In this thesis, I examine novelist Sara Paretskys use of voice as power in the V.I. Warshawski series. The series gives Paretsky the opportunity not only to use her own voice, but also to create new ones. It is in V.I.s world that Paretsky is able to decide who gets to speak and what those speakers get to sayand what they do not get to say. In this study, I examine two categories of voices Paretsky uses throughout the series: the voice she creates and the voice she silences.
The voice that Paretsky creates is revealed in the community of women that V.I. embraces. This community consists of strong individuals who are even stronger collectively, women who take care of themselves and each other, who speak against the stereotypes and violence that society tries to use against them. The voice Paretsky silences is that of patriarchy. This voice is revealed in the violent men who target V.I. and seek to silence her. It also is embodied in the women who act as an extension of these men.
Throughout the series, the voices Paretsky creates and those she silences join together to promote an image that affirms, rather than demeans, women. In the end, Paretsky presents a series and a heroine that speak loudly, clearly, and defiantly.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VANDERBILT/oai:VANDERBILTETD:etd-03212006-234958 |
| Date | 22 March 2006 |
| Creators | Harris, Eugenia Kay |
| Contributors | Cecelia Tichi, Michael Kreyling |
| Publisher | VANDERBILT |
| Source Sets | Vanderbilt University Theses |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | http://etd.library.vanderbilt.edu/available/etd-03212006-234958/ |
| Rights | unrestricted, I hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dissertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to Vanderbilt University or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report. |
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