Umeå University's logo

This essay analyzes gender roles and power structures in Hjalmar Söderberg's novel Doktor Glas and Åsa Nilsonne's novel Fru Gregorius. The theoretical starting point used is Yvonne Hirdman's theories and understanding of the concept of gender and the gender contract, as well as Maria Nikolajeva's scheme for "masculinity" and "femininity" in literature. These theoretical frameworks are used to analyze the normative and non-normative characteristics the characters possess. The novels have the same basic story but are written from two different perspectives. Therefore, an intertextual and comparative method has also been used. The analysis is laid out in two parts: the first about how Söderberg and Nilsonne portray power structures and the actions of the characters. This is followed by a section focusing on the woman, the family and childbirth. The conclusion of the analysis is that the characters often follow the normative gender roles, but that they sometimes go against them. After the analysis, it appears that the gender roles in the novels turn out to be more similar than different.