The Rise Of Feminism Of The 19th And 20th Centuries

The rise of feminism in the 19th and 20th centuries brought along a deeper understanding of the inherent perceptions of masculine and feminine societal roles. Our interpretations of a text is highly influenced by our gender, and as a reader, it affects how the presentation of gender in fictional works either conforms, or diverges, from the societal gender expectations. As the target audience of fairy tales are often tailored towards young children, fairy tales are generally the very first kind of literature with which children are exposed to. The literary works often convey a motif and allows children to discover the differences between good and evil or consequences of their own demeanor. However, they are also subsequently molded by the†¦show more content†¦The research was based on the analysis of two well-known fairy tales by Hans Christin Andersen, namely The Snow Queen and The Little Mermaid. This paper will bring attention to the typical gender stereotypes present in t he fairy tales and the ideologies it can bring to the reader. Published in 1845, The Snow Queen stands out from the other literary texts by its complex story and, most importantly, by revolving around women. In the era the story was written in, majority of readers are all familiar with tales in which the male hero saves the female from her struggle and resolves the conflict of the story. As such, the narrative of The Snow Queen not only explores the themes of female empowerment but also conveys an interesting outlook on the role of women through the events that unfold in the story. Beginning with the Snow Queen, we learn more about her when Kay’s grandmother tells her story to Gerda and Kay. She describes the Snow Queen as a being with power and authority as she compares her to a queen bee who â€Å"is flying there where the swarm is thickest. She is the largest of them all† (Andersen 2). The Snow Queen is portrayed as a force of nature and the embodiment of winter, ho wever, she is also a woman. Throughout the story, we can see further evidence of the patriarchal views in the fear and power that surrounds the Snow Queen’s