SILENCE AS RESISTANCE IN BAKER’S THE SILENCE OF THE GIRLS
Keywords:
Barker, Commodification, Marginalization, Patriarchy, Resistance, Women’s Subjugation, FeminismAbstract
This paper investigates Barker’s "The Silence of the Girls," examining the pervasive structures of patriarchy and subtle forms of female resistance. Drawing on feminist theoretical frameworks by Simone de Beauvoir and Judith Butler, the textual analysis explores how patriarchal power suppresses female agency by positioning women as “the Other.” Simultaneously, Barker’s portrayal of women’s resilience challenges and redefines these power hierarchies. By highlighting the experiences of Briseis and other Trojan women, the novel questions how male authority is constructed, maintained, and contested within both historical and literary contexts. A close reading reveals that the narrative engages deeply with themes of silence, autonomy, identity, and empowerment. Barker’s retelling of The Iliad subverts traditional gender norms and offers a compelling reflection on women’s survival, resistance, and self-determination. The findings underscore the ongoing relevance of feminist criticism in literary interpretation, the re-evaluation of classical myths, and the complex dynamics between oppression, resistance, and the reclaiming of female subjectivity.
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