Opening Acts: Narrative Beginnings in Twentieth-Century Feminist Fiction (Frontiers of Narrative)

In the beginning there was . . . the beginning. And with the beginning came the power to tell a story. Few book-length studies of narrative beginnings exist, and not one takes a feminist perspective. __Opening Acts__ reveals the important role of beginnings as moments of discursive authority with power and agency that have been appropriated by writers from historically marginalized groups. Catherine Romagnolo argues for a critical awareness of how social identity plays a role in the strategic use and critical interpretation of narrative beginnings. The twentieth-century U.S. women writers whom Romagnolo studies—Edith Wharton, H.D., Toni Morrison, Julia Alvarez, and Amy Tan—have seized the power to disrupt conventional structures of authority and undermine historical master narratives of marriage, motherhood, U.S. nationhood, race, and citizenship. Using six of their novels as points of entry, Romagnolo illuminates the ways in which beginnings are potentially subversive, thereby disrupting the reinscription of hierarchically gendered and racialized conceptions of authorship and agency. In The Beginning There Was. The Beginning. And With The Beginning Came The Power To Tell A Story. Few Book-length Studies Of Narrative Beginnings Exist, And Not One Takes A Feminist Perspective. Opening Acts Reveals The Important Role Of Beginnings As Moments Of Discursive Authority With Power And Agency That Have Been Appropriated By Writers From Historically Marginalized Groups. Catherine Romagnolo Argues For A Critical Awareness Of How Social Identity Plays A Role In The Strategic Use And Critical Interpretation Of Narrative Beginnings.the Twentieth-century U.s. Women Writers Whom Romagnolo Studies--edith Wharton, H.d., Toni Morrison, Julia Alvarez, And Amy Tan--have Seized The Power To Disrupt Conventional Structures Of Authority And Undermine Historical Master Narratives Of Marriage, Motherhood, U.s. Nationhood, Race, And Citizenship. Using Six Of Their Novels As Points Of Entry, Romagnolo Illuminates The Ways In Which Beginnings Are Potentially Subversive, Thereby Disrupting The Reinscription Of Hierarchically Gendered And Racialized Conceptions Of Authorship And Agency-- Examination Of The Ways Twentieth-century Novels Deployed Formal Beginnings To Challenge And Destabilize The Masculine And Racialized Authorities Of Traditional Narrative Beginnings, Using Six Novels As Case Studies-- No Place For Her Individual Adventure: Motherhood, Marriage, And New Beginnings In Summer -- Waves Of Beginnings: The Ebb Of Heterosexual Romance In Paint It Today -- Moving In Lofty Spirals: Circularity And Narrative Beginnings In The Bluest Eye -- Circling The History Of Slavery: Multilayered Beginnings In Beloved -- Swan Feathers And Coca-cola: Authenticity And Origins In The Joy Luck Club -- Bordering Yolanda García: Recessive Origins In How The García Girls Lost Their Accents. Catherine Romagnolo. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "In the beginning there was. the beginning. And with the beginning came the power to tell a story. Few book-length studies of narrative beginnings exist, and not one takes a feminist perspective. Opening Acts reveals the important role of beginnings as moments of discursive authority with power and agency that have been appropriated by writers from historically marginalized groups. Catherine Romagnolo argues for a critical awareness of how social identity plays a role in the strategic use and critical interpretation of narrative beginnings. The twentieth-century U.S. women writers whom Romagnolo studies--Edith Wharton, H.D., Toni Morrison, Julia Alvarez, and Amy Tan--have seized the power to disrupt conventional structures of authority and undermine historical master narratives of marriage, motherhood, U.S. nationhood, race, and citizenship. Using six of their novels as points of entry, Romagnolo illuminates the ways in which beginnings are potentially subversive, thereby disrupting the reinscription of hierarchically gendered and racialized conceptions of authorship and agency"-- Provided by publisher "In the beginning there was. the beginning. And with the beginning came the power to tell a story. Few book-length studies of narrative beginnings exist, and not one takes a feminist perspective. Opening Acts reveals the important role of beginnings as moments of discursive authority with power and agency that have been appropriated by writers from historically marginalized groups. Catherine Romagnolo argues for a critical awareness of how social identity plays a role in the strategic use and critical interpretation of narrative beginnings. The twentieth-century U.S. women writers whom Romagnolo studies--Edith Wharton, H.D., Toni Morrison, Julia Alvarez, and Amy Tan--have seized the power to disrupt conventional structures of authority and undermine historical master narratives of marriage, motherhood, U.S. nationhood, race, and citizenship. Using six of their novels as points of entry, Romagnolo illuminates the ways in which beginnings are potentially subversive, thereby disrupting the reinscription of hierarchically gendered and racialized conceptions of authorship and agency"--Résumé de l'éditeur Cover 1 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Contents 8 Acknowledgments 10 Introduction 14 1 No Place for Her Individual Adventure 36 2 Waves of Beginnings 58 3 Moving in Lofty Spirals 76 4 Circling the History of Slavery 94 5 Swan Feathers and Coca-Cola 115 6 Bordering Yolanda García 136 Conclusion 156 Notes 162 Bibliography 174 Index 184