Aspects of feminism in Three XX. Century Short Stories

The aim of this paper is to present and examine the most important features of feminism through three 20th century short stories, Doris Lessing‟s “A Woman on a Roof”, Ethel M Dell‟s “The Magic Circle”, and Alice Munro‟s “Boys and Girls”. In the “A Woman on a Roof” we experience how humiliating it is to be exposed to, and therefore absolutely objectified by male gaze. We also learn what happens, if a woman disregards culturally ingrained chauvinistic order. Doris Lessing‟s work was written before the sexual revolution, and it places men‟s fear from the mere possibility of female independence in the centre. Alice Munro‟s short story introduces us into the world of differences between the two sexes both in childhood and in adulthood. Dissimilarities are often resulted in unequal relationships between the partners. Women are often associated with animals rather than with human beings. Maternity and the aspects of mother-child relationships are also in the focus of the literary work. “The Magic Circle” is about male domination within marriage and strict restrictions imposed upon women by their husbands. Unfulfilled wishes of wives and their silent suffering as a consequence of their husbands‟ noncompliance are also revealed. In reality, however, husbands simply play roles when they ignore their wives. Their reasons for resisting their overwhelming desire to be loved are also enumerated by the author. The story has a surprisingly positive outcome with an unwanted change in the husband‟s attitude that can be the forerunner of societal changes in real life.Bscanglisztik