Elin Wägner : 20-talets kvinnosyn

The purpose of this essay is to examine how Elin Wägner depicts the middle-aged woman who lives in the country in Sweden, in the 1920’s. The question at issue is: What problems and what subjects for rejoicing does she raise? My aim is to try to understand the women’s situation, as well as how Elin Wägner describes the situation in her four novels from the 1920’s: Den namnlösa (1922), Silverforsen (1924), Natten till söndag (1926) och Svalorna flyga högt (1929). At the same time I intend to compare the woman of the 1920’s to the situation of women today. I am writing from a feministic literary theory called “omläsning” according to the description of Gunilla Domellöf. In other words, a re-reading of the text with new eyes, in order to let the view of the woman become more visible. The method I have used is Hans Robert Jauss’ “Rezeptionsästhetik”. I came to the conclusion that the novels describe the reality in a plain way, possibly somewhat coloured by Elin Wägner’s feministic starting point. She is commited to the public debate on problems of modern society as well as very familiar with the woman question. Her main themes are love, marriage, divorce and self-realization. Keywords: Elin Wägner, woman, the 1920’s, the church, love, marriage, divorce, feminis