Oppression and Awakening: Female Body Writing in A Stroke of Good Fortune

Jiali  Yu

doi:10.54691/0a7f5v21

Authors

Jiali Yu

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54691/0a7f5v21

Keywords:

Flannery O’Connor; A Stroke of Good Fortune; female body writing; body dilemma.

Abstract

A Stroke of Good Fortune is one of many short stories by the famous American Southern female writer Flannery O’Connor. However, many critics have paid little attention to this short story and the body of the heroine “Ruby”. Based on this, the author combines the body-related theories and analyzes the physical dilemma and fertility anxiety faced by women represented by Ruby in the novel from the perspective of feminism. This paper aims to analyze the physical oppression women face from traditional ideas, patriarchal society and capitalist system, and point out the issues of abortion rights and reproductive freedom. It expresses O ‘Connor’s sympathy and humanistic concern for the tragic fate of women, and shows her thinking on how women can get rid of the physical predicament and fertility anxiety.

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