In the 1962 novel, “A Wrinkle in Time,” Madeleine L'Engle challenges the definition of masculinity and femininity through her characters, her gender, and the roles they interprets. given to individuals throughout the plot. Initially, I noticed that L'Engle uses 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, he not only directs all of the reader's attention to Meg Murry, an ordinary girl, but gives Mrs. Murry the mind of an intellect. Meg does not fall into the feminine category as she is consumed with studying science and mathematics, rather than housework and spending money on clothes and accessories. Because of her different nature, Meg feels like an outcast and trapped in her thoughts. Meg's mother is also a character who doesn't follow what it means to be feminine because she was "a mother who was a scientist and also a beauty." She wasn't the kind of woman who listened to her partner or stayed home to do daily chores. Not to mention, since Mrs. Murry was a scientist, she also earned money, but in the 1960s, men were the only ones generating income for the family. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't 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, being the protagonist, saved the day and performed a heroic deed, while a male figure became the sidekick. It is most commonly seen in reverse when the female ran alongside the male individual. Even the author herself breaks a stereotype because she captured the idea of ​​science fiction, also known as the masculine genre. In fact, L'Engle was inspired by male authors of this exact genre. As a result, he created his own science fiction novel, but with a twist. As previously mentioned, the author also reinforced the idea of ​​gender stereotypes because even though Mrs. Murry reflected the gender code by being a scientist, she still followed the stereotype without even meaning to. This is because due to her husband's abduction she did not have a partner and during the 1960s women chose to become independent, which led to them gaining better control of themselves. In other words, even though Mrs. Murry tells her daughter, "I'm still very much in love with your father." I miss her terribly,” she, unintentionally, does not have a husband, just like many other women in this decade. The details in this novel are similar to what standard science fiction novels should contain. The only concern, however, is that the mention of feminism is extremely obvious and overcrowded. One can approve of the protagonist being a woman because this abandons the idea of ​​classic science fiction, but with Meg's mother also having a substantial role within the novel, my thoughts on how well this novel is performed diminish. She should not have been a scientist just like Meg's father as, during the 1960s, women were beginning to enter the world of paid work. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom EssayMadeleine L'Engle's novel exemplifies the idea of ​​feminism, but it has not gone in the wrong direction. He had a goal and he accomplished it exceptionally well. It challenged gender roles, but not in a way that.