Depiction of Women in Season of Migration to the North

Abstract

Abstract

This research aims to investigate how Eltayeb Salih's Season of Migration to the North novel portrays females, and attempt to shed a light on the extent to which women are subordinated and oppressed in the Sudanese society. No much investigations and analysis have been done concerning this matter, thus there is a need to analyze the novel in order to identify how these female characters are portrayed, this study is significant for it draws attention on females and place women's lives and experiences at the center of study, to understand their role in the novel, while examining social systems of privilege and oppression. The research is based on a close reading of the novel, which is Season of Migration to the North Therefore, data will be obtained mainly from the selected novel. This study also employs descriptive analysis and qualitative method as its research design. To carry out this study the researchers read the work more than one time and draw the following conclusions: there are five types of female characters found in the novel. First, there are some female characters described as being modern and sophisticated, yet they possess a flawed features. Then, there are female characters who are portrayed as the members of society who still follow the traditional way and hold the traditional belief that women should be at the service of men. Moreover there are characters portrayed as daring and bold, in addition there is the self-destructive characters, Finally, there are also female characters who are portrayed as being strong and independent women .While in the feminist critique analysis findings show that there are images that are stereotypical in a way used to depict the female characters in the novel. But the most interesting one is women being portrayed as the cause of destruction.