The Construction of the Woman in Karkavitsas’ Η Λυγερή

Abstract

In 1896, Andreas Karkavitsas published the novel Η Λυγερή, the Slender Girl1, a vivid account of young Anthi’s subjection to an arranged marriage, planned to secure her father’s business future rather than her personal happiness. Her predicament is inter - twined with the ways of the village, according to which a young woman has to be virtuous, obey her father’s will and accept the husband chosen for her. Anthis’ marriage to Nikolaos Pikopoulos, the middle aged, ugly, greedy, employee-turned-business partner
of her father’s, is juxtaposed to her furtive romantic affair with Yorgis Vranas, a handsome young cart driver who is honest and hard-working but rather demanding in his ways and certainly inferior to her in social and economic terms.