A gender‑stereotyped representation of Marie in Jean‑Philippe Toussaint’s tetralogy M. M. M. M. (2017)

Abstract

This article examines the portrait of Marie in Toussaint (M.M.M.M., ed. de Minuit, Paris, 2017) and asks how Marie is represented as a woman in the tetralogy. The study shows that although Marie is portrayed as a modern, independent woman, she is also presented with diferent gender-stereotyped characteristics. The theoretical and methodological approach to this topic will be based on Simone de Beauvoir’s The second sex (1949), in particular the chapter “Myths” that focuses on women and myths in a historical perspective. Another question the article raises is what may be the author’s intention by playing with stereotyped characteristics. I will argue that the author exposes a modern woman’s ambivalent situation in our patriarchal society. Furthermore, that he writes within a literary tradition that gives a stereotyped representation of women as part of the collective myths.