Feminism has become more than a buzz word in today’s digital age. From the #MeToo campaign to Oprah Winfrey’s Time’s Up speech at the Golden Globes to Swara Bhaskar’s vagina rant against Padmavat, all have tickets to join this relevant bandwagon of feminism.

But the fight by women against authority for equality is not a new one. If books are a testimony of time, then these novels show that this battle is an old one, and threads its way from classical literature to contemporary work.

Elizabeth Bennet

Image Credit: PrideAndPrejudice

The most memorable character from the most romantic novel, Jane Austen’s ‘Pride and Prejudice’ is known for her free will and independent thought. When bullied by Darcy’s aunt in the climax, she does not mince her words, and bravely speaks her mind. She also does not accept Darcy till he apologises for insulting her family and background. And when they both eventually come together, it is a match of equal minds.

Jo March

Image Credit: LittleWomen

Louis May Alcott’s ‘Little Women’ is an inspiration for all cliques of girls. Josephine March, a tomboy as a teen, aspires to become a writer, and is a misfit for the accepted domestic life of the times. She weaves her way through the ups and downs of her domestic life, and ultimately is surprised to find her goals fulfilled unexpectedly.

Bridges of Madison County

Image Credit: BridgesofMadisonCounty

Robert Waller’s 1992 novel depicted the story of an Italian-American war bride, who breaks the shackles of her domestic life, and engages in an affair with a visiting photographer when her husband is away. Though, in no way endorsing extra-marital affair, the novel explores the aspirations and hopes of a simple wife, who is bound by routine, and seeks to find her own adventure with real love.

Alice in Wonderland

Image Credit: AliceInWonderland

Lewis Carrol created a fictional world with a mad-hatter and hurried rabbit, but he also created a brave heroine in Alice. The young girl fights the homely role expected of her, and is inspired to do 6 impossible things before breakfast. With many layers and interpretation, this story is also one of fighting convention to achieve your dreams. And believing that all greatness comes with questioning rules.

Hermione Granger

Image Credit: HarryPotter

One of the three most popular friends of this generation, Hermione is a feminist from the word go. J K Rowling has shown her as the most brilliant witch of her times. She displays wit and presence of mind. While everyone is scared of him, she hits Draco Malfoy. Even when nobody supports her, she takes up the cause of the weak house elves.

Rahima

Image Credit: powerhoousearena

Nadia Hashmi has created one of the strongest feminist characters in her book ‘The Pearl That Broke Its Shell’. Rahima is turned into a boy by the tradition of bacha-posh by her family for safety in the war torn post-Taliban Afganistan. At puberty, she is forced to marry a warlord, and bound by his tyranny in a patriarchal society. She sneaks around to learn English and computer in the hope of an opportunity to improve her life.

Leela Ghosh

Image Credit: youtube

The lead in Anjali Joseph’s ‘Another Country’ is a modern conflicted middle-class millennial, who explores with questions of identity and love in Paris, London and Bombay. Whenever things push her into a comfort zone, she manages to find trouble again as she cannot settle for less than her actualised self.

While the real world is not too short of real heroines who win their battles everyday, these fictional characters are great inspirations to fight the cause of feminism against brutal men in power.

Read Also: Man’s Guide To Know The Difference Between Feminism And Feminazi

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