Female Folly

English > Analysis
Literature > American
Literature > English

Female Folly

Explains how Owen Wister and C.S. Lewis define their beliefs about women within the characters which they created in "The Virginian" and "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe".

876 words () | 5 sources | MLA | 2002 United States

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how Owen Wister and C.S. Lewis utilize their characters in the novels "The Virginian" and "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" to narrate their ideas about erroneous female ambition and the "proper" roles women are destined to occupy in order to achieve happiness.

From the Paper:

"Battles are ugly when women fight," notes Father Christmas to Lucy in the children's story, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (Lewis 119). Since Lewis created Narnia, and Wister the Virginian, there has been speculation that each wrote with a misogynistic mindset. While the authors disguised their views in fairy tales and fiction, each displayed what could be interpreted as ideas regarding women being inferior to men. Lewis uses symbolism to depict his Christian beliefs in his tale of English children, while Wister imagined a heroic cowboy's adventures in Wyoming. Each author speaks through his characters; depending on them to articulate certain notions about society. Lewis capitalizes on his portrayal of the White Witch as an evil woman and Wister utilizes Molly to make remarks about "appropriate" female behavior."