The Under-representation of Women in the German Literary Canon - Literature review Example

Task Introduction Christa Wolf, Ingeborg Bachmann, and Elfriede Jelinek are esteemed for their efforts in denouncing the under-representation of women in the German literary canon. They pioneered in giving a distinct feminine voice to contemporary German and the world literature. Moreover, they assisted the feminist cause by condemning patriarchy and male-hegemony in society. Gender equality is a widespread debatable topic that is currently discussed. The female gender is perceived as weak in the society, and innumerable efforts have been made to change the anticipation of the global perception. Thus, the 3 works of literature of the venerated authors are critiqued and analyzed aptly for effectual understanding of the need of egalitarianism. Ingeborg Bachmann Bachmann Ingeborg studied philosophy, German philology, law and philosophy and was born in Australia. She learnt literature through a job as a writer and editor at a radio station. In her book A Step towards Gomorrah, talks about a relationship involving lesbians, which is subjected to Australian gender roles. Bachmann writes how women were confined to World War 2 gender and marriage ideals. The core character is Franz, Charlotte’s husband, who is practices the customary gender conforms. Charlotte experiences hardship in the system and makes up her mind to escape the system by being a lesbian. “...a new genesis, the creation of the female self, ‘a counter-image’ out of the ashes of a male-centered world, as the woman Charlotte during one long night..” (Achberger, 79) During the period of post WW2, men still dominated and were leaders of the family whilst the women were still subjective to man. Franz depicts in a way men behaved throughout the period, which Charlotte also finds reassuring. Interestingly, Charlotte undermines her female counterparts and regards them as inferior to men in the society. Although, the developing attitude seems to be against her wish and anticipation, she could not help it. She perceives women as weak beings who are unable to match men’s strength. Charlotte fails to participate fully in making decisions to the family and lets her husband make decisions such as decorating the apartments; since she assumed that she was incapable of taking control in family affair. Bachmann proves inferiority of women when Charlotte plays her role as ‘dominant man’ to her female partner Mara. Moreover, she denies the fact that she is married to Franz and makes up her mind to subsist with her girlfriend perpetually. Bachmann affirms the obscurity women faced at the time in his narration of lesbianism relationship. “Bachmann underscores the significance of Mara’s dual role as both destroyer and rescuer in charlotte’s life...” (Achberger, 81) In her literary work, we are able to see what will possibly happen when gender roles are broken. The considerable lesson elaborated in the lesbianism is that gender roles still apply in same sex correlation. Consequently, Bachmann core message she passes to Charlotte is that participating in lesbianism was not the right remedy to solve and overcome traditional gender roles and behaviors in society. Violence is another topic, brought clearly by Bachmann to show difficulties female gender faces in a marriage. Christa Wolf Christa Wolf is a renowned author from Eastern Germany who specialized in literary detractor, novelist and journalist. In her childhood period, she lived in Nazi epoch and became an adult in the communism era. She has written books such as Der geteilte Himmel, Auf dem weg and Cassandra. Wolf’s core themes work concentrate on the execution of pressure on women from society. Cassandra is a book that Wolf passes a significant message on the shift of a matriarchal to a patriarchal society. Women position in German society was something of illogicality since female’ rights were embedded in the German Democratic Republic (GDR) constitution since 1949. Women were required to stay at home, perform household chores, and denied liberty of expression in case they were hired as employees. Amusingly, the female gender had a different perception on how the society handled them, since some embraced the system whilst others condemn it. Wolf explains how they found apt ways of expressing their state of mind in the indubitably, and despotic society; condemning patriarchy and male-hegemony in society. It is established that Christa Wolf was a female writer associated with public imagination on the rights of German women against the patriarchy and male-hegemony. Despite the fact that she lived in a society that forced women to work assiduously, she worked as a thriving female artist. Cassandra is a book that depicts how she gives a distinct feminine voice to contemporary German and the world literature. The book is inspired by myths of Troy spun related to the ancient Greeks. In her skillfully and artistic presentation of her ideas, Wolf takes her readers back to the society in which women had no voice and remarkably undermined. She