Humor In Dorothy Parker's Short Stories

Dorothy Parker(1893-1967),one of the most beloved humorists and writers in the twentieth century,is best known for her caustic wit and humorous satire.In her works,she shows a deep concern for women and is courageous to employ humor to disclose gendered norms still designated for women immediately after American women won suffrage in 1920.She is adept at utilizing various humorous techniques,which perform an important role in characterization and thematic expression in her short stories.This thesis attempts to probe into the humor strategies embedded in Dorothy Parker's most anthologized short stories and the thematic effects they contribute to the stories.To strengthen our understanding of Dorothy Parker's realism,this thesis will also conduct a comparative study of the flapper image prevailing in the 1920 s and the female characters in Dorothy Parker's short stories so as to disclose women's true dilemmas at that time.In criticizing and rebelling against the patriarchal system,Dorothy Parker mainly adopts two strategies in her short stories.The first strategy is the delineation of passive female characters.By employing humor,Dorothy Parker has portrayed many passive and ridiculous female characters in her stories.Through presenting vulnerable and funny behaviors of these women characters,she criticizes both traditional and new gender roles that women are urged to perform that cause their suffering and absurdity.The second strategy is the portrayal of rebellious female characters.Through other humorous devices,Dorothy Parker has also created a great number of rebellious women who dare to revolt against the patriarchal society in a positive way.They demonstrate their rebellious spirit either by overtly ceasing to perform the domestic housewife role anymore or inwardly using their humor and intelligence to attack their male partners and the patriarchal society as well.The flapper image prevailing in the 1920 s and 1930 s,periods which most of Dorothy Parker's short stories are set in,is alleged to be the epitome of feminine liberty and autonomy.However,there is a sharp discrepancy between the flapper image and the female characters in Dorothy Parker's short stories.Through a comparative study of them,the fancy trimming that women have achieved emancipation is crushed as it reveals that women still occupy an inferior position in their relationship with men.All in all,humor helps Dorothy Parker demonstrate her outrage at the failure of progress towards gender equality.Humor also serves as a strategy for her to seek protection and solace in the patriarchal society.In the end,this thesis draws the conclusion that in spite of women's obtainment of suffrage in 1920 and the improvement of their social,political and economic status,women still occupy a subordinate position and can't cast off the shackles of the patriarchal system thoroughly.There is still a long way to struggle before the arrival of true gender equality.