In six pages this paper examines female protagonist effectiveness in literature in a consideration of women protagonists' effectiveness in these novels. Five sources are cited in the bibliography.
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who can be considered a proactive participant for a particular cause. The female protagonists in Toni Morrisons "Beloved" and Jeanette Wintersons "Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit" are not what
would be considered naturally strong characters as they are easily oppressed by other stronger characters in their texts. However, this approach of the use of an average rather than superhuman
female protagonist who uses psychological strength to assert and overcome her position is very effective in its unique perspective and perhaps more representative and realistic to historical events.
The effectiveness of the female protagonist in literature is highly relevant to the study of the feminist perspective in regards to historical and modern references
to the role of women in society. It is important to remember however that no matter how strong or independent the female protagonist may be portrayed in a work, that
it may not always be representative of feminist thought and theories (Vandergrift). In relation to the role of the female protagonist, the effectiveness must be thought of in terms of
the richness and complexity of the text and subtext and the female place within it. Throughout the history of literature it has been found that the female protagonist has evolved
from secondary characters to protagonists who were considered universal or genderless to those who were females yet were strong and independent in their own right. The effectiveness of the female
protagonist can best be measured in the latter perspective (Vandergrift). Toni Morrisons novel "Beloved" (1987), is most often related to its significance in its representation of African American history
but because it also has a female protagonist, the work is also used as significant in the research of feminist studies. Morrison always acknowledges that history is always fictional and
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