describes a character who similarly relates to her real; life when she writes about a woman, a prophetess and a King’s daughter who refuses to leave Troy. Correspondingly, she resolute to stay in East Germany and refused to live in the west, but remained a resident of Pankow. “...and her decision to stay in the East Germany had to refrain from saying so at the time. It is, of course, no coincidence that Kassandra was published...” (Gransow & Hugo, 203). The core character, termed as heroine of the book, faces challenges and oppressive situations her life, which she later has to decide on capitulation and death. Her ability to foretell the future forces her to live on the precincts of the atrocious and fraudulent society. However, the successful attempts of the female personnel in the community make her attain a sense of belonging and acceptance. Wolf’s main objective on writing her novel is to show the society how commonality of women is the ideal counterpoint to an autocratic civilization. In the current society, Cassandra is viewed as an insane prophetess is obscured by psychosis. This shows how women are perceived when they try to stand for their rights in a societal context. Wolf retells the story of Cassandra particularly at the instant she was dying. The concept of the myth is related to the unheard voice of German women and oppression and austere suppression in Eastern part of Germany where she resided. Cassandra brings out patriarchal allegory into a contemporary context referring to the earlier system that gave males task of political control, and acquaintance of property. The male had the right to inherit property while the female gender was destabilized since they had no power on anything. I believe that Cassandra lack of status and gender are significant in depicting the hardship of women, which Wolf believes is the main cause of the problem. Interestingly, Wolf wrote his book from self experience rather than being taught or conducting a research. She blames men for the difficulties women have to go through, since they are the ones in charge. Elfriede Jelinek Elfriede Jelinek is an Austrian writer, dramatist and screenwriter and is regarded as the most resourceful writer. She is remarkably esteemed for feminism and anti-capitalist patriarchy. Her works majorly talks on women protagonists who are mistreated and mishandled by male perpetrated abuse. The female gender endures marital aggression and sexual abuse, which makes them be undermined in the society. In her book Die Klavierspielerin, that is translated to The Piano Teacher talks about the story of Erika Kohut, who was 30 years of age, but unusually shy. Regrettably, she coddled in sadomasochistic sexual liaison with Klemmer, a young student who had showed interest in her. Moreover, in her book, Lust that she wrote in 1989 talks about a woman who is married to a rich man owning a factory. Her husband treats her as a property and does not perceive her as equal human being. “The Man is fond of easy talk and the woman is always easy. How could he possibly be expected to contain himself any longer...?” (Jelinek, 33). Her novels majorly majors on the marginalization of women in society. She is specially esteemed by feminist critics who thank her for bringing out ways women are exploited, and exposed to violence in marriages and patriarchal society. “...woman hasn’t the heart to refuse herself. She’s defenceless. The man is perpetually ready to go. Greedy for his pleasure.” (Jelinek, 15). However, Jelinek’s literary work has been disliked and negatively appreciated by some female and men critics who state that her work has been overly analytical nature (Konzett, 96). She manages to bring out the Marxist-feminist themes that are depicted in her novels such as Women as Lovers, The Piano Teacher and Lust, which involve female protagonist that face violence in society. Conclusion Wolf’s Cassandra, Bachmann’s A Step towards Gomorrah and Jelinek’s Lust show the challenges women face and the subjectiveness to the male individuals. The main themes depicted in the stories, and plays are under-representation of women in the German literary canon, and the condemnation of patriarchy and male- hegemony in society. The authors are esteemed in the modern society for their exceptional work of standing for women’s right, at time women were voiceless in the community. Works Cited Achberger, Karen. Understanding Ingeborg Bachmann. Columbia, SC: Univ. of South Carolina Press, 1995. Print. Christa, Wolf. Cassandra: A Novel and Four Essays. Paw Prints, 2009. Print. Jelinek, Elfriede. Lust. London: Serpents Tail, 1992. Print. Jarausch, Konrad H, and Volker Gransow. Uniting Germany: Documents and Debates, 1944- 1993. Providence: Berghahn Books, 1994. Print. Konzett, Matthias. Elfriede Jelinek: Writing Woman, Nation, and Identity : a Critical Anthology. Madison: Fairleigh Dickinson Univ. Press, 2007. Print. Tachibana, Reiko. Narrative As Counter-Memory: A Half-Century of Postwar Writing in Germany and Japan. Albany: State Univ. of New York Press, 1998. Print. Read More