Although critics are quick to call Kate Fansler an alter ego of her creator (e.g. Auerbach and Kress), the only obvious parallel between the two is that Kate is, like Carolyn Heilbrun, a professor of English literature. More significant is her role as female hero of the novel, and successor of the Great Detectives such as Holmes, Dupin or Lord Wimsey.
It was discontent which inspired Heilbrun to begin writing detective novels, claiming that she could not find any new novels of the genre she enjoyed (in Lindsay 58). Consequently, Kate Fansler is an antithesis to many conventions of the genre, including the male detective (Maier 21-22).
Kate Fansler is one of few female professors at “one of New York's largest and most prestigious universities” …show more content…
Kate Fansler is a woman exhibiting a degree of independence which had traditionally been reserved for men. She built a career before getting married (6), which shows that the latter has not been her main priority. After marriage she refuses to let herself be constrained by the role of a wife, much less of a mother; Kate and Reed have no children, nor do their jobs allow for much family planning. This is never explicitly addressed in the novel, but contrasted by Kate's three older brothers who have all “produced children” (36) likely to follow the traditional Fansler family values which Kate rejects. Her niece Leighton and another nephew who is only briefly mentioned in the novel are two of the “notable exceptions” (ibid.), if not all of them. Thus Kate's marriage is not portrayed as sealing of rigid gender roles which limit a woman's possibilities, but as a union of mutual respect and support, which barely affects the professional life of the involved parties or the action of the novel. When Kate tells Sylvia that “[Reed]'s a male strangely composed: the pomposity was omitted” (24) her words are reminiscent of the “marriage of the future” Heilbrun sees in the union between Orlando and Marmaduke Bonthrop Shelmerdine (165), in which both partners are equally androgynous. In another passage Heilbrun claims that only …show more content…
Their conversation is full of ironic references to feminism, from illusions of marriage over male-governed university politics to eating bras, the discussion of serious topics is mixed with a lighthearted irony. When Sylvia speaks of the way the patriarchy invests in the fight against feminism, Kate feigns shock: “Sylvia! You're becoming one of those awful women's libbers!” (26) It seems that due to their position, wealth and gender-conforming outer appearance, at least Kate is not confronted with such an accusation in seriousness. Another very striking remark of Sylvia's is that “Janet doesn't want the support of feminists, and can't expect it” (29) while they are discussing the option of Kate going to Harvard in order to help Janet. The two women obviously subscribe to feminist values of equality, but are reluctant to earnestly embrace terms such as feminism or women's liberation. They can afford to joke about ruining their reputation by admitting that certain claims made by radical feminists are not far from the truth because the possibility that it will affect their career, and thus financial and social situation, is
It was discontent which inspired Heilbrun to begin writing detective novels, claiming that she could not find any new novels of the genre she enjoyed (in Lindsay 58). Consequently, Kate Fansler is an antithesis to many conventions of the genre, including the male detective (Maier 21-22).
Kate Fansler is one of few female professors at “one of New York's largest and most prestigious universities” …show more content…
Kate Fansler is a woman exhibiting a degree of independence which had traditionally been reserved for men. She built a career before getting married (6), which shows that the latter has not been her main priority. After marriage she refuses to let herself be constrained by the role of a wife, much less of a mother; Kate and Reed have no children, nor do their jobs allow for much family planning. This is never explicitly addressed in the novel, but contrasted by Kate's three older brothers who have all “produced children” (36) likely to follow the traditional Fansler family values which Kate rejects. Her niece Leighton and another nephew who is only briefly mentioned in the novel are two of the “notable exceptions” (ibid.), if not all of them. Thus Kate's marriage is not portrayed as sealing of rigid gender roles which limit a woman's possibilities, but as a union of mutual respect and support, which barely affects the professional life of the involved parties or the action of the novel. When Kate tells Sylvia that “[Reed]'s a male strangely composed: the pomposity was omitted” (24) her words are reminiscent of the “marriage of the future” Heilbrun sees in the union between Orlando and Marmaduke Bonthrop Shelmerdine (165), in which both partners are equally androgynous. In another passage Heilbrun claims that only …show more content…
Their conversation is full of ironic references to feminism, from illusions of marriage over male-governed university politics to eating bras, the discussion of serious topics is mixed with a lighthearted irony. When Sylvia speaks of the way the patriarchy invests in the fight against feminism, Kate feigns shock: “Sylvia! You're becoming one of those awful women's libbers!” (26) It seems that due to their position, wealth and gender-conforming outer appearance, at least Kate is not confronted with such an accusation in seriousness. Another very striking remark of Sylvia's is that “Janet doesn't want the support of feminists, and can't expect it” (29) while they are discussing the option of Kate going to Harvard in order to help Janet. The two women obviously subscribe to feminist values of equality, but are reluctant to earnestly embrace terms such as feminism or women's liberation. They can afford to joke about ruining their reputation by admitting that certain claims made by radical feminists are not far from the truth because the possibility that it will affect their career, and thus financial and social situation, is