20th Annual Student Research Conference
Language & Literature
A Feminist Analysis of Frances Hodgson Burnett's A Little Princess
Aly N. Palchick
Dr. Hena Ahmad, Faculty Mentor
This paper will examine the ways in which the young protagonist of Frances Burnett’s A Little Princess (1905) overcomes hardship as a young intellect in the Victorian era trapped under the oppression of feminine expectations, restrictions, and projected ideals. While studying at Miss Minchin’s Select Seminary for Young Ladies, the central character, Sara Crewe, is taught the essential skills necessary to find and keep a husband happy: to be silent or soft-spoken at meals and around the house, to avoid political opinion and become generally submissive to all men. Investigating this novel using a Feminist perspective enlightens several startling ideas that the text suggests are imperative to surviving as a woman in Victorian society.
Keywords: A Little Princess, Frances Hodgson , Burnett, Frances Burnett, Feminist Analysis, Miss Minchin, Victorian Era, 1905
Topic(s):English
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 7-4
Location: OP 2117
Time: 9:00 am