Women by Women

This collection of essays explores how female characters have been developed by women writers in Quebec since 1980; overall, women characters are depicted as being in opposition to accepted repressive societal norms. Many of the female characters are portrayed as writers, a recurring theme, perhaps as alter egos or projections of the actual novelists and dramatists. Some of the authors treat writing as a healing return to origins; some address the extent to which women have traditionally been excluded from linguistic and artistic expression. In this light, writing one's own history constitutes a crucial, courageous step for women who refuse to be silenced. While some of the featured works seem dark and pessimistic, they express, collectively, a certain hope for a brighter, more egalitarian future. This anthology brings together cogent critical studies in a way that identifies and illuminates trends among Quebec's contemporary women writers.