Madame de Genlis e a mulher escritora no século das luzes

Abstract

This dissertation investigates female authorship in the 18th century, focusing on the sentimental novel La Femme Auteur by Madame de Genlis, originally published in 1802 and translated into Portuguese in 2021 as A Mulher Escritora (The Woman Writer). This fictional work is examined as a literary representation of female experience during the period, addressing both the challenges faced by women writers and the limitations imposed on their intellectual endeavors. The research develops a bio-bibliography of the author, contextualizing her extensive literary production, her relationship with Enlightenment thought, and her participation in the French cultural scene. By exploring the tensions between Enlightenment values and the social and cultural restrictions imposed on women, the analysis reveals how the novel, while engaging with the philosophical principles of the era, exposes the contradictions and fragility of those ideals when applied to women's roles in public and intellectual spaces. The theoretical approach combines feminist and historical perspectives, considering the conditions of female literary production, the narrative strategies employed by the author, and the impact of her work on the debate surrounding authorship and gender. Thus, the study highlights the challenges and achievements of Madame de Genlis in a society marked by profound philosophical, political, and cultural transformations, emphasizing her significance as a literary and intellectual figure during a period of ideological transition and contestation.