Feminine Resilience and Gothic Decay: A Study of Feminism, social Concerns and Moral Decline in Seth Graham Smith’s Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

Abstract

This dissertation examines the representation of feminine resilience in Seth Graham Smith’s Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, it reflects how feminist and gothic perspectives contributed to the portrayal of women. This master’s thesis investigates gothic themes and the imagery of the societal ills as well as the rules imposed by patriarchal system. Using qualitative textual analysis and feminist criticism, theories of gothic literature and various materials on social decay, this study contends that elements of the gothic like death, decay and the collapse of society mirrored the unbending social conventions and the restrictions that were handed down. Due to the analysis, this dissertation shows how fusion of gothic conventions with feminist elements redefines social norms and demonstrated women’s autonomy, agency and identity.