Female Masculinity in D.H. Lawrence’s The Rainbow

Abstract

This research project associates Ursula, female protagonist of the novel The Rainbow reflecting her masculinity. Many feminist critics have perceived this novel as man-centered. In response to this analysis of the novel, the present research tries to look at the novel from the perspective of Judith Halberstam’s theoretical concept of Female Masculinity, especially Ursula as a masculine woman who acts like a man in the British society. Female masculinity is not an identity but site for identification where different identities can flourish. Masculine women possess confidence, assertiveness, and independence. Lawrence gives justice for women’s role by presenting Ursula as a new woman who seeks her individual identity in the conventional world. Through the reading of novel from as its theoretical tool, the research concludes that female can be as male and male can be like female. She acts like a man and that means she has masculine qualities. Lawrence portrays Ursula as a woman with masculinity because she can flourish different identities of her life. She plays role as independent woman, liberate woman, Lesbian woman, and new woman etc. She behaves like a tomboy who refuses to accept Victorian conventions of the society. So Ursula is a masculine woman rather than being feminine. This research emphasizes how a woman can perform like a man this suggests masculinity is not private property of male. Masculinity is social position that can be practice in an individual way. Masculinity is a social position that can be practice in an individual way. Keywords: Female Masculinity, Emancipation, femininity, Individualism, equality