Question
How can feminist literary theory be applied to analyse representations of gender roles and relationships in John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars and Paper Towns?
Answer
Feminist literary theory can be applied to analyse gender roles and relationships in John Green’s “The Fault in Our Stars” and “Paper Towns” by examining how these novels portray gender stereotypes and the dynamics between male and female characters.
Gender stereotypes and roles in the novels include:
Paper Towns: The novel portrays gender stereotypes where men are often seen as superior and women as inferior. This is evident in the way female characters are treated differently from male characters, highlighting societal constructions of gender roles (Safitri, 2019). Margo’s character, however, challenges these stereotypes by embodying individuality and a quest for liberation, suggesting a feminist critique of traditional gender roles (Dyah et al., 2024).
The Fault in Our Stars: The novel can be examined for how it portrays the relationship dynamics between Hazel and Augustus, potentially revealing underlying gender expectations and roles. Through Hazel’s perspective, the narrative may challenge traditional portrayals of femininity, especially regarding vulnerability, strength, and agency. Additionally, Augustus’s characterisation could reflect or subvert typical masculine roles, highlighting societal pressures placed on young men to appear strong and resilient even in the face of illness.
Feminist theoretical frameworks include:
Liberal feminism: This framework focuses on the individual rights and autonomy of women, as seen in Margo’s journey towards self-discovery and liberation (Dyah et al., 2024). This approach can be applied to both novels to explore how female characters navigate societal expectations.
Poststructural feminism: This perspective allows for the analysis of how femininity and gender roles are culturally constructed and contested. It can be used to examine how the characters in both novels are shaped by and resist these cultural narratives (Marshall, 2004).
Language and representation includes:
Feminist stylistics: This approach analyses language use in the novels to uncover gender biases. It examines how point of view, agency, and metaphor contribute to gender representation, often revealing male characters as more active and in control, while female characters may appear more passive (Gheni, 2021).
Applying feminist literary theory to John Green’s novels reveals how gender roles and relationships are constructed and challenged. “Paper Towns” explicitly critiques gender stereotypes through Margo’s character, while both novels can be analysed for their portrayal of gender dynamics, using frameworks like liberal and poststructural feminism to uncover deeper insights into the representation of gender.
References
Safitri, A., 2019. An Analysis Of The Main Character And Gender Issue In John Green’s “Paper Towns” Novel. **.
Dyah, L., Wardani, P., Heditto, I., Priyambogo, B., , S., Basuki, I., Cahyawati, E., Murti, G., & Diatta, F., 2024. Margo’s Individuality in John Green’s Paper Towns: Exploring the Realms of Unrequited Love and the Frontiers for a Liberated Woman. EVOLUTIONARY STUDIES IN IMAGINATIVE CULTURE. https://doi.org/10.70082/esiculture.vi.690
Marshall, E., 2004. Stripping for the wolf: Rethinking representations of gender in children’s literature. Reading Research Quarterly, 39, pp. 256-270. https://doi.org/10.1598/RRQ.39.3.1
Gheni, A., 2021. A Study of Feminist Stylistic Analysis of Language Issues of Gender Representation in Selected Literary text. Journal of the College of languages. https://doi.org/10.36586/JCL.2.2021.0.43.0102
Green, J. (2013). The Fault in Our Stars. London: Penguin.
Green, J. (2015). Paper Towns. London: Bloomsbury Childrens.
Rabin, N. (2014). “I’m Sorry for Coining the Phrase ‘Manic Pixie Dream Girl’.” Salon.com. Accessed 21.09.2016 – available online.
