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Tall, thin, beautiful anorexic . Image by Rega photography The female characters' traits in Anita Brookner's novel, Hotel du Lac, allow the reader to understand how society forces women into stereotypical behaviour. Edith Hope, along with the other female guests of Hotel du Lac, exemplifies not only gendered stereotypes but also the fact that despite societal reforms women continue to be marginalised. Tall, Thin, Beautiful Anorexic Edith’s character traits and those of her fellow female guests clearly reveal the effects of environmental constraints. Hidden behind make-up and sophisticated composure, Monica, “the tall thin beauty” (66) “has what is politely referred to as an eating problem” (80). According to Bertram Cohler and Henry Grunebaum, in The Psychology of Mothers, Grandmother, and Daughters: Personality and Childcare in Three Generation Families, 1981, “a [young] woman who shows . . . hunger disturbance . . . is likely to have had a mother who could no...

Exiled to A Swiss hotel by a lake. Image by Ted Drake Anita Brookner's Booker Prize winning novel, Hotel du Lac, reveals how a woman's mental and physical space are limited so as to conform to societal norms. In Anita Brookner’s novel,   Hotel du Lac , 1993, the friends of the protagonist, Edith Hope, a romantic novelist, have exiled her to a Swiss hotel so she can reflect on her ‘misdeeds.’ Considering her apparent 'rebellious' nature, how and why does Edith fit into her new environment? Hotel du Lac Guests are Lonely Women Hotel du Lac’s “recommended” visitors (23), the majority being displaced women, only enhance the hotel’s sombre, out-of-season atmosphere. Edith’s acquaintances at the hotel deem her an appropriate guest for this micro-society, since she “will live up to [its] standards” (15). Edith fits in nicely since she meets these 'standards' through her portrayal of modesty and conformity and her “extremely correct” appearance (1...

Hotel by a lake. Image by David Martyn Hunt Anita Brookner's Booker Prize winning novel, Hotel du Lac , reveals how a female writer's lack of self stems from childhood experiences and stereotyping. In Anita Brookner’s novel, Hotel du Lac (1993), Edith Hope, a romantic novelist, resides in a Swiss hotel in preparation for her return to society. Edith seems to choose to accept her role as a diminished woman despite her achievements, an acceptance that stems from her home life as a child. Edith an Angry Immigrant’s Daughter Edith, the daughter of immigrants and even more so as a woman, has become an unconscious victim of marginalisation. She grew up as a minor within a minority – a circle enclosed within a circle. But even though displaced sociologically, Edith should have benefited from the contiguity of a female, presumably her mother. For Giuliana Giobbi, mentioned in “Blood ties: a case-Study of Mother Daughter relationships in Anita Brookner," by Sara Mai...

Hidden social pressures by the lake. Image by pilottage Anita Brookner's novel, Hotel du Lac , reveals how society limits women's mental and physical space and illustrates women's conformity to societal norms. In Anita Brookner’s novel,   Hotel du Lac , 1993, the protagonist Edith Hope, a romantic novelist, endeavours to fulfill her community’s expectations by normalising her lifestyle through marriage. When Edith transgresses socially accepted behaviour by jilting her fiancé, her cautious friends swiftly remove her to an austere, out of season, Swiss hotel. Hotel du Lac – A Woman’s Forced Exile Even in exile, inherent societal pressures almost force Edith to accept another marriage proposal, but fortunately her involuntary displacement widens her perspective and she desists. Firstly through choice of setting, this novel about a woman’s forced exile reveals how society limits women’s mental and physical space. It also illustrates how women conform to soci...

Why is the rape victim blamed? Image by DaveBleasdale The issues in Helen Benedict's book, Virgin or Vamp: How The Press Covers Sex Crime. Gender, race and class bias affect the coverage of rape still exist. Helen Benedict , a professor at the Graduate School of Journalism, Columbia University, New York, is described as " a novelist and journalist who specializes in issues of social justice ."  Her book, "Virgin or Vamp: How The Press Covers Sex Crimes," published 1992, analyses how “sex, race and class bias affect the coverage of rape” and examines press treatment of four notorious sex crimes of the 80’s. Benedict’s book, published over twenty years ago, explores media coverage issues that have improved through awareness but are still universally relevant today. Press Biased Coverage of Sex Crimes Lust doesn't motivate the assailant. Image by DaveBleasdale As an introduction, Benedict provides a history of press coverage of sex from the nineteenth century ...