Disability and Gender in Literature: Evolving Portrayals and Societal Implications

This thesis examines the evolving portrayals of disabilities and gender in literature, analyzing transitions from classical texts such as the Old Testament and Shakespeare to modern fantasy and fairy tales. The primary research question investigates how disabilities and gender roles have been negatively portrayed over time and how these portrayals have evolved. Current scholarship by Ann Schmiesing, Rosemarie Garland-Thompson, and David T. Mitchell highlights persistent negative stereotypes that contribute to societal discrimination. However, there is a gap in comprehensive analyses spanning multiple literary periods and genres. This study fills that gap through interdisciplinary analysis using feminist literary theory, disability studies, and sociocultural analysis. Texts such as Hamlet, Richard III, The Lord of the Rings, A Song of Ice and Fire, and the Harry Potter series are explored to illustrate how historical biases persist and transform. This research is crucial for literary scholars, gender theorists, and disability studies experts, emphasizing the importance of inclusive and accurate representations in literature to combat societal prejudices and promote a more equitable understanding of disability and gender.