In the 1962 novel, "A Wrinkle in Time," Madeleine L'Engle questions the definition of masculinity and femininity through her characters, its gender and the roles it gave to individuals throughout the plot. Initially, I noticed that L'Engle implemented a rather generous amount of women in this novel. Compared to other science fiction novels, this is rarely the case due to the knowledge and mindset the main character is supposed to have. For example, not only does she direct the reader's entire attention to Meg Murry, an ordinary girl, but she gives Mrs. Murry the wit of an intelligence. Meg does not fit into the feminine category because she is devoted to studying science and mathematics, rather than housework and spending on clothing and accessories. Due to her different nature, Meg feels like an outcast and trapped in her thoughts. Meg's mother is also a character who does not understand what it means to be feminine because she was "a mother who was a scientist and also a beauty." She wasn't the type of woman who listened to her mate or stayed home and completed daily chores. Not to mention that Mrs. Murry being a scientist meant she was another money earner, but in the 1960s men were the only income earners for the household. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Throughout the novel, L'Engle seemed to undermine and reinforce the idea of ​​gender stereotypes. It undermined because it tended to have a female protagonist as the main focus for the reader. This is a rare sighting because Meg, as the protagonist, saved the day and took heroic action, while a male figure became her sidekick. It is more often seen in the opposite direction when the female was running alongside the male. The author herself also breaks a stereotype as she grasped the idea of ​​science fiction, also known as a male genre. In fact, L'Engle was inspired by male authors of this very genre. She then creates her own science fiction novel, but with a twist. As mentioned above, the author also reinforced the idea of ​​gender stereotypes because even though Ms. Murry reflected the gender code by being a scientist, she was still following the stereotype without even meaning to. Indeed, because of the kidnapping of her husband, she no longer had a companion and, in the 1960s, women chose to become independent, which allowed them to better control themselves. In other words, even though Mrs. Murry tells her daughter, "I'm still very much in love with your father." I miss him terribly,” she does not have a husband, unintentionally, like many other women of this decade. The details of this novel are similar to what standard science fiction novels should contain. The only concern, however, is that the hint of feminism is extremely apparent and excessive. One can approve of the protagonist being female because it abandons the idea of ​​classic science fiction, but the fact that Meg's mother also plays a significant role in the novel diminishes my thoughts on how this novel is played. She shouldn't have been a scientist like Meg's father since, in the 1960s, women were starting to enter the workforce. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Madeleine L'Engle's novel illustrates the idea of ​​feminism well, but it doesn't go in the wrong direction. She had a goal and she executed it..