Female sexuality and self-determination in E. Jelinek's novels

This thesis deals with women's images in the chosen novels by the Austrian writer Elfriede Jelinek. The focus lies on exploring women's sexuality and identities in Die Klavierspielerin (The Piano Teacher), Lust (Lust) and Die Liebhaberinnen (Women as Lovers). As for the methodology, I draw on feminist literary criticism and gender studies, primarily Elaine Showalter's and Judith Butler's theories. The development of female protagonists is comprehended as formed through patriarchy - it will be analyzed, and the individual results will be compared in order to get to the general issue about depiction of patriarchy and toxic masculinity in Jelinek's work. Key words: feminism, gender, women's sexuality, self-determination, Elfriede Jeline