Postmodern Feminism in Nadine Gordimer’s Novel the Pickup: “Who is the enemy? Female self-image mirrored in non-conformity”

Abstract

Abstract: This paper will concentrate on showing how Postmodern Feminism is employed in Nadine Gordimer’s novel The Pickup; in an attempt to clarify how this particular use of Postmodern Feminism gave the characters in the book equal representation between male and female, exposing that both are human with prior backgrounds that affect both their actions and their reactions. They aren’t opposites nor are they alike, but each one compliments the other, and together they formulate and present Postmodern Feminism. The attitude of the main female depicted character (Julie) is no longer governed by society and man, she does not judge anyone and does not want to be judged; actions belong only to her stemming mainly from a human need to be free of judgments and constraints of social or mental mounds. As well the male depicted character (Abdu) is not portrayed as the dominating male, nor is he the ignorant Arab/ eastern man, he is also facing the contradictions and the hypocrisy of the society, and he has dreams and wants to catch them.