True Grit by Charles Portis contains aspects of feminism and gender equality portrayed through the main character, Mattie Ross, a 14 year old girl set out to seek revenge on her father’s killer. Mattie Ross is a segacious, self-sufficient, dauntless young girl. Charles Portis elaborates on the life and quest of Mattie Ross to create a thrilling novel that exemplifies the fight against male domination, patriarchal societies and sexist views. Throughout history women have been “oppressed by patriarchy economically, politically, socially, and psychologically” (Tompkins). Feminist issues can be represented in True Grit by analysing her obstacles and confrontations. Throughout the novel, Mattie Ross faces prejudices and unfair treatment due to
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In the novel, True Grit by Charles Portis, this assiduate girl is ascertain to not only see Tom Chaney persecuted for his unforgiving actions against her father, but to prove these assumptions wrong and to show that women, no matter what age, can be strong, hard working, autonomous, fearless, and have true grit.
Santos 2
The concept of Mattie Ross as a character counteracts the archetypal “attitudes and traditions reinforcing systematic masculine dominance” (VirtuLit) that have been prominent in literature and societies throughout the centuries. Contrasting to patriarchal based literature containing only strong male characters, True Grit contains a female character that is not passive or dutiful. The action of Mattie Ross embarking on a quest on her own as a girl her …show more content…
La Boeuf is a Civil War veteran working as a Texas Ranger, sent to retrieve Mattie Ross by her own mother. Apart from motherly concern, the arrival of La Boeuf shows that her mother does not believe she is capable of handling the position she is in. He interacts with Mattie as if he is speaking with a misbehaving toddler. La Boeuf is flabbergasted by her hardy personality, showing that he does not believe a girl can act gallantly. He even refuses to work with her at first, leaving her behind to set off on the hunt with Cogburn. Mattie crosses the deep river on her horse proving herself to Cogburn and La Boeuf
In the novel, True Grit by Charles Portis, this assiduate girl is ascertain to not only see Tom Chaney persecuted for his unforgiving actions against her father, but to prove these assumptions wrong and to show that women, no matter what age, can be strong, hard working, autonomous, fearless, and have true grit.
Santos 2
The concept of Mattie Ross as a character counteracts the archetypal “attitudes and traditions reinforcing systematic masculine dominance” (VirtuLit) that have been prominent in literature and societies throughout the centuries. Contrasting to patriarchal based literature containing only strong male characters, True Grit contains a female character that is not passive or dutiful. The action of Mattie Ross embarking on a quest on her own as a girl her …show more content…
La Boeuf is a Civil War veteran working as a Texas Ranger, sent to retrieve Mattie Ross by her own mother. Apart from motherly concern, the arrival of La Boeuf shows that her mother does not believe she is capable of handling the position she is in. He interacts with Mattie as if he is speaking with a misbehaving toddler. La Boeuf is flabbergasted by her hardy personality, showing that he does not believe a girl can act gallantly. He even refuses to work with her at first, leaving her behind to set off on the hunt with Cogburn. Mattie crosses the deep river on her horse proving herself to Cogburn and La Boeuf