Beauty and the beast: The relationships between female protagonists and animals in children's and adolescent novels written by women.

摘要

This study uses Julia Kristeva's psychoanalytic theory and Annis Pratt's archetypal theory to explore the relationships between animals and female protagonists in children's and adolescents' novels written by women. Because stories focusing on the girl-animal relationship are often complex and contradictory, and are also popular with many children, they are particularly rich material for discussions in the children's literature and women's study classrooms.; Kristevan theory suggests that the animal may function as the protagonist's imaginary father. By offering the child a deeply satisfying love, while also recognizing her as an individual, the animal helps her to develop a sense of self separate from family. In addition, the animal as imaginary father may help the protagonist to develop an ongoing ego ideal. While Kristevan theory focuses on individual development, Pratt's archetypes are concerned with the relationships between women and the nature. Her work suggests that the animal may act as the protagonist's green-world lover. This archetype, which is closely associated with the natural world, represents the protagonist's ideal companion, one who enhances her independence. In this sense, nature and the green-world lover serve as an alternative to patriarchal human society.; The study considers both critical approaches as lenses through which to explore recurring patterns in the novels. Such patterns include the protagonist's changing relationships with her parents and with peers; and a moment of decision, in which she must choose between another human and the animal. While the two approaches converge in some points, they differ in their emphases upon, and interpretations of, others. Each approach thus complicates and enriches the other. The conclusion discusses this study as part of a critical framework that can help students not only to explore individual texts, but to consider them as part of wider literary patterns and traditions.