The Female Coming of Age Narrative in Twentieth Century Irish Literature

Davis, Sarah Jean

The Female Coming of Age Narrative in Twentieth Century Irish Literature

Authors

Davis, Sarah Jean

Abstract

The coming of age narrative, or the <i>bildungsroman</i>, is characterized by tension stemming from an existence poised between adolescence and adulthood. The protagonists of such narratives are faced with immense societal and personal conflicts that they must struggle with in order to move beyond the liminal existence of late adolescence and emerge into an adult self. Thus far, scholarly focus, even within the Irish subset, has largely been on the young male protagonist, whose experience is best exemplified in the work of James Joyce. However, numerous works that consider the specific experience of the young Irish women have emerged over the last century, continuing the narrative tradition of the Irish <i>bildungsroman</i> as established by Joyce. From Elizabeth Bowen to Eimear McBride, various writers have illustrated how the unique experience of the young Irish woman has continued to evolve. Through close textual analysis of selected works by these writers and others, and consideration of relevant social and political contexts, this thesis illustrates how contemporary Irish women writers are continuing to participate in and shape the Irish coming-of-age narrative.