GENDER REPRESENTATION AND SOCIETAL EXPECTATIONS IN HAPPY CARRIE AND ANNA KARENINA
This article explores the representation of gender in Happy Carrie and Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina, focusing on how both works reflect and challenge societal expectations of women. Through a comparative analysis, the article examines the journeys of the female protagonists, each of whom navigates the constraints of patriarchal society in distinct ways. In Happy Carrie, the protagonist’s gradual shift toward autonomy critiques the societal limitations imposed on women, offering a more hopeful trajectory toward self-realization. Conversely, Anna Karenina presents a tragic portrayal of a woman who defies traditional gender roles, leading to her social ostracism and personal downfall. Drawing on feminist literary criticism and gender theory, this article delves into the intersection of gender, class, and power in these texts, highlighting how both narratives provide critical reflections on the consequences of resisting societal norms. The study concludes by assessing the broader implications of these works in the context of gender representation in literature, inviting readers to reconsider the ways gender shapes individual identity and social expectations.