My question is “Why are female protagonists important?”

“One must always be careful of books, [...], and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us” (Claire Web)

This quote from Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Claire, a young adult fiction writer, perfectly encapsulates the power of the written word. Many times, books shape the mind of readers and affect them strongly. Above all, children’s books play a very important part in the development of ideas among society. When reading books, little children will look at their favorite characters as their hero. Over time, the appearance of female characters increases as female empowerment evolves as well. How can these heroines shape the mind of future leaders? By portraying strong female protagonists who act in accordance with their own convictions, authors provide moral models for young readers.

Among the American classics, readers can see the portrayal of two strong, independent, female protagonists with moral conviction in The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne and The Awakening by Kate Chopin. Hester Prynne from The Scarlet Letter is an independent woman. When she ventures into New England, Hester manages to live by herself without her husband for about two years (Hawthorne 17). She also struggles to provide for Pearl, her daughter, without the support of a male partner. Based on Jurgen Wolter’s analysis of Hester in “Southern Hesters,” “she takes initiative at critical moments” to be a role model for her kid (25). Even though society has viewed females as weak, stories in books have shown otherwise. Hester is a strong protector and shield for both Pearl and the Reverend Dimmesdale. Hester Prynne's character and conduct in The Scarlet Letter make a strong case for her being a good role model. She demonstrates that women are capable of being strong and appreciated.

Edna Pontellier from The Awakening is portrayed as a woman of free-will. In 19th century New Orleans, the wives are regarded as property of the husband. Because of this invisible cage, Edna feels trapped in her marriage (Chopin 18). In the process to defy against societal pressure, Edna finds her solitude in art and frees herself from social duty (Chopin 53-54). Wolter also states that Edna and Hester’s acts of rebellion “put them much ahead of their times and made them prototypes of the New Woman of modernism” (28). Society often limits females in what they should do and how they should behave. When women learn to see themselves as individuals, they will question the authority and norm in the oppressive society.

These characters, however, are not without flaws or imperfections. Hester, for example, engages in an extra-marital affair. Edna neglected her children. But with their courageous character traits, readers can see their example and strive for their own story in reality. Also, the imperfections of Hester and Edna make them more suited to be fictional role models. Role models should be someone people can aspire to become and the flaws of Hester and Edna make them more relatable and human than Ariel with her underwater breathing or Snow White and her dwarves.

Feminism significantly affects children's literature more than any social movement. In recent years, the appearance of female characters has increased. Not only do they not occupy traditional women’s characters, but they have also broken stereotypical ground into newer, more varied roles. As author Roberta Trites notes in Waking Sleeping Beauty, “only since feminism has affected a permanent change in the way our culture defines femininity has the resourcefulness of female characters been used by the character to bolster her own self-image” (ix). Because of stereotypical gender roles, little girls are still being pressured to act and look a certain way. Therefore, they tend to turn to books that let them experience the significance of being a heroine.

Books play a vital role in the development of children. In the article “Strong female characters in recent Children’s literature”, Pat Heine et al. argues for the importance of including feminist books in the classroom (427). Using the criteria they established, teachers can choose strong female protagonists to be role models for both girls and boys. By doing this, teachers can help the boys read books that have female protagonists, decrease the Gender gap in the classroom and provide room for discussion. These discussions can increase exposure to literary heroines and ensure the diversity of characters.

Through heroic conduct & character, female protagonists in literature routinely become suitable role models for female readers. Two shining examples of these model heroines can be found in Hester Prynne and Edna Pontellier of The Scarlet Letter and The Awakening. Edna and Hester are two protagonists who constantly question social norms and provide provoking ideas of individuality. Through the image of these women, readers can see individuals who have remarkable strength. Literature have a big impact on the feminist social movement. Teachers, publishers, and writers should be responsible for providing children with female role models. Since both girls and boys can get benefits from the positive traits and act of heroism from female characters, feminist books should be include in the classroom.

Finally, this insightful quote from the Australian writer, Ernst Fischer, sums up the impact of literature, “In a decaying society, art, if it is truthful, must also reflect decay. And unless it wants to break faith with its social function, art must show the world as changeable. And help to change it” (Web).

His reflection shows how social codes of conduct affect the writings of literature. By providing strong female protagonists, authors can advocate for the improvement of gender equality and justice. Unless writers write about the issues with female oppression, words can not spread to other females to stand up and support their voice. Therefore, the use of unwavering and dependable female protagonists signifies the evolution of feminism.

That is the end of my presentation. This is the Works Cited Page. Thank you for listening.