The Medusa Gaze in Contemporary Women’s Fiction: Petrifying, Maternal and Redemptive

Abstract

This article analyzes Gillian Alban's exploration of the Medusa myth in contemporary women's fiction, focusing on the transformative power of the female gaze. The paper argues that Alban shifts from traditional interpretations of patriarchal objectification to demonstrate how women wield their own objectifying gaze. This study examines Alban's use of Lacanian and Sartrean theories of the gaze, extending its application to mother-daughter relationships and maternal force. The author contends that Alban skillfully avoids Freudian castration complexes, instead emphasizing generational bonds among women. The article demonstrates how Alban's Medusa Gaze Schema illustrates the interplay between power and nurture as a response to destruction and powerlessness. Key findings include the dual function of the gaze in identity formation and destructive potential, with examples from works by Plath, Morrison, Roberts, Byatt, Atwood, Carter, Murdoch, and Rhys.

(The abstract and keywords were prepared retrospectively for indexing purposes using AI-assisted tools and editorial review, based on the original article. They did not appear in the original publication.)