Date of Award
2021
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelors
Department
Humanities
First Advisor
Zamsky, Robert
Area of Concentration
Literature
Abstract
The Manic Pixie Dream Girl trope in recent cinematic history as well as Young Adult novels of the past couple decades features a young bubbly, girl who steps in to save her depressed, lost-in-the-world male counterpart and shows him the excitement of life. This trope often borrows traits from the late-19th and early-20th century New Woman in literature, which culminates in a pseudo-profound classic-like literature that is easier to metabolize than actual classic literature. John Green is among the more known Manic Pixie Dream Girl writers and is known for his novels Looking for Alaska and Paper Towns. Common critiques of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl include her lack of agency and psychological inner workings. She generally exists to help the corresponding male character along in his journey or to learn an important lesson.
Recommended Citation
Newberg, Claire, "BETWEEN WORLDS: A DISSECTION OF THE MANIC PIXIE DREAM GIRL TROPE THROUGH THE LENS OF THE LATE-19TH AND EARLY-20TH CENTURY NEW WOMAN" (2021). Theses & ETDs. 6113.
https://digitalcommons.ncf.edu/theses_etds/6113