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Socially Constructed Identities and their Connection to Manifestations of Oppression in Love Medicine: An analysis based on Feminist Narrative Theory
University of Gävle, Faculty of Education and Business Studies, Department of Humanities.
2023 (English)Independent thesis Basic level (degree of Bachelor), 10 credits / 15 HE creditsStudent thesis
Abstract [en]

Oppression, and its workings, is a common theme in literary works. The novel Love Medicine by Louise Erdrich is an example of a literary work where oppression based upon different grounds is present. Love Medicine has an unconventional outline with multiple, intertwined stories without a defined protagonist, which motivates a study with a narratological perspective. Feminist narrative theory, according to Robyn Warhol, aims at critiquing manifestations of oppression based on socially constructed identities, such as gender, race, or class (12). The objective of this essay is to analyse how socially constructed identities are managed in Love Medicine, and how those identities are connected to manifestations of oppression, using feminist narrative theory. The novel is examined using narratological concepts, and the theoretical framework of feminist narrative theory is applied. Gender, race and class are socially constructed identities detected in the novel. The manifestations of oppression identified, based on those identities, are sexual exploitation, racism due to Native American heritage, domestic violence, and child abuse. In the analysis, opposition against oppression appears as an important element. It is also evident from the analysis that Native American identity is vital in the narrative, and that Erdrich’s narrative style is reminiscent of oral storytelling, which is an influence from Native American culture. In conclusion, Native American heritage and culture is the norm presented in Love Medicine, and non-Native American identity becomes “the Other.” 

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2023. , p. 29
Keywords [en]
Feminism, Feminist Literary Criticism, Feminist Narratology, Feminist Narrative Theory, Louise Erdrich, Love Medicine, Narratology, Narrative Theory, Oppression.
National Category
Languages and Literature
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-42055OAI: oai:DiVA.org:hig-42055DiVA, id: diva2:1765045
Subject / course
English
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Examiners
Available from: 2023-06-09 Created: 2023-06-09 Last updated: 2023-06-09Bibliographically approved

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CiteExportLink to record
Permanent link

Direct link
Cite
Citation style
  • apa
  • harvard-cite-them-right
  • ieee
  • modern-language-association-8th-edition
  • vancouver
  • Other style
More styles
Language
  • sv-SE
  • en-GB
  • en-US
  • fi-FI
  • nn-NO
  • nn-NB
  • de-DE
  • Other locale
More languages
Output format
  • html
  • text
  • asciidoc
  • rtf