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Italian Literature Commons

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Full-Text Articles in Italian Literature

The Obstacles To And Solutions Of Female Characters' Speech: Beatrice In Dante's Vita Nuova And Purgatorio And Susan In J. M. Coetzee's Foe, Tamara Savage Jan 2015

The Obstacles To And Solutions Of Female Characters' Speech: Beatrice In Dante's Vita Nuova And Purgatorio And Susan In J. M. Coetzee's Foe, Tamara Savage

CMC Senior Theses

This thesis analyzes the speaking and silencing of two female characters, Beatrice from Dante’s Vita Nuova and Purgatorio and Susan from J. M. Coetzee’s Foe. The texts are viewed through postcolonial and feminist lenses to show the problems with male characters speaking for female characters and the obstacles the female characters face when attempting to speak. Dante’s solution to this problem is to transform Beatrice from a silent and demure woman into a character who issues commands with a powerful voice. Coetzee’s solution is instead to refuse to provide a solution, since no one but Susan can speak for …


Storia, Fiaba, E Un Decennio Di Calvino, William Carney Jan 2010

Storia, Fiaba, E Un Decennio Di Calvino, William Carney

CMC Senior Theses

An exploration of the similarities and differences between two major works of the writer Italo Calvino, this thesis delves into the use of historical background and fable as allegory for 1945-1956 Italy.