A Space of her Own

The research examines themes of women s sexuality,
silence, power and negotiation of spaces in Homer s
Odyssey and Shakespeare s Winter s Tale. The
study employs an open reading of the texts alongside
feminist perspectives to offer new, alternative
meanings that are hidden within the folds of the
dominant, patriarchal discourse. The strategies
utilized in this research enable fluid shifts in
meaning because they open up the texts to alternative
possible interpretations. Maneuvering within the
dominant discourse and reading between the lines
uncovers a space within which women have to struggle
in order to find their own private spheres and modes
of being.
The thread connecting these works, and on which the
arguments in this study are built, is the image of
stone that is prominent in both works. In The
Odyssey, Penelope is presented pausing near a pillar
of stone a number of times, whereas in The Winter s
Tale, the queen Hermione is turned into a statue of
stone at the end of the play.
These two images are closely analyzed in relation to
these women s silence and marginalization, and they
constitute a central point of reference in exploring
the other themes.

Autorentext

Khulud completed her MA at the Department of English Language andLiterature, University of Haifa in 2008. She is a Palestiniancitizen of Israel, and lives in Haifa.

Klappentext

The research examines themes of women's sexuality,silence, power and negotiation of spaces in Homer'sOdyssey and Shakespeare's Winter's Tale. Thestudy employs an open reading of the texts alongsidefeminist perspectives to offer new, alternativemeanings that are hidden within the folds of thedominant, patriarchal discourse. The strategiesutilized in this research enable fluid shifts inmeaning because they open up the texts to alternativepossible interpretations. Maneuvering within thedominant discourse and reading between the linesuncovers a space within which women have to strugglein order to find their own private spheres and modesof being.The thread connecting these works, and on which thearguments in this study are built, is the image ofstone that is prominent in both works. In TheOdyssey, Penelope is presented pausing near a pillarof stone a number of times, whereas in The Winter'sTale, the queen Hermione is turned into a statue ofstone at the end of the play.These two images are closely analyzed in relation tothese women's silence and marginalization, and theyconstitute a central point of reference in exploringthe other themes.