Gender Role Conformity In The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe

The Representation of Femininity and the Promotion of Gender Role Conformity in Philip Pullman’s The Golden Compass and C.S Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

The following statement by Mem Fox, highlights the influence of female archetypes in children’s literature on the ideals that are conveyed to the intended child reader. “Everything we read… constructs us, makes us who we are by presenting our image of ourselves as girls and women, as boys and men (84). Female archetypes are commonly utilized in children’s literature to epitomize gender and femininity for the child reader. In relation to children’s literature, this essay will discuss the most iconic maternal archetypes which include the scheming, jealous and evil old witch or

Beaver. These characters are mentors offering help and support to the young female protagonists Lyra and Lucy throughout their development. In stark contrast to Mrs. Coulter and the White Witch, this archetypical representation of womanhood maintains the domesticated characteristics of cleaning, cooking and looking after the young. Although Ma Costa was “mighty” (54) and “… a queen among the gyptians” (55), she was neither pretty nor attractive. Unlike, the seductress Mrs. Coulter, Ma Costa is “a stout powerful woman with grey hair” (104) and had “hands like bludgeons” (104). In a similar manner, Mrs. Beaver is described as “a kind-looking old she-beaver…. with wrinkled old paws” (78). Lewis introduces Mrs. Beaver’s maternal inclinations almost immediately as she is first presented with “thread in her mouth working busily at her sewing machine” (78) while at the same time, “The potatoes are on boiling and the kettle’s singing” (78). Equally, Ma Costa’s devotion to family duties and motherhood are presented as she is a diligent housekeeper and the mother of two boys Billy and Tony Costa. The surrogate mothers’ investment in the child protagonists are featured in the following scenes. “The boat-mother set her hands on either side of Lyra’s face and her daemon… bent gently to lick Pantalaimon’s wildcat head” (105) and Mrs. Beaver packed “… five loads and the smallest for the smallest of us…my dearie (111). In brief, Ma Costa and Mrs. Beaver are the stereotypical representation of domesticated womanhood which strikingly contradict Mrs. Coulter who “…was never mother” (230) and the White Witch who “… isn’t a real queen at all… she’s a horrible witch… everyone hates her”