FEMALE RESISTANCE THEN AND NOW: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF WOMEN'S ROLES IN LATE AND MODERN NARRATIVES

Abstract

Female resistance in literature has evolved from subtle, internalized forms in late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century narratives to visible, action-oriented expressions in modern fiction. In classic texts such as "Jane Eyre", "Little Women", and "The Awakening", women navigate restrictive social expectations through moral integrity, intellectual ambition, and personal choice, demonstrating quiet yet meaningful forms of feminism. Contemporary works like "A Court of Thorns and Roses", "Throne of Glass", and "Shatter Me" present female characters who openly confront oppression, exercise physical and political power, and actively shape their worlds, reflecting modern feminist ideals of agency and empowerment. Comparing these periods reveals that modern, visible feminism builds upon earlier silent resistance, showing how literature both mirrors and influences cultural understandings of gender and women's roles.