Similarities Between Charlotte Bronte And First They Killed My Father

Feminism and Its Influence On The Protagonists in Charlotte and First They Killed My Father

Introduction

Throughout both Charlotte and First They Killed My Father our main protagonists are seen doing heroic and rebellious acts. Both have been through war, genocide, and heartbreak. These conditions have made both Charlotte Salomon and Loung Ung change their views on the world and themselves. Between the two protagonists, Loung Ung is more of a traditional feminist.

Traditional Feminism and Its Roots. Many believe the false narrative of feminism being a “new age thing,” when in reality, feminism is seen all throughout history. Traditional feminism is defined as “the belief in full social, economic, and political equality for women.” (Britannica)

At this camp, she will learn how to fight and become a soldier in case the Angkar needs her assistance in the war. “The camp you are going to is for the bigger, stronger children. There you will be trained as a soldier so you can soon help fight the war.” (pg 130) Loung is seen as physically strong. She is a hard worker and a good fighter, driven by rage and hatred. Along with leaving the camp, Loung has to leave her sister Chou as well. “Chou, you're older than me, stop being so weak” (pg 130) Loung says this in response to Chou crying during their final goodbyes. Loung takes pride in being emotionally and physically

Loung had the opportunity to fight back and somewhat protest for her rights, while Charlotte, unfortunately, didn't. A disadvantage Charlotte had was her family history of mental illness. From the beginning, Charlotte was plagued with stereotypes due to her family history and her religion. People believed she was insane because “Insanity runs in the family.” (pg 94) In reality, she was mentally ill, but she was held back from a lot of things because of it. She relied on the women figures in her life, as well as her love interests. She was extremely emotionally dependent on her love interests, and it prevented her from making choices of her own. She let what others thought about her influence her self-esteem. Loung had the advantage because she did not have the codependency Charlotte experienced. Loung was forced to be independent, while Charlotte chose to be. Loung was both physically and mentally stronger than