Books with female protagonists have been popular for a long time. Unfortunately women are often used in story telling as convenient props conforming to cliche gender stereotypes. However, there are many heroines that bear a closer look.
It would be nearly impossible to discuss women in literature without mentioning Jo from Louisa May Alcott's 'Little Women'. Jo is a delightfully tough tomboy who's distaste for the the frilly nonsense is counter to what the reader might expect from a woman in her time period. Alcott's character has done much to break down gender stereotypes in story telling.
The Harry Potter series focuses on the exploits of Harry himself, though truly the stories revolve around the development of three characters, Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Hermione is possibly the most enjoyable character of the triangle, giving moral and ethical guidance to the group. She is a target for xenophobia and ridicule throughout the series due to the questionable nature of her blood being 'pure.'
Possibly inspired by Hermione's no-nonsense, protector role is Katniss Everdeen, star of 'The Hunger Games' trilogy. Thrust into the violent arena where the reader would expect the biggest, strongest male to triumph, Katniss uses her wits and feminine wiles to survive until the end. The character exemplifies the flawed, conflicted heroine as she tries to navigate the politics and brutality of her world.
Lewis Carroll's 'Alice in Wonderland' stars a precocious and curious young girl who finds herself trapped in a bizarre fairy land where everyone and everything is backwards and upside down, metaphorically speaking. Alice wanders from one misadventure to the next, trying to bring sense and logic to this bizarre world. Her adventuresome spirit drives her throughout the story.
From Stephanie Plum to Dorthoy in 'The Wizard Of Oz', literature is full of wonderful examples of women characters who take control of their own fate and defy the male authority figures around them. books with female protagonists are fun to read because they break conventional stereotypes. This not only makes for interesting stories, but memorable characters that have endured for decades.
It would be nearly impossible to discuss women in literature without mentioning Jo from Louisa May Alcott's 'Little Women'. Jo is a delightfully tough tomboy who's distaste for the the frilly nonsense is counter to what the reader might expect from a woman in her time period. Alcott's character has done much to break down gender stereotypes in story telling.
The Harry Potter series focuses on the exploits of Harry himself, though truly the stories revolve around the development of three characters, Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Hermione is possibly the most enjoyable character of the triangle, giving moral and ethical guidance to the group. She is a target for xenophobia and ridicule throughout the series due to the questionable nature of her blood being 'pure.'
Possibly inspired by Hermione's no-nonsense, protector role is Katniss Everdeen, star of 'The Hunger Games' trilogy. Thrust into the violent arena where the reader would expect the biggest, strongest male to triumph, Katniss uses her wits and feminine wiles to survive until the end. The character exemplifies the flawed, conflicted heroine as she tries to navigate the politics and brutality of her world.
Lewis Carroll's 'Alice in Wonderland' stars a precocious and curious young girl who finds herself trapped in a bizarre fairy land where everyone and everything is backwards and upside down, metaphorically speaking. Alice wanders from one misadventure to the next, trying to bring sense and logic to this bizarre world. Her adventuresome spirit drives her throughout the story.
From Stephanie Plum to Dorthoy in 'The Wizard Of Oz', literature is full of wonderful examples of women characters who take control of their own fate and defy the male authority figures around them. books with female protagonists are fun to read because they break conventional stereotypes. This not only makes for interesting stories, but memorable characters that have endured for decades.
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