LANGUAGE IN INDIA

Strength for Today and Bright Hope for Tomorrow

Volume 17:3 March 2017
ISSN 1930-2940

Managing Editor: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
Editors: B. Mallikarjun, Ph.D.
         Sam Mohanlal, Ph.D.
         B. A. Sharada, Ph.D.
         A. R. Fatihi, Ph.D.
         Lakhan Gusain, Ph.D.
         Jennifer Marie Bayer, Ph.D.
         G. Baskaran, Ph.D.
         L. Ramamoorthy, Ph.D.
         C. Subburaman, Ph.D. (Economics)
         N. Nadaraja Pillai, Ph.D.
         Renuga Devi, Ph.D.
         Soibam Rebika Devi, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Assistant Managing Editor: Swarna Thirumalai, M.A.

HOME PAGE

Click Here for Back Issues of Language in India - From 2001

BOOKS FOR YOU TO READ AND DOWNLOAD FREE!

REFERENCE MATERIALS

BACK ISSUES

  • E-mail your articles and book-length reports in Microsoft Word to languageinindiaUSA@gmail.com.

  • PLEASE READ THE GUIDELINES GIVEN IN HOME PAGE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE LIST OF CONTENTS.

  • Your articles and book-length reports should be written following the APA, MLA, LSA, or IJDL Stylesheet.

  • The Editorial Board has the right to accept, reject, or suggest modifications to the articles submitted for publication, and to make suitable stylistic adjustments. High quality, academic integrity, ethics and morals are expected from the authors and discussants.

Copyright © 2016
M. S. Thirumalai

Publisher: M. S. Thirumalai, Ph.D.
11249 Oregon Circle
Bloomington, MN 55438
USA
Custom Search

Women in Science Fiction-
Echoes from an Uninhibited World

Barnali Chetia, Ph.D.

Abstract

From the shelves devoted to Frankenstein in a book store to the possible Artificial Intelligence revolution in Ex-Machina in a multiplex theatre, science fiction has travelled some distance. Till date the exact definition of science fiction remains contested. This genre is still exploring the potential of retelling a fictitious tale of time, space, genetics, technology and experience. In fact science fiction as a genre of literature distinguishes itself from others by its portrayal of a world of imagination-utopia/dystopia. This genre plays an important role in society as it talks about an alternative world of possibilities, possibility of an equal world, where one can critique gender roles, traditions and values - a medium of communication to debate sex roles, life and changes. Post 1960s, after the women's liberation movement, changes were witnessed in the social, cultural, political and economic life of women and with this science fiction, the so called male dominated genre, also experienced changes. The popular belief of women writing only sorcery and fantasy was fading. This paper is an empirical study of women science fiction writers questioning the gender roles and advocating a social change in their fictitious worlds.

Keywords: Science Fiction, Women, Gender Roles, Change

In a so called male dominated genre, Mary Shelley, the woman writer pioneered with her novel Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus at the age of nineteen. Frankenstein was published in the year 1818. That was the time when society expected much from science, people were in a path of constant search for knowledge. It is witnessed even in the protagonist of the novel. In her work, Shelley questions the thoughtless development of science. In Frankenstein the male characters were of primary focus. The narrator Robert Walton, the protagonist Victor Frankenstein, Victor's father Alphonse Frankenstein, and brothers William and Earnest, Henry Clerval -his best friend, and finally the monster which Victor Frankenstein creates, are all male figures. Shelley did a wonderful job of portraying women of this era, where they were seen as possessions for men, protected by men, diligently carrying out their duties of mother, daughter, wife and sister. In what is considered to be the first novel in the genre of science fiction, Shelley used Caroline Frankenstein, Justine Moritz, Elizabeth Lavenza, Safie, Mrs. Saville, and not to forget the female monster that Victor begins to create.

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Barnali Chetia, Ph.D.
IIIT Vadodara
Gandhinagar 382027
Gujarat
India
bchetia03@gmail.com
barnali@iiitvadodara.ac.in
Custom Search
  • Click Here to Go to Creative Writing Section

  • Send your articles
    as an attachment
    to your e-mail to
    languageinindiaUSA@gmail.com.
  • Please ensure that your name, academic degrees, institutional affiliation and institutional address, and your e-mail address are all given in the first page of your article. Also include a declaration that your article or work submitted for publication in LANGUAGE IN INDIA is an original work by you and that you have duly acknowledged the work or works of others you used in writing your articles, etc. Remember that by maintaining academic integrity we not only do the right thing but also help the growth, development and recognition of Indian/South Asian scholarship.