Performative Heroes and Heroines: Examining the Subversion of Gender Norms in the Modern Fairy Tales Howl’s Moving Castle and Stardust

Abstract

In this thesis I examine how the outdated notions of gender and gender norms have been used as tools to support various ideologies up through the years. The thesis will argue that the remnants of these ideologies can create a problematic image of gender roles for young readers in modern children’s literature. To do this, the thesis will argue for subversion of these gender roles and fairy tale tropes through a feminist lens. The thesis will examine the characters of two popular modern fairy tales aimed at children and young adults: Howl’s Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones and Stardust by Neil Gaiman. Both texts approach subversion in different ways, but both in ways that subverts and criticises traditional gender norms in fairy tale literature. Howl’s Moving Castle does this by creating complex characters that metatextually criticizes both their roles in the novel and the genre itself. Stardust does the opposite, and creates characters that are simplistic in a way that parodies their gender representations, and ultimately shows the dark side of slavishly following your assigned role in society. Ultimately, the thesis hopes to have proved that subversion creates an alternative that will lead to a greater diversity in how gender and characters are represented in fairy tale literature and children’s literature. This is especially important in an age where more and more people choose to deviate from their traditional gender norms and representations.