Jane, Katniss and Hermione

A new Polish thesis:

Strong Female Characters: Jane Eyre, Katniss Everdeen and Hermione Granger

by Karolina Skruch

Uniwersytet Jagielloński w Krakowie

2024

The main goal of my thesis is to analyse the portrayal of strong female characters in literature and how the perspective on the concept of a "strong woman" has changed over the years, taking into account the situation of women as individuals in society at that time. In my paper, I precisely analyse the attitude of three heroines of world-famous books. These are: Jane Eyre from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë, Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling and Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins. The analysis of each character includes elements such as the presentation of the character, defining and illustrating the factors that make this character strong, what path the character takes and what development it undergoes, as well as how the character created by the author reflects the situation of women in society at that time. The first chapter of the work is devoted to Jane Eyre, who experienced a significant development in her personality during her transformation from an unwanted, rebellious child into an independent and educated woman. In the second chapter, I analyse the case of Katniss Everdeen, who not only becomes a strong female character but also a heroine. The interaction between Katniss and the environment she belongs to and the path she takes to achieve her goals shape her character, making her an extremely inspiring woman. In the third chapter, I discuss the character of Hermione Granger, who cleverly uses the opportunity for development provided by the environment, while skilfully developing her strengths, evolving into a fearless, independent female character. In the summary, in accordance with the purpose of my work, I compare the characters I have discussed in terms of their attitude in relation to the position of women in society, paying particular attention to the differences and ongoing changes. This thesis can also provide a basis for delving into the topic of women's changing role in the world and how literature reflects such process.