Article
WOMEN'S IMAGES IN THE NOVEL TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD BY HARPER LEE
Canon: Jurnal Penelitian Bahasa dan Sastra, Vol. 3 No. 3 (2025), hlm. 2018–226
Abstrak
This study aims to analyze the representation of female characters in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird using Gilbert and Gubar’s angel and monster feminist theory. The purpose of this research is to examine how women are constructed within patriarchal ideology and how their identities are shaped through social expectations. This study focuses on five major female characters: Scout Finch, Calpurnia, Miss Maudie Atkinson, Mayella Ewell, and Aunt Alexandra, who represent different social, racial, and economic backgrounds. This research employs a qualitative descriptive method with a feminist literary criticism approach. The primary data source is To Kill a Mockingbird (1960), while secondary data are obtained from academic books and journals related to feminism and literary studies. Data were collected through close reading to identify passages related to women’s roles, behaviors, and social positions. The selected data were then classified and analyzed using Gilbert and Gubar’s concept of “angel” and “monster.” The analysis process involved interpretation, categorization, and comparison with previous studies to ensure theoretical validity. The findings reveal that female characters in the novel are positioned within restrictive gender roles. Women who conform to social norms are portrayed as “angels,” while those who challenge these norms are labeled as “monsters.” This binary system functions as a form of social control that limits women’s freedom and individuality. However, Harper Lee presents her female characters as complex individuals who negotiate and resist these imposed roles. Therefore, the novel criticizes rigid gender stereotypes and emphasizes that women’s identities are socially constructed and dynamic. This study confirms the relevance of Gilbert and Gubar’s theory in understanding feminist issues in classic American literature.