The representation of women in Papadiamantis’ fiction

Demetriou, Erika (2001). The representation of women in Papadiamantis’ fiction. University of Birmingham. M.Phil.

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Abstract

This study aims at exploring the social position of women and their role in the community, as they are represented in Papadiamantis’ oeuvre. In the first chapter I discuss women’s position in Greek society between 1830-1910, giving a brief overview of the position of women in Greece’s historical development. I also present the general pattern of the era that most affected Papadiamantis’ writings. In the second chapter I examine women’s position in family and society, as it appears in Papadiamantis’ novels and short stories, emphasizing the two biggest cycles, which most preoccupy a woman’s life, those of marriage and maternity. In the following chapter I discuss the physical representation of women in Papadiamantis and refer to their characterisation and social behaviour. In the fourth chapter I focus on religion, examining women’s religious activities and their relation to the supernatural and magic powers. In the fifth and last chapter the discussion centres on eroticism, and I comment on the elements which contribute to the creation of the erotic atmosphere some of the stories display. This exploration leads us to the conclusion that although Papadiamantis writes at a time when women were playing a very secondary role in society with their lives downtrodden, by using them as his major characters in his stories he attributes to them the importance they should have in society.

Type of Work:

Thesis (Masters by Research > M.Phil.)

Award Type:

Masters by Research > M.Phil.

Supervisor(s):