Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In Charlotte Bronte's novels, the importance accorded to female homosocial
relationships - such as friendship and the mother-daughter relationship -
challenges the conventional structure of the Victorian realist novel, in which the
focus of the female protagonist's development is almost exclusively on the
eventual achievement of heterosexual marriage Structurally. heterosexual
marriage at closure re-establishes the status quo that has been threatened or
destabilised during the unfolding of the plot. Yet what Bronte's novels reveal,
is that the status quo thus re-established also confirms patriarchy as a system
in which the bonds between men are consolidated to maintain social, political
and economic power as a male prerogative By contrast, the ideology that
promotes marriage as the sine qua non of women's existence positions women
as rivals and the representation of female homosocial relationships in the
nineteenth-century novel is either relegated to the margins of the text or erased
entirely. In Bronte's novels, the structural relationship between this
conventional displacement of female homosocial relationships and the silencing
and containment of female desire in heterosexual marriage at closure is
consistently explored and subverted.
In an increasingly complex process of rewriting the Victorian novel from
a female perspective, Bronte's novels construct alternative plots that privilege
the representation of female homosocial relationships even as they imitate
conventional plot structure In so doing. the gendering of narrative voice as
female lays claim to a female discourse of desire. which is rooted in female
homosociality and inclusive of lesbian desire. Compulsory (female)
heterosexuality which is exclusively domestic and maternal. IS therefore
challenged by an alternative representation of female desire as defiant of the
ngid categories Imposed by heterosexuality. because it is fiurd and multiple in
Its expression
This thesis explores the process of recuperation through which Bronte
both places the representation of female hornosocial relationships at the centre
of her novels and reveals patriarchal structures of control at work / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die romans van Charlotte Bronte konfronteer the sentraliteit van vroulike
homososiale verhoudings - soos vriendskap en die moeder-dogter verhouding
- die konvensionele struktuur van die Victoriaanse realistiese roman. Volgens
hierdie konvensionele struktuur is die fokus van die vroulike protagonis se
ontwikkeling bykans uitsluitlik gerig op haar uiteindelike toetrede tot 'n
heteroseksuele huwelik. Struktureel gesproke herstel die heteroseksuele
huwelik by die sluiting van die roman die status quo wat bedreig of
gedestabiliseer is gedurende die ontplooing van die roman. Wat Bronte se
romans egter aan die lig bring, is dat die status quo wat so herstel word, ook
die patriargale sisteem bevestig - waarbinne die bande tussen mans
gekonsolideer word ten einde sosiale politieke en ekonomiese mag as 'n
manlike prerogatief te waarborg Die ideologie wat die huwelik voorhou as die
sine qua non van die vrou se bestaan posisioneer vroue as mededingers, en
hierdeur word die uitbeelding van vroulike homososiale verhoudings in die
negentiende-eeuse roman verskuif na die buitewyke van die teks, of word dit
algeheel uitgewis. In Bronte se romans word die strukturele verwantskap
tussen hierdie konvensionele verplasing van vroulike homososiale verhoudings
en die demping of beheer van vroulike begeerte in die heteroseksuele huwelik
voortdurend in die roman se sluiting ondersoek en ondermyn
In 'n proses wat 'n toenemend ingewikkelde herskrywing van die
Victonaanse roman vanuit 'n vroulike qesiqspunt inhou. stel Bronte se romans
alternatiewc verwikkelinqsplanne saam wat voorrang gee aan die uitbeelding
van vroulike hornososiale verhoudings terwyl hierdie storieplanne
konvensionele struktuurplanne naboots. Ole manier waarop die verteller se
stem so vervroulik word gee uiting aan 'n vroulike diskoers van begeerte wat
gewortel IS In vroulike hornososialiteit en wat lesbiese begeerte insluit
Verpliqte (vroullke) heteroseksualiteit. wat uitsluitlik huislik en moederlik IS,
word dus gekonfronteer deur 'n alternatiewe uitbeeldinq van vroulike begeerte
wat die rigiede kateqoriee opqele deur heteroseksualiteit verwerp en meer
vloeibare en veelsoortiqe vorme van ultdrukklng daarstel
Hierdie tests ondersoek die herstellinqsprcses waardeur Bronte die
uitbeeldinq van vroulike hornososiale verhoudinqs sentraal plaas In haar romans, terwyl sy terselfdertyd die werkswyses van patriargale beheerstrukture
aan die lig bring.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/52396 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Ellis, Jeanne |
| Contributors | Alexander, R., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences. Dept. of English. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 212 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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