A Feminist Reading of Selected Novels by Ethiopian Diaspora Writers in English: The Case of The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears and The Shadow King
| dc.contributor.advisor | Olga Yazbec(PhD) | |
| dc.contributor.author | Bekelech Truye Gemeda | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-05-02T05:55:47Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-05-02T05:55:47Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024-08 | |
| dc.description.abstract | This research investigates feminist issues in Dinaw Mengestu’s debut novel, The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears and Maaza Mengiste’s second novel, The Shadow King. The researcher examines the representation of the female characters and the roles they play based on the paradigms drawn from poststructuralist feminism focusing on Julia Kristeva’s point of view. The Ethiopian diaspora Dinaw Mengestu and Maaza Mengiste have attempted to portray model female characters to indicate the failure of patriarchal society at present. This research highlights the change of portrayal of female characters now-a-days. The protagonist female character Judith in Dinaw Mengestu’s The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears and Hirut as well as Aster who are the leading characters in Maaza Mengiste’s The Shadow King reflect human characters who depict strengths and flaws simultaneously. This paper examines female characters from the perspective of Poststructuralist Feminism in general and Julia Kristeva’s point of view in particular. According to Julia Kristeva’s promotion of a new generation, Judith from Dinaw’s novel, Hirut and Aster from Maaza’s novel play double roles in the private sphere as a mother, and they keep their dreams and desires in the public affairs. As it is investigated in this research, the authors attempt to portray the female characters as models for a new generation of women who struggle against a patriarchal approach who fight to be one-self and stand independently by leaving aside submissiveness and passivity though negative experiences in sexuality are perceived. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/5386 | |
| dc.language.iso | en_US | |
| dc.publisher | Addis Ababa University | |
| dc.subject | feminist issues | |
| dc.title | A Feminist Reading of Selected Novels by Ethiopian Diaspora Writers in English: The Case of The Beautiful Things That Heaven Bears and The Shadow King | |
| dc.type | Thesis |