Portrayal of Woman in Selected Works of George Bernard Shaw and Ernest Hemingway: A Comparative Gynocritical Study

Abstract

This study aimed at critically exploring the portrayal of woman in some selected works of Bernard Shaw and Hemingway; a critical and comparative gynocriticism. It also aimed at trying to find out aspects of gynocriticism and some related matters. Moreover, the study probes the points of view of the two authors under the study. The study came out of the followings results: Shaw is moderate, and only asks that that sex and conflict, he was destined to dwell through much of his work with the most wonderful variations of witty adventures and intellectual surprise. Shaw observed society critically from definite point of view, a socialist viewpoint, based on conventions. Though he is convinced in socialism, Shaw never gave a resolve to the social problems explored in his plays. Hemingway portrays Catherine as a mixture of opposing characteristics. She is glorified by these characteristics which Hemingway idealized in a woman. She is easy and irrevocably pure. She is morally very strong and yet in the hotel room she cannot bear it as she feels like a whore. She is soft and gentle but crudely muses about life being better. She is tender hearted and fragile and she bears enormous physical pain during her labour. She is afraid of the rain because she sees herself and sometimes Henry dead in it but when death comes to her she is calm and fearless.