The Representation of a Woman as a Ghost in The Woman in Black: A Critique of Patriarchy and Gender Injustice

Abstract

This research analyzes the representation of a woman as a ghost in Susan Hill’s novel The Woman in Black (1983). By focusing on issues of patriarchy and gender injustice as the main subjects of study. This research uses a qualitative method and applies Stuart Hall’s theory of representation, supported by Simone de Beauvoir’s feminist approach. Hall’s theory is used to reveal how meanings about women, power, and oppression are constructed through language and narrative in literary texts. This research is based on the phenomenon of the predominance of female ghost characters in Gothic-horror literature. Female ghosts not only function as frightening elements but also serve as the representation of trauma, oppression, and social injustice experienced by women in patriarchal society. The object of study in this research is the character Jennet Humfrye, a woman portrayed as a ghost after experiencing various forms of marginalization, social stigma, and oppression due to patriarchal norms during the Victorian era. Getting pregnant before marriage, being ignored by her family, losing her rights as a mother, and the tragic death of her child illustrate how a social system punished her. At that time, the social system placed women in a lower position, stripping them of control over their own lives if they did not conform to traditional norms. After her death, Jennet appears as a ghost spreading terror, which in this study is represented as a form of resistance against the injustices she endured during her lifetime. This study also reveals Susan Hill’s critical position as an author. Through the use of the horror-gothic genre, Hill conveys criticism of patriarchal values and the marginalized experiences of women, particularly in the social context of the Victorian era. The representation of active and destructive female ghosts indicates a shift in perspective on women, who are no longer portrayed as passive figures, in line with the influence of second-wave feminism at the time the novel was written. Thus, The

Woman in Black can be understood not only as horror literature intended to scare readers, but also as a literary text that voices social criticism of gender inequality. The depiction of a woman as a ghost serves as a representation of trauma as well as resistance. On the other hand, the depiction of a woman as a ghost emphasizes the role of literature as a space to question and challenge power structures that oppress women.