Postcolonial Empowerment and Resilience: Female Protagonists in Groff’s Matrix (2021) and Azar’s Greengage Tree (2020)

Abstract

This study examines Lauren Groff’s Matrix (2021) and Shokoofeh Azar’s The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree (2020) through the lens of Postcolonial Theory, focusing on themes of empowerment, resilience, and self-discovery within distinct historical and cultural settings. The main question addresses how these novels portray power dynamics, identity, representation, and resistance. The aim is to uncover how each protagonist—Marie de France in medieval Europe and Bahar in post-revolutionary Iran—navigates and challenges their respective social structures. Key findings reveal that Matrix delves into the power struggles within the Catholic Church and its colonial ambitions, while The Enlightenment of the Greengage Tree explores the impact of Western influence on Iranian society. The significance of this study lies in its contribution to understanding the complexities of female agency in different cultural contexts. Recommendations include further research on similar themes in contemporary literature.