Powerful Female Leads: Looking at the Classics
Normally, when we think about women in classic novels, we think about demure side characters in a man's story, or maybe of independent and fierce girls who end up obediently married by the end (think Jo March or Laura Ingalls Wilder, although I don't mind them at all or their marriges--but it's kind of a trope).
This is something that's important in the classics, but I want to take a minute to argue that modern YA books were NOT the beginning of interesting female characters. Unique, strong women existed back then, too. And studying them can give us, as modern writers, some ideas on how to be better with writing our own characters.
Here are some important traits to writing a good female lead:
A good female lead is savvy, capable, and powerful--WITHOUT putting down the men around her. (Dagny, Atlas Shrugged)
Atlas Shrugged is a controversial book because of its opinions on capitalism and the Gilded Age, but let's set that aside for a minute to look at its protagonist. A book written by a woman with a female lead, Atlas Shrugged tells the story of Dagny Taggart, a strong-willed and savvy woman who runs a railroad company. The rest of the main cast is largely comprised of a group of strong men who run their own companies.
However, Dagny never outshines the other characters. Even though she's one of the only powerful women in the story, she has that position because she is capable and smart and SHOWN to be so. The audience isn't just told that she's strong, and she isn't just portrayed next to buffoons (although there are plenty of those in the book).
This is a key to making a good female lead. The Ghostbusters approach doesn't work. Show your gal being strong next to others of both genders. One really compelling scene in Atlas Shrugged involves Dagny being a comforting force to another distraught woman. She also holds her own next to powerful men.
Portray ALL your characters as strong, and then show us how they are, rather than telling us. Don't just inform the reader that your female lead is an imposing force. Show us that she is. Make us believe it.
However, Dagny never outshines the other characters. Even though she's one of the only powerful women in the story, she has that position because she is capable and smart and SHOWN to be so. The audience isn't just told that she's strong, and she isn't just portrayed next to buffoons (although there are plenty of those in the book).
This is a key to making a good female lead. The Ghostbusters approach doesn't work. Show your gal being strong next to others of both genders. One really compelling scene in Atlas Shrugged involves Dagny being a comforting force to another distraught woman. She also holds her own next to powerful men.
Portray ALL your characters as strong, and then show us how they are, rather than telling us. Don't just inform the reader that your female lead is an imposing force. Show us that she is. Make us believe it.
A good female lead has multiple aspects that make her strong, both internally and externally (Dounia, Crime and Punishment)
In Crime and Punishment, there are a number of characters who seem like they only exist as an archetype...only to turn around and be far more than that. The drunk best friend, for instance. However, the character we're going to look at here is the protagonist's sister, Dounia.
Dounia starts out the book as a side character who's about to marry a rich man so that her brother can keep going to college. Sounds like our typical classic girl. But when you meet her you find that she has her own hopes and dreams. She's getting married because of her love for her family and for NO other reason. She's actively looking for a different solution. And then, when this guy gets her backed into a corner and things are looking risky for her--she literally reaches into her coat and pulls out a PISTOL. I literally screamed when this happened. I still fangirl softly every time I think about it.
Dounia is strong both emotionally and physically, and she's full of surprises and layers. This is how to build a female character just like a male character--give them LAYERS.
Dounia starts out the book as a side character who's about to marry a rich man so that her brother can keep going to college. Sounds like our typical classic girl. But when you meet her you find that she has her own hopes and dreams. She's getting married because of her love for her family and for NO other reason. She's actively looking for a different solution. And then, when this guy gets her backed into a corner and things are looking risky for her--she literally reaches into her coat and pulls out a PISTOL. I literally screamed when this happened. I still fangirl softly every time I think about it.
Dounia is strong both emotionally and physically, and she's full of surprises and layers. This is how to build a female character just like a male character--give them LAYERS.
A good female lead sticks to her convictions even when it's tough. (Jane, Jane Eyre)
We all know Jane Eyre's story. Met a man, fell in love with him, and then turned him down because of her morals. (Personally, I am creeped out by Rochester, but that isn't the point of this. The point of this is Jane.)
Jane Eyre is strong not because she could punch people, or because she can lead an army, or for any other reason. She's strong because she has a strong moral code and she sticks. To. It. She's powerful in her heart.
Internal strength! It's an underrated part of a strong female character. Add it in. Heavily. Not just a sprinkle. Take the bucket and dump it out. Even if she can't swing a sword, give her a heart of steel.
