Over the progression of years it is evident to see the way the role of women indeed did change through text. Starting with Cotton Mather, women were, as we have discussed, seen as fallen and evil if they were to go against the so called norms of society within those days.
In comparison with the Panther Narrative the woman runs away from home. In past texts this would have been portrayed has a fallen woman who was going against moral instruction and religious duty probably.
Yet, this woman, has gone from a woman running around with lewd men in the night and participating in promiscuous behavior to kind of like a G.I. Jane type hero. The Panther narrative gives her more of a voice and like they said, it was an adventure. Rather than the story being so focused on what the woman might have done wrong, it focuses more on her journey and what happened to her.
The conception of American audience has changed greatly by the way the texts are now written. In Mather, his writing was more of instruction and guidance of what one should do because that is how society was within that time period. Now, we can see how it has shifted to more of a fantasy and desiring romance within the Panther narrative.
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Stephanie,
I enjoyed reading your explanation of the progression of the "fallen" woman in literature. In the infanticides, woman were strongly judged for their actions, I thought it was interesting how you stated that the Panther Narrative was written as an adventure rather than as a lecture and warning for other women. It is definitely a change from the previous texts.
I also liked how you pointed out the difference in the character herself. In earlier texts the women were portrayed as fair and dainty, here the woman is strong and resourceful. (Or like how you said, “G.I. Jane”).
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