Don’t we all live in two worlds! One is a monotonous world of less eccentric characters, going to work and dealing with life. The other is the world of books and movies, that gives us the strength and inspiration to lead our normal lives.
We forget that female representation in art and their messages have always stood out and taught us what it means to be a woman today. The greatest works of art are the ones where strong and empowered female characters give life to the fictional stories of literature and film. We are talking about the women who are the centre of all the action; they take risks, save lives, are outspoken feminists and inspire generations of audiences.
From classics that we read as children to contemporary books and movies, there are tales of some great and unapologetic badass women out there. These stories of influential female characters and the way they lead their lives have stood the test of time and will continue to inspire and empower us and will always be celebrated.
Read ahead for our checklist of the 6 most inspiring and empowering fictional women of all time.
Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice
“My courage always rises with every attempt to intimidate me.”
This list would definitely be incomplete without the utterly unparalleled Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice. She is by far the most delightful character in print of all time. As the second daughter of the Bennet family, she was meant to take a backseat to all her other sisters. But this woman shows us that she is essentially the ultimate example of literary heroine to women everywhere. She comes across as a very different character from the stereotypical women, you would think of the ladies of the time. Women of that era often seem as passive and quiet, but Lizzie definitely proved that this is not the case and gave them a voice. She is outspoken and says what’s on her mind, and doesn’t care about status or let others’ biases bring her down. With her spirited wit and amazing sense, she is a complete supremely admirable and an unfailingly attractive character.
There a reason the unbridled affection of Elizabeth Bennet will never die! Mostly it is her pride in books.
Jane Eyre from Jane Eyre
“I care for myself. The more solitary, the more friendless, the more unsustained I am, the more I will respect myself.”
If there’s anyone who knows, how to tell her own story, it is Jane Eyre. Charlotte Bronte’s novel is eloquently written, amazingly progressive, and is a wonderful love story all in one. The novel was unprecedented at the time, as it was told from the first-person perspective of a sassy female storyteller. Jane is a woman who values freedom and independence and takes care of herself, and despite social convention, she refuses to get married for any reason other than love. She always made sure she worked hard and had a stable job so she wouldn’t need to rely on anybody else for money and stability.
This lady seeks individualism and equality with, men in a society dominated by men. A hero to all women, she showed us as to how a woman can take control and live her life on her own terms with her free spirit and feminist attitude.
Bridget Jones from Bridget Jones’ Diary
“That’s not a good enough offer for me”
Being a reinterpretation of Pride and Prejudice, Bridget Jones’s Diary is an essential look at modern relationships and all the perils that come with being a 20 to 30 something woman and aspiring everything. She is one of those characters, you wish would be your sister or Best friend. A tale about love, heartbreaks and ups and downs in life, it shows women’s empowerment and freedom of postfeminism.
Bridget Jones resonates to any millennial woman, who wears her heart on her sleeve, is confident and goes through life with fumbling ways.
Hermione Granger from The Harry Potter Series
“I’m hoping to do some good in the world!”
She is the brightest of all and every single time, she wins everything. Hermione shows us that it’s ok to be motivated and curious and at the top of our game, which as women we sometimes forget. She also teaches us that being brave and caring about our friendships are one of the most important things to focus on. A woman who is everything we all aspire to be, she also remains relevant through the years.
She speaks up for those who can’t and amazes us with her strength, wisdom, and loyalty. In the world of magic, she is the perfect feminists Icon, and of the best things according to us in the Harry Potter series.
Lisbeth Salander from The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
“If you touch me I’ll more than alarm you.”
With an attitude towards the rest of the world is that if someone threatens her with a gun, she’ll get a bigger gun, Lisbeth Salander is a fiercely unconventional protagonist, a rebel with a cause and one who consequently fights back whenever she sees injustice. A controversial heroine for sure, but definitely a wild feminist, crusading for women’s empowerment. Salander portrays a resourceful and resilient character, retaliating injustices following her own moral compass.
What’s notable and utterly impressive is that Salander is not a victim, but fearfully inspiring. She takes revenge and seeks payback and justice. Even though she spent her life completely manipulated and controlled, she stands her ground.
Beatrice from Much Ado About Nothing
“Then there was a star danced and under that was I born.”
While most of the female characters in Shakespearean novels are strong and influential, Beatrice is probably on the most inspiring and interesting ladies. She is witty, comical, intelligent and a sassy lady and that’s one of the main reasons she is loved by all. She gives us a delightful lesson in love and life. and makes us feel joyfully liberated. She’s an unusual woman, who despite craving a loving relationship she is positive that she is equal to a man and her main desire is independence.
Shakespear does a great job to move across gender lines and even though in the Beatrice changes her opinion about love and marriage, she does not change who she really is.
If you have missed out these wonderful stories, do yourself a favour and submerge yourself in these worlds. We promise it will be worth your while!
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