Station Eleven: Girl Power!

This post is the final segment of my literary criticism series of Emily St. John Mandel’s Station Eleven. We’ve already explored the concepts of the reader response and the archetypal theories of literary criticism in the past. In this last post, I will be discussing how different genders and their societal roles are portrayed in Mandel’s novel and explore their relation to the principles and ideologies of feminism.

Emily St. John Mandel, author of Station Eleven (2014);
“Emily St. John Mandel (Author of Station Eleven).” Goodreads, Goodreads, 2014, www.goodreads.com/author/show/2786093.Emily_St_John_Mandel.

Mandel being a female author, I had very specific expectations of how she would be portrayed female characters in Station Eleven. I hoped that through her writing, Mandel would reform the prevailing stereotypes attributed to women in literary works today, as well as in the past. At first, I was hugely disappointed by Mandel’s patriarchal depiction of male-female relationships. Arthur Leander, a primary character in the novel, had divorced three times without paying any repercussions for his unfaithfulness. Not only were his wives were dependant on his fame and fortune, but they were devastated to see him leave for another woman, each time younger and more beautiful than the last. Arthur’s actions suggest that women are valued according to their ephemeral attractiveness and that they are easily replaceable when they lose that allure.

A similar power discrepancy is shown between the prophet and his many wives. Eleanor, only twelve years old, was chosen to be the prophet’s fifth wife; his archer states “‘She’s the property of the prophet.’”(Mandel 286). What’s worse? The prophet believes he was appointed by God to repopulate the world after the collapse. He steals women from small villages as though they are simple objects, and treats them as mere vessels for his offspring. As well, according to Edward’s recount, the prophet was unrelenting to use violence against helpless his wife to get what he wants: “‘the prophet wanted her to stay with them… she said no, so the prophet shot her. Not to kill her… Just to cause pain.’” (Mandel 274). When it is revealed that the heinous prophet was Arthur’s son, Tyler, it sends a terrifying message to young audiences reading this novel. It suggests that the deplorable actions of the prophet can somehow be justified by his traumatic upbringing and strong religious beliefs.

Illustration of male/female gender norms;
“Jonges Yn Rokjes En ‘Jan Giet Trouwen.’” De Moanne , De Moanne , 30 Oct. 2017, www.demoanne.nl/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/shutterstock_134875040.jpg.

Luckily, Station Eleven takes on a gynocentric narrative later on in the book. Toward the end of the novel, the female characters show immense personal growth and development when they are forced to survive in the merciless post-apocalyptic world. Kirsten is an excellent example of a feminist heroine: she is noble, strong and unapologetically confident. The noticeable scar on her right cheek, her two missing teeth, and her incredible knife-throwing abilities set her apart from most young females portrayed in classic and modern literature.  Another example of a heroic female character is the clarinet. She successfully escapes after being kidnapped by the prophet and his men: “The clarinet was one of the Symphony’s best hunters. She had survived alone in the forest for three years after the collapse, and now, even with whatever poison they’d used on her, even with her wrists bound behind her back, it was possible for her to vanish noiselessly between the trees” (Mandel 293).

Finally, there is Miranda Carroll, the most unlikely, yet arguably the most inspirational hero in Station Eleven. Throughout her life, Miranda endures a life-long struggle with self-esteem, an abusive relationship with Pablo as well as a divorce with Hollywood’s Arthur Leander. At first, she is constantly put down by the men in her life, especially when it comes to her comic book project. Unable to defend her passion, Miranda is shown as an insecure and dependent individual. However, as the narrative progresses, Miranda takes back control of her life: “She saw ghosts of herself everywhere here. A twenty-three-year-old Miranda with the wrong clothes and her hair sticking up, washing her hands and peering anxiously at herself in the ladies’ room mirror; a twenty-seven-year-old recently divorced Miranda slouching across the lobby with her sunglasses in place, wishing she could disappear... Those previous versions of herself were so distant now that remembering them was almost like remembering other people, acquaintances, young women whom she’d known a long time ago, and she felt such compassion for them. ‘I regret nothing,’ she told her reflection in the ladies’ room mirror, and believed it.” (Mandel 205). Not only did Miranda find success in her career at Neptune Logistics, but she also found happiness in her comic books.

Artist print of important figures of feminist literature;
“Great Women of Literature.” NeatoShop, www.neatoshop.com/product/Great-Women-of-Literature.

Women have always had to endure unfair representation in literature. Especially in previous decades, female characters were commonly portrayed as weak and dependent, and female authors struggled to gain recognition in the industry. However, thanks to writers like Harper Lee, Margaret Atwood and J.K. Rowling, feminist literature has transformed into a powerful tool that can help inspire large-scale change in the way women are viewed in society. By including strong and independent female characters in her novel, Mandel shares her own personal outlook on feminism. In Station Eleven, she gives an eternal quality to Kirsten’s tenacity and Miranda’s resilience. Through her writing, Mandel sends a powerful message to readers regarding the potential women have to uplift the world in times of need. I encourage you to think about how societal views have shaped your identity. Does gender play a role in the way you perceive yourself?

Happy learning! ;)

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Listen to what Julia Korbik has to say about "Feminist glasses"!

“Why Feminism Still Matters: Putting on Feminist Glasses | Julia Korbik | TEDxFSUJena.” Youtube, TEDxtalks, 7 July 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gi-x-JyrRLE.