Assertion of Female Individuality in Willa Cather's A Lost Lady
Date
2008-06
Authors
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Central Department of English Kirtipur, Kathmandu
Abstract
My dissertation entitled "Assertion of Female Individuality in Willa Cather's A
Lost Lady" subverts the role model of female that is devised by male ideology.
Cather's presentation of autonomous female protagonist who asserts her individuality
dismantling the complacent roles of female in the society aspires to establish female
voice in the society. Cather's hero Marian Forrester disrupts the old patriarchal walls
erected by male ideology to thwart women from any progressive activities. Marian
does whatever she likes without thinking what will be the society's response.
Depicting Marian twenty five years younger than her husband, Cather allows her hero
to go beyond the limited territory of patriarchy. Marian remains busy on changing her
lovers leaving her sick husband on his death bed to assert her individuality. She
controls not only domestic chores but also undertakes business and financial affairs.
Cather by portraying Marian as the hero of the novel proves that freedom and
responsibility, that are historically denied to them, could be achieved by women.
Description
Keywords
English literature, A Lost Lady, Willa Cather, Story