Strong-minded woman figures in a time of crisis : Maria Stuart, Penthesilea, Sappho

• Main Author: Olsen, Inger M.
• Format: Others
• Published: PDXScholar 1984
• Subjects: Friedrich Schiller (1759-1805); Heinrich von Kleist (1777-1811); Franz Grillparzer (1791-1872); Women in literature; German Literature
• Online Access: https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/open_access_etds/3521; https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4530&context=open_access_etds

The strong-minded woman as a character capable of genuine self-determination has not received nearly as much literary attention and study as the less psychologically and socially aware sublime woman, the innocent woman, and the femme fatale. Consequently, the strong-minded woman is only an occasional literary phenomenon and is absent entirely during some literary periods. Thus the purpose of this thesis is to establish that the strong-minded woman exists as a literary figure, that she is a fully developed character capable of forming meaningful and even traditional relationships when allowed by circumstances. She is capable of relying on her own abilities and is willing to take the consequences stemming from her actions.