THE ROLE OF IRONY IN FEY WELDON'S NOVELS AS A TOOL FOR PSYCHOLOGISING CHARACTERS AND ACTIVATING READERS' EMPATHY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31652/2786-9083-2025-6(2)-120-129Keywords:
Fay Weldon; feminism; irony; satire; female identity; postmodernism; gender criticismAbstract
The article explores irony as a key instrument of feminist critique in the works of British writer Fay Weldon. It analyzes how irony functions as a means of deconstructing patriarchal myths, gender stereotypes, and traditional conceptions of femininity. The research focuses on Weldon’s distinctive narrative strategies, including satire, grotesque, and paradox, which together form a multilayered stylistic framework.
Special attention is given to the novels The Life and Loves of a She-Devil and Praxis, where irony becomes a form of protest against social inequality, the fragmentation of female identity, and the constraints of marriage. The study highlights Weldon’s ability to employ irony to challenge both patriarchal and radical feminist dogmas, thereby asserting a woman’s right to interpret her own experience. The methodology combines feminist literary criticism, postmodern analysis, and interdisciplinary perspectives. The scientific novelty lies in viewing irony as an intellectual weapon that enables the writer to simultaneously affirm and subvert feminist discourse.
It is concluded that irony in Weldon’s works serves as a mode of intellectual resistance, ensuring flexibility and openness of feminist worldviews.
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