Jane Eyre is strong not because she could punch people, or because she can lead an army, or for any other reason. She's strong because she has a strong moral code and she sticks. To. It. She's powerful in her heart.
Internal strength! It's an underrated part of a strong female character. Add it in. Heavily. Not just a sprinkle. Take the bucket and dump it out. Even if she can't swing a sword, give her a heart of steel.
A good female lead saves her partner--and lets him save her. (Marguerite, The Scarlet Pimpernel)
(I assume most of y'all have read TSP, but I won't be giving any spoilers here so...yeah).
Marguerite, the heroine in TSP, is just a normal girl, and she has to both save and be saved by her partner. This isn't a "girl saves herself," nor a "boy saves his damsel in distress". It depends entirely on the situation, and it's beautiful. One or the other can do the saving, and it's important to remember that. No one wants a girl who saves herself, if we're being honest. We want people who help each other. Sometimes she can save herself. Sometimes she saves her boy. And sometimes... he can save her.
It's all about balance.
Who are some of your favorite women in the classics? Do you like any of these girls? Give me your thoughts in the comments--I'd love to know what you all have to say on this topic!
31 comments
I have only read Jane Eyre, but I really want to read these others now! I love exploring characters in classics! Wonderful post, Faith!
ReplyDeleteI hope you do! These are some of my favorite classics. Thank you! <3
DeleteOkay, clearly I need to up my classics game, because I’ve only read one of these. XD But now I have more motivation for picking up Crime and Punishment, so . . . win? ;) Anyways, great post, Faith!
ReplyDeleteCrime and Punishment, tbh, is criminally underrated and I hope you read it and love it xD it's SO good.
DeleteLol making your main character smart/strong etc by making the other characters weak/stupid is such a film trope and should be avoided at all costs hehe
ReplyDeleteI knooooooow it's such an annoying trope
DeleteAhh, you described all these characteristics so perfectly! I definitely HATE the "strong female lead" YA trope who has no feelings and is only concerned about physical fighting. *eye roll* I definitely need to read all the classics you mentioned XD
ReplyDeleteAmazing post! <333
Thank you!!!! I hate it too *rolls eyes really loudly* And you should!
DeleteShamefully, I haven't read any of these (I KNOOOOW) but I can't scream "YESSSSSS!" enough with this post. Just...YES YES YESSSSS!
ReplyDeleteI really don't get why people think a "strong female character" can only be made if she has no personality and is put next to a bunch of stupid men. That's not the equality everyone claims they want, it's just lazy writing! Just make the girl strong without making the guys stupid. It's not that hard! And YES to her being strong INSIDE, not just outwardly. Give her strong convictions, respectability, morals, cleverness. Ya know, JUST MAKE HER A PERSON. And oh my goodness, I soooo agree that the characters should be allowed to SAVE EACH OTHER. It is OKAY to need help sometimes. These "I only work alone because I think you're all stupid" female types drive me up. the. wall. I'm sorry, but that doesn't inspire me. That's not the kind of heroine I want to look up to.
I could go on and on, but you said it all so well. I couldn't agree more to ALL these points. And I looove how you used classic females for examples. Because you're so right, we often don't think of females in the classics as role models but there really are some great ones out there!
Fantastic post!
ThANK YOU!!!!!!
DeleteRight? That's not strength. It's just annoying. This is all so goooood!!!!! This is the stuff that I've tried to address in Pentegreens with Kariana and Anna, actually. They want to be the independent, work-alone girls, but I don't let them, so that's fun xD
Thank you! And I love using examples like that. So much fun to go outside the box.
Thank you, love! <3
Loved this post! I'm frustrated with the "strong females" in most YA books I read and think that they could learn a few things from girls in classic lit. Characters shouldn't be portrayed as strong-for-the-sake-of-strong. A compelling character (at least for me) is one who demonstrates her strength by holding and maintaining her values or protecting those that she loves--regardless of whether that's by sword, word, quiet action, or knocking down a building. Sometimes strength is just being there for someone--not necessarily vanquishing a dragon + an army or two for the heck of it!
ReplyDeleteI read Jane Eyre last year and was incredibly refreshed by Jane's character. Quiet strength is something we don't see enough (although Rochester bothered me also).
Have you seen the new Little Women movie? I thought that it had some great commentary about women's roles then/now.
Agreed forever! The values and love are the most important things imo. I loooooove them. Thank you for putting that into words :D
DeleteJane is amazing. But yeah, Rochester is REALLY not my favorite...
