Rewriting Masculinity: Gender Norms and Their Impact on Novelistic Structures and Character Development

Name of Author : Dr. P. Prasanna

Abstract: This article examines the interplay between masculinity, gender norms, and literature, particularly how social notions of masculinity influence narrative structures and character development in novels. The research examines the development of masculine characters in several literary traditions, analyzing the impact of historical, cultural, and social changes on the representation of masculinity in novels. The study explores the influence of gender expectations on narrative structures, analyzing the interplay between several literary techniques such as plot development, character progression, and genre norms and the representation of masculinity. Moreover, it emphasizes how modern writers undermine conventional masculine tropes by adopting fluid, intricate, and non-conformist portrayals of male identity. The study uses case studies of prominent male characters in literature to illustrate how masculinity is both contested and upheld in literary texts. The study finishes by examining how contemporary gender movements, such as feminism and LGBTQ+ activism, have transformed literary masculinity, providing new avenues for comprehending masculine identities within a dynamic cultural context. This research enhances current discourse in literary theory, gender studies, and cultural analysis, illuminating the significant influence of gender norms on narrative.

Keywords : Masculinity, Gender Norms, Novel, Male Characters, Narrative Structure, Character Development, Literary Forms, Gender Studies, Cultural Analysis, Gender Fluidity, Authorial Perspective, Masculine Archetypes, Narrative Techniques, Identity, Literature.

DOI :