From Victim to Victor: The Friendship Plot in Contemporary Women's Novels

This dissertation argues that three contemporary North American women writers namely, Margaret Atwood, Louise Erdrich and Amy Tan authored novels that reflect current feminist thinking in which the female protagonists complete both a spiritual and social quest that eventually ends with the female protagonist still adhering to ties with friends, family, and community. This friendship plot differs sharply from what has now been termed the feminine quest plot of woman-authored novels in which the female protagonist completes a spiritual quest and discovers her identity but is unable to complete a social quest and fit into society. In the traditional feminine quest plot, the protagonist's new identity is often at odds with society. Therefore, she must “light out” for new territories alone. In the friendship plot, the feminine quest is transformed to include the completion of the social quest as well. The women find new powerful identities in which they refuse to be victims and empower themselves to become victors over their circumstances. This allows the protagonist to sustain lasting relationships with both men and women.