Linda, Antoinette and Mazvita: a Study of the Complex Responses of Women Characters to Violence

Violence against women takes a toll on women?s lives, their families and society in general. This study analyses the different forms of violence that women can experience. To achieve this, the study utilises Harriet Jacobs?s Incidents in the life of a slave girl, Jean Rhys?s Wide Sargasso Sea and Yvonne Vera?s Without a name. The aim is to show that women experience many forms of violence and this problem has reached pandemic proportions. By juxtaposing three women from different geographical and cultural backgrounds, the study affirms that violence against women is a universal phenomenon. Central to this study is the way in which these female characters respond to the violence that they experience. One hopes that by studying the way women respond to violence, society may come up with solutions to curbing the problem. It is also essential to establish whether these responses do help the woman or instead they further entrap her.