3. Results

3.1. Stereotypes set by Simone de Beauvoir on the status of woman

We intend to determine whether there are female characters who show, in their behaviour, any of the characteristics described by Simone De Beauvoir (1949:152), such as:

Inability to be self-sufficient.

Feeling of inferiority when considering men to be better than women.

They consider that relevant victories are reserved to men.

Little self-esteem

Make the man’s wish comes first.

To be feminine is to be impotent, futile, passive and docile.

The young woman, as well as taking care of herself, suppresses her spontaneity and replaces it with the charm im-posed to her by her elders.

Erotic transcendence is to get used to become a prisoner.

3.1.1. Inability to be self-sufficient

The author quotes the word incapacity fourteen times throughout the book. It is one of the most widespread concepts to talk about the situation of women in modern patriarchal society. Sentences such as “women will be associated to heritage and therefore to the family cocoon: laws even deprive them of the guarantees that were granted to Greek women; they spend their lives between incapacity and servitude” (p. 157), are found on pages 60, 119, 142, 159, 163, 291, 440, 513, 604, 605, 679 and 786.

3.1.2. Feeling of inferiority when considering men to be better than women

On fifty-two occasions, Simone de Beauvoir makes a quick quote in her book of this condition of inflicted inferiority. She mentions this reference in sentences like “if we want to try to see clearly, we have to open our eyes; reject vague notions of superiority, inferiority and equality that have falsified all discussions and we have to start from scratch (p. 61)”. The following quotations are found on the pages: 60, 61, 97, 104, 106, Ibid., 107, 119, 142, 160, 163, 184, ibid., 213, 215, 220, 261, 376, 401, 402, 414, 421, 432, 434, 438, 440, 491, 494, 505, ibid., 518, 526, 536, 537, 673, 679, 680, 728-729 , 781, ibid., 856, 858, 866, 869,870, 872, 872, 877, 888, 897, 899, 901.

3.1.3. They consider that relevant victories are reserved to men

The author makes nine references to this matter, in quotes such as “they welcome their triumphs with parties and celebrations; therefore, man recognizes his humanity (p. 128) and on pages 139, 440, 477, 590-591, 697, Ibid., 764, 857.