Empowerment of Women through Literary Imagination: Comparison of Prominent20th Century Male and Female Authors’ Points of Views towards Their Protagonists’ Failure and Achievement”

This paper aims to investigate two great English classics: Henry James’ The Wings of the Dove, and Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre to illustrate the impact of literary imagination on the intellectual development of readers as well as to empower women. In addition, it also intends to show how gender differences between the two authors’ perspectives on women’s problems can dominate their views on each protagonist’s suffering, and their solution to the problems. The investigation is based on descriptive analyses of the two works with excerpts from the texts to give readers insights into the situations, in which the protagonists: Milly in The Wings of the Dove, and Jane in Jane Eyre, has encountered. For clarity, the researcher also provides an overview of the feminist movement in the past with reflections of some outstanding feminist leaders on issues that oppression women and eliminate their chance for advancement in society. Milly is willing to give in to her faith, and is doomed, whereas Jane is determined to fight for her freedom and independence. She has achieved her goal and found happiness in the end. What this reconfirms is that literary imagination can enhance readers’ critical thinking skills. It also creates awareness of social issues that can solve gender problems and provoke understanding for peace and justice in society