CHAPTER 3-  FEMALE INDIVIDUALIZATION IN VIRGINIA WOOLF’S TO THE LIGHTHOUSE AND SYLVIA PLATH’S THE BELL JAR: EXPLORING IDENTITY IN PATRIARCHAL SOCIETY                                                                                             63                                                                                 
Gökçen KARA
                                                                                                    
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APA

Kara, G. (2023). Chapter 3 Female Individualization in Virginia Woolf’s to the Lighthouse and Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar: Exploring Identity in Patriarchal Society. In R. A. H. Chirinos de Jesus (Ed.), International Academic Research & Reviews in Educational Sciences-II- (pp. 63-84). Ankara, Türkiye: Global Academy Publishing House. https://dx.doi.org/10.59740/academy.31


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Introduction This chapter critically examines the theme of female individuation as portrayed in Virginia Woolf’s novel To the Lighthouse and Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar. Using a careful analysis of these literary works, this chapter argues that Woolf and Plath use their female characters to address the daunting challenges women face in their search for a separate identity within a patriarchal society. Both Mrs. Ramsay in To the Lighthouse and Esther Greenwood in The Bell Jar struggle with the arduous task of self-definition amid societal expectations deeply rooted in traditional gender roles. By closely examining these characters’ paths to self-assertion, this chapter illuminates the complicated and multi-layered process of female individuation within a patriarchal framework. The deliberate selection of two works for this study has provided valuable insight into the issue of gender stereotypes and their impact on characters. Esther Greenwood in The Bell Jar demonstrates a deep awareness of the societal expectations and gender stereotypes imposed upon her. Her persistent efforts to challenge these norms are met with repeated setbacks that resemble the experience of hitting a metaphorical glass ceiling.