Aggravating Archetypes

I’m sure that I am far from the only person irritated with how women (especially young women) are depicted in vast amounts of literature. I’m willing to bet I’m hardly the only one that wants to hit things after especially frustrating passages.

I just finished A Flaw in the Blood by Stephanie Barron (literally. I just shoved the book back in my backpack). It’s a “suspense” novel set during Queen Victoria’s reign, in late winter 1861. The scene that so upset me involved the female protagonist being raped – only to be rescued by her much older male companion/guardian, whom she immediately declares her undying love for.

Dr. Georgiana Armistead, the female in question, is supposed to be the anti-Victorian woman: well-educated, career-ambitious (as opposed to marriage-ambitious), and stubborn. Yet somehow, she is desperate and constant need of a man to solve her problems.

I’ve read (& completely enjoyed) some of Barron’s other novels – she’s known for a series of Jane Austen mysteries. So anyway, I was pretty excited about reading something a little different. Unfortunately, I was largely disappointed. Barron’s other novels have strong, quirky female characters. Of Flaw‘s two prominent female characters, neither one is relatable. Georgiana is a hypocrite and the Queen is oddly overzealous about traditional female roles.

I guess I just don’t understand why so many authors continue to portray women as weak, infantile individuals. I don’t believe that I’ve ever met a woman that could not stand up for herself in some capacity – especially if her life depended on it. I understand that not everyone is He-Man strong and courageous, but I would much rather read about a character, male or female, that has a realistic personality with believable flaws – not archetypes.

Images from A White Stone, and Good Reads.

P.S. Enjoy the alliteration.