WOMEN AND LITERATURE; A COMPARATIVE PPESPEGTIVE

Although literature is commonly considered to reflect the culture from which it has emerged, it is also true that literature exercises a strong influence on the national character of a people, as it deals critically with its social problems. Literature, in general, and especially prose, has often given society a mental impetus in the absence of which the history of a-people would have been different. The cataclysmic upheavals in the history of Europe after the seventeen* century may be traced back partly, though usually indirectly, to the writings of the then' contemporary writers, which helped to awaken much public opinion and draw attention to certain social situations which deserved reforms. In view of the important role and impact of literature in the life of a people, the man issue - the status of women -in the literature of mainly three countries England, America and Turkey is to be deaft with. Yet before that the next step would be to point out the actual position of women in these countries, especially in the nineteenth century as this period, In fact, forms one of the most interesting studies m the history of the emancipation of women $i the three respective countries. A great many changes, political, religious and, above att, economic, affecting as they did every aspect of life in the period and, not least, the status of women makes mis era particularly remarkable. There can be no serious doubt that these changes have their origin in the historical forces which began to operate at the beginning of the century and which one can venture to isolate. Of integral importance is me French Revolution, which chiefly expressed its ideal in nineteenth century England by means of much "propagandist" literature and by the formation of many literary; political and philosophical societies and so on, remarkable for their energy and aggressiveness. Following the French Revolution came the conservative reaction in England-a toevement which led to the imposition of censorship and to pressure over free ppinien. Again, there was the religious movement, the Evangelical Revival,1 and, inet feast,, the Industrial Revolution, — bringing mechanization of industry, more rapid means of communication and rapid enrichment to certain classes as well as poverty to others.