THE REPRESENTATION OF WOMEN’S OPPRESSION IN A PATRIARCHAL CULTURE: A RADICAL FEMINISTIC ANALYSIS OF ALICE MUNRO’S “RUNAWAY”

Abstract

The current study aims to investigate female’s life and conditions through the experiences, writings, and narratives of Alice Munro (1931),she is bestselling author of short stories and Nobel Laureate (2013).  In her collection of manufactured short stories, Runaway (2004),she explores female existence, conditions, and experiences and gives an exclusive narrative of female-centric characters. This study utilizes qualitative approach based on two main objectives. First, it explores the core causes of women’s oppression in the setting of Canadian society in Munro’s first short tale “Runaway”from her book Runaway, despite the fact that the female protagonist Carla revealed all of her life’s hurdles. Second, it explores the patriarchal norms and dominant culture in Runaway that limit women’s freedom and choices, as demonstrated by Carla’s husband Clark in the story. To offer a thorough examination, the concept of radical feminism proposed by Simone De Beauvoir (1908-86) serves as a theoretical foundation for this study. Radical feminism is a feminist perspective that entitles the concept of patriarchal grounds, gender system, dominating culture, and also a hierarchy; as a result of these fundamental concerns, women suffered oppression throughout their lives. However, due to its assumption-based nature that women are not inherently confined and resist, society produces the opposing fractions (sexes) male and female. Therefore, this theory is also classified as conflict theory. Finally, this paper shows Munro’s pinned down the reality of life and relationships that are built on male dominance over women; the patriarchal harshness of males oppresses women’s freedom and choices.