Browsing by Author "Rönnbäck, Riikka"

In this thesis I examine five female characters in Diana Wynne Jones’ novel Year of the Griffin (2000) in terms of their physical appearance, and whether or not they are seen as conforming to an ideal of feminine beauty, a significant factor in how women are appraised in traditional fairy tales. To determine other factors causing discrimination in the modern fantasy setting of Jones’ novel, I will also apply the framework of intersectionality in my analysis. Traditional fairy tales place a heavy emphasis on the physical appearance of female characters. This preference can be described as the feminine beauty ideal, which tends to polarise the depiction of female characters. In fairy tales looks often dictate the overall success and happiness of female characters, as appearance is also seen to indicate other preferred and gendered qualities, such as good morals, obedience, and passiveness. On the other hand, female characters who take initiative and act to better their circumstances instead of waiting for the prince to rescue them, are depicted as morally corrupt and unattractive. The ideal is a very gendered approach as it does not place similar emphasis on appearance on male characters. Fantasy literature has acquired many of traditional fairy tales’ tropes. As such, feminine beauty ideal still affects the female characters in this genre. By portraying five different female characters who are all affected by but none of whom fully conform to the feminine beauty ideal, Jones acknowledges the ideal’s enduring hold on female characters in a fantasy setting, while also questioning its relevance in a powerful way. While discrimination against female characters in fairy tales is linked to the feminine beauty ideal, modern fantasy literature writers such as Jones also acknowledge and include other forms of discrimination in their work. In Year of the Griffin, Melissa, Isodel, Olga, Claudia and Elda are all affected by the ideal’s preference for beauty and domesticity whether they are seen as conforming to it or not. Intersectionality helps us to recognise that despite facing gender discrimination, some of these characters are at the same time affected by other forms of mistreatment as well. Olga fears judgement because of her social background, Claudia is racially discriminated against due to her ethnicity and as a griffin, an altogether different species, Elda is struggling to be recognised on equal terms to others. Throughout the novel, there is a sense of attitudes and perceptions beginning to change. Even though the female characters still struggle with many of the same issues as previous female protagonists in fairy tales as well as some new ones, the novel remains optimistic that change is possible. Against the one-sided imagery of female characters in fairy tales, the presentation of a different kinds of female characters in Year of the Griffin makes a powerful point that all kinds of different kinds women can and deserve to be heroines. Physical appearance, or any other characteristics that others might hold against them, no longer needs to dictate their life.