| Abstract [eng] |
The Master thesis explores Birutė Jonuškaitė’s novels “Maranta” (2015) and “Maestro” (2019). In the novels, the female habitus using Pierre Bourdieu’s theoretical approach is analysed. It allows us to look at the deeper levels of a woman’s identity formation and to reveal the symbolic male domination she experiences. The aim of the work is to explore the patterns of formation and transmission of this order, considering the contribution of women themselves. It is identified in the prose of a writer; whose work evaluates women as stronger than men. This determines the novelty and relevance of the work. The works in question reflect society’s changing attitudes towards women and their place in society. In the novels, women’s relationships with men are characterised by a change from physical and psychological violence to a unrecognisable symbolic masculine domination. There is a distinct division of labour, with the woman playing the role of housekeeper, nurse and maid, and the man pursuing a career outside the home and drinking alcohol. In the novels, the traditional positions held by women and the personal qualities attributed to them, such as humility and gentleness, are idealised and positively evaluated by both society and the woman herself. It should be noted that the protagonist of the novel suffers painfully from the lack of qualities stereotypically attributed to women. Like her mother and the Zynė of the forest, she is characterised by imperiousness, wilfulness, strength, emotional resilience, courage, independence and determination. They all have a strong connection to a higher power and rely on their intuition. As women who embody traditional qualities, they are associated with helping and serving others. This is an important part of a woman’s disposition. The protagonist’s habitus is shaped by the fields of her family, art and faith. In the family field, the mother is in a position of domination, but her domination is not manifested in society and is not passed on to the next generation. The rituals and distribution of capital created in the family associate women with beauty, secrets and childbearing, and men with power, exceptional events and economic power. In the field of faith, one’s position is determined by one’s values and one’s relationship with the supreme authority, God, and one’s childhood experiences. The protagonist’s entry into the field of art is only possible thanks to the support of her brother and grandfather. In this traditionally masculine field, a woman, unlike a man, is first associated with motherhood, the care and support of those around her, only then does she concentrate on her immediate career, seeking recognition and personal goals. In all fields, a woman’s humility and obedience are encouraged. |
