The endeavor of this thesis is to throw light on the portrayal of women by the
Austrian-Jewish writer Joseph Roth. Roth’s women are regarded as highly negative and
thus the author has increasingly been judged a male chauvinist and misogynist. This
opinion seems particularly questionable since hardly any studies on his fictitious
women have ever been conducted. The present study aims at filling that void and
thereby presenting Roth’s views in a more differentiated manner. A new approach to
Roth is thus called for. The analysis draws from the socio-historic background in which
Roth’s work is situated. In his journalism as in his fiction, Roth strived to demonstrate
and deal with the challenges of the times he lived in. His work frequently revolves
around the “damaged” post-war generation in the 1920s and 30s, the feeling of being
literally and metaphorically homeless. His later works are mostly set in the past,
although this should not be viewed as escapism but as an attempt to come to terms
with present reality. The worlds he portrays are dominated by men who are neither
whole nor strong. But although women are few and it is said they are depicted only in
crude stereotypes, the study shows that Roth does address their problems and plights.
By observing women within established types, modern and traditional, it is revealed
that Roth indeed shows depth when characterizing women, and that his interest in
them is to use them as examples to illustrate fundamental aspects of the human
condition. Rather than portraying them subservient to man, Roth demonstrates their
common humanity. His understanding for the condition of women in his times often
becomes apparent only when the narrative perspective is isolated from the
protagonists. Simultaneously his work presents a valuable literary contribution for
Gender Studies. / Classics and Modern European Languages / (D. Litt. et Phil.) (German)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/3307 |
| Date | 11 1900 |
| Creators | Santos, Isabel Cristina Chaves Seaia Russo Dos |
| Contributors | Pakendorf, G. (Prof.) |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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