Verklighet eller fiktion? : Litteraturens påverkan på 1800-talets kvinnors syn på sig själva och sitt liv

Sammanfattning: Research has shown that studies on the impact of literature on the individual probably have been bigger than we previously thought. The 19th century writers had great power in influencing public opinion on current social issues. Well aware of their power, they used it to the maximum. Both the way they wrote, and the content, was adapted to relate and speak to the reader and maximise the literatures influence. This study is based on this statement and focus on author Marie Sophie Schwartz short stories. The study focuses at how women in the short stories viewed themselves and their role in society, in what ways they were included and excluded, how the outside world treated women who violated the current norms and ideals and what expressions/desires for change they expressed? These are some of the questions that are investigated in this study. The source material was processed through a qualitative and inductive method with a narrative approach. Furthermore, the material was coded based on the studies focus questions to be able to answer them. The survey shows that despite the fact that society’s norms and ideals are largely upheld, patterns and themes emerge that challenge this. One can clearly see the ambiguity in Schwartz’s message. Her own everyday life and prevailing norms and ideals are opposed to her own thoughts and opinions. The short stories give a glimpse of female emancipation, break prejudices about class differences and show that norm-breaking action do not always lead to misfortune and exclusion for the individual. Schwartz tried to show people that life is unpredictable and there is no manual to follow to be happy, which is completely contradictory from the common themes that appeared in the 19th century literature.