The role of the Southern Belle in Katherine Anne Porter’s Miranda Stories

Abstract

The purpose of the thesis is to explain the notion of the Southern Belle, describe the characteristic features of a Belle and Katherine Anne Porter's and her characters’ attitude toward this role. Especially, I will put a great emphasis on her autobiographical character, Miranda, because Porter often identified herself with Miranda. I will also investigate Porter's literary persona and her characters as unusual and extraordinary “modern” women.I will analyze her two novellas, Old Mortality and Pale Horse Pale Rider in point of female roles and identity, in parallel with Porter's personality and reality.