Gendered Roles and Patriarchal Discourse: Ian McEwan's The Comfort of Strangers

Çağlayan Doğan

Article Details

Gendered Roles and Patriarchal Discourse: Ian McEwan's The Comfort of Strangers

Authors:

Çağlayan Doğan

Publisher:

Gumushane University

Main Topics:

Dil Çalışmaları (Diğer)

Journal:

Mavi Atlas Vol.11 Issue Cumhuriyet'in 100. Yılı Özel Sayısı, pp.135-145

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001300048

pISSN:

2148-5232

Keywords:

Abstract:

 Ian McEwan is a major figure in contemporary British literature, with his novels written on a wide range of subjects. Often exploring social problems, male-female relationships, psychological conditions and environmental issues, McEwan is the winner of the Man Booker Prize, one of the most prestigious awards. His work has also been translated into many languages. There is also an emphasis on a harsh patriarchy in his works. Opposing views on feminism and womens movements are presented in his novels. In many of his works, the author analyses and questions the position of men and women in contemporary society by constructing similar themes. In this way, the author brings the social issues and problems of the past to the attention of the reader in the context of the present, placing these phenomena in a spiral of violence. The authors novel, The Comfort of Strangers, which is the subject of this study, generally describes the interesting events of two British tourists in a town whose name is not known. A couple called Colin and Mary experience a series of mysterious and negative events after they encounter a man they meet while looking for a place to eat. The Comfort of Strangers is a novel that contains themes such as social problems, patriarchy, male-female relationships, psychological perversions and excessive depictions of violence. In this context, McEwans novel not only contains many different themes, but also reveals their interrelationships. This study examines The Comfort of Strangers in terms of gender roles and the representation of patriarchy.

 Ian McEwan is a major figure in contemporary British literature, with his novels written on a wide range of subjects. Often exploring social problems, male-female relationships, psychological conditions and environmental issues, McEwan is the winner of the Man Booker Prize, one of the most prestigious awards. His work has also been translated into many languages. There is also an emphasis on a harsh patriarchy in his works. Opposing views on feminism and womens movements are presented in his novels. In many of his works, the author analyses and questions the position of men and women in contemporary society by constructing similar themes. In this way, the author brings the social issues and problems of the past to the attention of the reader in the context of the present, placing these phenomena in a spiral of violence. The authors novel, The Comfort of Strangers, which is the subject of this study, generally describes the interesting events of two British tourists in a town whose name is not known. A couple called Colin and Mary experience a series of mysterious and negative events after they encounter a man they meet while looking for a place to eat. The Comfort of Strangers is a novel that contains themes such as social problems, patriarchy, male-female relationships, psychological perversions and excessive depictions of violence. In this context, McEwans novel not only contains many different themes, but also reveals their interrelationships. This study examines The Comfort of Strangers in terms of gender roles and the representation of patriarchy.

 Ian McEwan is a major figure in contemporary British literature, with his novels written on a wide range of subjects. Often exploring social problems, male-female relationships, psychological conditions and environmental issues, McEwan is the winner of the Man Booker Prize, one of the most prestigious awards. His work has also been translated into many languages. There is also an emphasis on a harsh patriarchy in his works. Opposing views on feminism and womens movements are presented in his novels. In many of his works, the author analyses and questions the position of men and women in contemporary society by constructing similar themes. In this way, the author brings the social issues and problems of the past to the attention of the reader in the context of the present, placing these phenomena in a spiral of violence. The authors novel, The Comfort of Strangers, which is the subject of this study, generally describes the interesting events of two British tourists in a town whose name is not known. A couple called Colin and Mary experience a series of mysterious and negative events after they encounter a man they meet while looking for a place to eat. The Comfort of Strangers is a novel that contains themes such as social problems, patriarchy, male-female relationships, psychological perversions and excessive depictions of violence. In this context, McEwans novel not only contains many different themes, but also reveals their interrelationships. This study examines The Comfort of Strangers in terms of gender roles and the representation of patriarchy.

 Ian McEwan İngiliz çağdaş yazınında birçok farklı konuda kaleme aldığı romanlarıyla öne çıkan bir yazardır. Eserlerinde toplumsal sorunlara, kadın erkek ilişkilerine, psikolojik olgulara, çevresel meselelere sıklıkla temas eden yazar, İngiliz Milletler Topluluğu ülkeleri için en prestijli ödüllerden olan Man Booker sahibidir. Yazarın eserleri birçok dile çevrilmiştir. Ayrıca feminizm ve kadın hareketleri ile ilgili karşıt görüşler ortaya koyan eserde sert bir ataerkillik vurgulanmaktadır. Yazar birçok eserinde benzer konuları kurgulayarak kadın ve erkeğin çağdaş toplumdaki pozisyonlarını irdeler ve sorgular. Yazarın böylelikle geçmişin toplumsal konularını ve sorunlarını bugünün bağlamında okurlarıyla buluşturduğu ve söz konusu olguları şiddet sarmalı içerisine soktuğu görülmektedir. Bu çalışmaya konu olan yazarın Yabancı Kucak isimli romanı genel olarak adı belli olmayan bir şehirde iki İngiliz turistin başından geçen ilginç olayları resmetmektedir. Colin ve Mary adındaki çift yemek yiyecek bir yer ararken karşılaştıkları bir adamla tanışmalarından sonra bir dizi esrarengiz ve olumsuz olay yaşar. Yabancı Kucak genel olarak toplumsal sorunlar, ataerkillik, kadın erkek ilişkileri, psikolojik sapkınlıklar ve şiddet temsilleri gibi temaları barındıran bir romandır. Bu bağlamda, McEvanın söz konusu eseri birçok farklı temayı içermesinin yanı sıra, bunların birbirleriyle olan iç içe geçmiş ilişkilerini de ortaya koymaktadır. Bu çalışmada yazarın Yabancı Kucak isimli romanı toplumsal cinsiyetçi roller ve ataerkilliğin temsili bakımından incelenecektir.

Article Details

Gendered Roles and Patriarchal Discourse: Ian McEwan's The Comfort of Strangers

Authors:

Çağlayan Doğan

Publisher:

Gumushane University

Main Topics:

Dil Çalışmaları (Diğer)

Journal:

Mavi Atlas Vol.11 Issue Cumhuriyet'in 100. Yılı Özel Sayısı, pp.135-145

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001300048

pISSN:

2148-5232

Ian McEwan

The Comfort of Strangers

Gender

Patriarchy

Psychological PerversionsIan McEwan

Yabancı Kucak

Toplumsal Cinsiyet

Ataerkillik

Psikolojik Sapkınlıklar

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Çağlayan Doğan

Publisher: Gumushane University

Main Topics: Dil Çalışmaları (Diğer)

Journal: Mavi Atlas Vol.11 Issue Cumhuriyet'in 100. Yılı Özel Sayısı, pp.135-145

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 9/2023

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001300048

pISSN: 2148-5232

Issues

Authors:

Çağlayan Doğan

Publisher:

Gumushane University

Main Topics:

Dil Çalışmaları (Diğer)

Journal:

Mavi Atlas Vol.11 Issue Cumhuriyet'in 100. Yılı Özel Sayısı, pp.135-145

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

9/2023

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001300048

pISSN:

2148-5232