeds into Hogwarts as whole. At Hogwarts, witches and wizards have the same opportunity to learn despite gender differences, they can have the same jobs after school. [11 ] Success in these areas is not based on gender but rather ability. [12 ] There are not positions only males can have or positions specifically designed for what the society thinks women should do, instead it is a choice solely based on the desire of each individual witch or wizard. Women, in the novels, are there to provide intellect to apply to situations but support the men in battle. [13] They are not just there for entertainment and a bit of romance, but are necessary and integral to the plot.
The Hunger Games
Katniss Everdeen, the protagonist for the novels, is portrayed as a strong heroine. She goes out hunting and in that provides for her family since her father’s death. Though at first her skills and her demeanour are “traditionally masculine” [14 ] she becomes more traditionally feminine once she enters the capital and is made over by Cinna who puts her in dresses and copious amounts of makeup. Suzanne Collins’s portrayal of Katniss here shows that a woman can be both strong and beautiful. In the Hunger Games the protagonist happens to be a woman, but if Collins decided to tell the story through a male perspective, the actual plot would not change drastically [15 ]. This is important to recognize because it challenges the parameters we put on gender. When young girls read this, they are inspired by the selflessness of Katniss protecting her sister by entering the Hunger Games in her place, and the bravery it takes to protect Rue once she is in the Games. Throughout the novel, Katniss saves herself. [16 ] This reinforces the strength that is often missed in female roles in literature. She becomes this emblem of hope in the novels that transcend into the real world and influence readers. Her embodiment of equality is refreshing, as with out her, Panem would crumble. Collins carefully sidesteps the “man-hating feminist” stereotype that many strong women who are written about have which makes Katniss even more believable. [17 ] This book, in its portrayal of women, challenged the normalization of passive women and invites readers to see that women can be just as strong, just as smart, and just as confident as men, and we too can be the hero in our own stories.
21st Century Implications
Why It Matters
Why It Matters This affective relationship between reader and novel can be of great influence and it has been for centuries. In modern literature is does not only occur with in the YA genre, but everywhere. It is important, in part, to focus on YA literature because youths are impressionable and being exposed to material that is demeaning and stereotypical is dangerous to the minds of younger readers. This can potentially affect them greatly later in life. Whether these young readers realize it or not, seeing patterns in life plays a subconscious role. This follows Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TedTalk on the “Single Story.” [18] This idea of the single story isolates people. Characters like Bella; a young high school student who has a dream of a boyfriend who is the “jock” type figure in the story has become a trope in North American YA literature. This has become a single story and in that is saying that all girls who are beginning high school should want this too. Diversity is what modern literature craves and novels such as Harry Potter and The Hunger Games provide it. Although authors of such novels are carefully questioning this issue of lack of diversity, but it has a deep-rooted past.In Dracula, for example, we see a blatant sexualization of women. This was because it was written for men. It comments on the society and the restraints that were put on women and explores the fantasy that women could be sexual beings. The depiction of the possibility for something different rampant throughout the novel as it suggests a new world where women could have more freedom. Bram Stoker made Lucy in particular in critique of this “New Woman” and how society would change if this came true. [19 ] His depiction of Lucy clearly shows the “selfish and unnaturalness of the New Woman in attempt to caution readers. [| 20 ] This relates to the real world consequences that the writing has. Just like modern literature is meant to persuade and how characters show roles within society, Dracula does the same. This is why it is integral to appropriate compelling characters that resonate with people.
Implications for an Avid Reader
Cruel Optimism
Like Lauren Berlant’s theory of “Cruel Optimism” books have a cluster of promises [21 ]. We read these books to escape the world we live in absorb the lives of fictional people to feel reprieve. But sometimes this relationship can be cruel because the novel may not fulfil our expectations and so this “attachment” that we have is tainted. [22 ] When a character falls into stereotypes like Twilight, it is cruelly optimistic. It is marketed as an unlikely fantasy romance, but instead we get an abusive relationship that is far from realistic. [23 ] It becomes cruel because the reader keeps going in the hopes that this will change. But sometimes we get books like Harry Potter and The Hunger Games that fulfil our genre expectations while still critiquing the common trope of a passive female character. It is important to consider gender roles as to stop the relationship between the reader and the novel as being cruelly optimistic. By producing characters that stray from the status quo and represent other people within society, readers will have a much better understanding of their role within society. Instead of being forced to represent a stereotype or something not authentically themselves, it damages the strength of our society.