I haven't seen it yet but I can't WAIT honestly :D
Okay, so great post!! I'm very happy with all of these. Also, you may just have made me want to read 'Crime and Punishment', so do tell me: what kind of book is it? I tend to prefer books that don't have weird, creepy, or just plain strange themes. (Rochester WAS creepy - I'm still not totally sure what I think of that book. Love or hate it??! Idk, seriously xD)
ReplyDeletePersonally, I don't think that one was creepy or weird? It's Russian, and it does deal a lot with morality and questions of humanity, and there is some gory murder stuff. The whole premise is that the protagonist thinks he's a higher level of humanity, able to sin and get away with it, and commits a murder--but then he spends the whole book assailed by guilt, and the story is of him deciding whether or not to turn himself in and whether his theory stands. So if that kind of psychological thing sounds good to you, yeah, I'd totally recommend! (But yeah, Rochester is honestly the WORST)
DeleteYes to saving each other!! For crying out loud, a girl can be saved by a boy without being weak. *aggressive eyeroll* But she can also be totally capable of SAVING, too. This is actually a dynamic that I hope to keep up in my Trentley and Jynnia books (psh not that I'm saying they'll need much saving... hehe... heh... heh...), because WE NEED MORE OF THESE KINDS OF RELATIONSHIPS PLEASE.
ReplyDeleteI actually haven't read any of the books you mentioned. xD But I love that you centered this on classics! And it has me interested in reading more of them. (maybe some of the ones that have been collecting dust on my shelf for fifteen thousand years...)
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YES YES YES!!!!!! My main couple in my Pentegreens series has to do that constantly, especially as time progresses. And my new WIP is incorporating a lot of that too. (Also ACK Trentley and Jynniaaaaaaa)
DeleteAww, thanks! You should absolutely read some of them xD
MARGUERITE!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love her that girl was smart as a whip XD
Excellent post!
Marguerite: The heroine we all need but don't deserve xD
DeleteThanks!
Yes!! Crime and Punishment!! <3 (Okay, so I just enjoyed the Russian in it, but okay...)(Also, there's an old black/white Russian movie remake that's pretty good.) But Dunya is The Best. Also love Sonya. And Raskolnikov is such an interesting MC.
ReplyDeleteWe need more cool female leads who don't just talk down and show off to everyone to be "strong."
CRIME AND PUNISHMENT (and Sonia! Yes! *flails*)
DeleteWe absolutely need those. :P
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS I LOVE THIS POST. <33
ReplyDeleteSome of my favorite women characters in classics are the ladies from the Sherlock Holmes books. There are some epic ladies in those stories. :-D
THANK YOU!!!!!
DeleteI haven't read enough of those! Another one for the very, very long TBR, I suppose *sobs*
I adored The Scarlet Pimpernel! Marguerite is awesome! Love that she made this list.
ReplyDeleteMarguerite is one of my favorites (besides Percy, haha) so obviously she had to be here!
DeleteI love this!! All these points and examples are golden. <3
ReplyDeleteThank you! <3
DeleteDUNIA!!!! Oh my gosh I love her. I love her SO MUCH. (No one ever talks about her either, which is sad.) She's so amazing, even the first time you meet her, and then...she only gets more amazing? That moment when she pulled out the pistol YES.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really good list. A reminder of all the DIFFERENT types of strength. (Also I love that you pulled from the classics. So many people talk like ONLY modern YA has strong female characters. And I'm like...no?) I adore the saving-each-other trope, and Marguerite and Percy are lovely. <3 And JANE. Jane Eyre is actually...I'm not even sure I like the book itself, but I deeply appreciate Jane. Moral strength is sadly rare in fiction, rarer I think than in real life. I love how Jane has none of the traditional strong female character qualities, yet she's about the strongest female character I can think of. <3 <3
I KNOW she is such an underrated character in literature. But that thing with the gun OH MY WORD. I was screaming.
DeleteThank you! And yeah, I feel like the classics actually have better fodder for this than modern YA xD I feel exactly the same way about Jane! Kinda didn't like the book, but the character is just AMAZING.
I was so surprised to see Atlas Shrugged topping your list. I didn't even know you'd read it, haha. But this was a very good post!
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*whispers* I really really love atlas shrugged haha. Thank you!
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ReplyDeleteHello, friends! Do make yourselves comfortable and stay for a while--I'd love to chat with you! I simply ask that you keep it clean. :)