Proto-Feminism in Ancient Global Texts

Abstract

This paper was written to explore the patriarchal interpretations of ancient global texts and to uncover erroneous interpretations of the texts highlighted. Two texts were chosen, the biblical story of Deborah and Jael and the story of Shaharazad. They were both analyzed and compared. In this work the stories were scrutinized through the lens of proto-feminism and the patriarchal interpretations that have been accepted through history. The interpretation of these texts have downplayed the proto-feminist aspects of the protagonists and the patriarchal interpretations applied to these texts have subverted and portrayed women in a negative rather than a positive light. This paper explores these texts through feminist theory and dispels the myths caused by interpretations that served the interests of the dominant power structures. I exposed the fallacy of patriarchal interpretation of these texts by exploring the feminist theory-Logic of Domination-when researching this paper.