Kahlil Gibran’s Feminist Perspective: Examining Women’s Empowerment and Gender Dynamics in The Broken Wings and The Prophet

• Sameena Begum

  English Lecturer, Jazan University

  Author

Abstract

Kahlil Gibran, a towering figure in Arab American literature, is renowned for his poetic explorations of love, freedom, and societal norms, which resonate across cultural and temporal boundaries. This paper investigates Gibran’s feminist perspective through a rigorous comparative analysis of The Broken Wings (1912) and The Prophet (1923), focusing on his portrayal of women’s empowerment, autonomy, and equitable gender dynamics. By examining the narrative of Selma Karami in The Broken Wings and the philosophical teachings in The Prophet, the study argues that Gibran challenges patriarchal structures while advocating for women’s agency and mutual respect in relationships. Employing feminist literary criticism and contextualized within the socio-cultural framework of early 20th-century Arab and Western societies, this research highlights Gibran’s progressive yet contextually constrained feminist vision. Through extensive textual analysis, additional quotes from the selected texts, and corroboration with scholarly interpretations, the paper underscores Gibran’s contributions to feminist discourse while critically addressing the limitations of his romanticized portrayals of women.

1. Sameena Begum, English Lecturer, Jazan University

   Sameena Begum is a Lecturer in Literature at the Department of Foreign Languages, Jazan University, Jazan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Her research interests include English literature, literary criticism, and comparative literature. She is dedicated to fostering critical literary analysis and contributing to scholarly discourse in the field of literary studies.

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