The Image of the Mature Woman and her Unjust Representations in Literary Texts

Authors

  • Luisa Cotoner Cerdó Universitat de Vic

Keywords:

Spanish literature, women, literary characters, old age in literature

Abstract

The aim of this article is to examine the representations of mature and/or old women within the sphere of Spanish literature from the Middle Ages to the XX th century, revising works which enjoyed a considerable diffusion in their days. This investigation allows us to provide evidence of the fact that the parts played by this type of character are usually, in the large majority of cases, full of negative connotations. This phenomenon can be explained by the fear that the figure of the wise and intelligent woman causes to the masculine imaginary, a fear which has led to the pejorative treatment of these characters, or to their denigration.

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Published

2010-07-21

Issue

No. 13 (2007): Mujer y silencio. Jeanne Hersch

Section

Miscellaneous

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