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UDC 821.111-31
DOI 10.20339/PhS.3-26.084
Ismayilova Sona T.,
Doctoral student of the World Literature Department
Baku State University (Baku, Azerbaijan)
e-mail: sonaismailova@mail.ru
The character of Shirley Keeldar in the novel “Shirley” (1849) occupies a unique place in the character system and represents one of Charlotte Brontë’s earliest and most conceptually significant attempts to rethink the normative model of femininity in the Victorian era. The relevance of this study stems from contemporary philological interest in issues of gender representation, as well as the need for a more in-depth analysis of the artistic techniques with which 19th century literature captures the crisis of traditional social roles. The purpose of this article is to comprehensively analyze the character of Shirley Keeldar, identifying the artistic representations of her otherness, and determining her significance in the context of the transformation of gender consciousness in the Victorian era. Particular attention is paid to how Charlotte Brontë creates a multilayered character that goes beyond the traditional typology of female characters. The study demonstrates that the character of Shirley Keeldar functions as a complex and multifaceted construct that combines elements of accepted and alternative gender identities. Her social independence and psychological individuality suggest the emergence of a new type of female subjectivity, one that transcends the boundaries of social acceptance. Charlotte Brontë created a character that serves as an artistic expression of the crisis of the established model of female behavior, opening up prospects for further reflection on the issue of female subjectivity in literature.
Keywords: Charlotte Brontë, Shirley, gender identity, Victorian literature, female subjectivity
References
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