We all love a good book. And we all love a good book that has a strong female protagonist. Why? Because women are strong, and women can relate to strong female characters, or at least aspire to be like them. In literature, amongst other mediums, we don’t see female leads all too often. So when we come across a strong, powerful leading lady, we just have to take note of it. Here are some of the best female protagonists in literature – some classic, some modern – who have some serious girl power.
- Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine: The movie we all know and love was actually a book before it was a movie. It features Ella, a girl “gifted” with obedience. The book follows her adventures in trying to save her friends and herself all while dealing with her gift. 1) She’s a kick-butt girl, and definitely makes our strong female protagonist list.
- The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne: You probably had to read this in high school, and you may have even dreaded it. But the main character in this story, Hester Prynne, is an awesome woman! Condemned because she is an adulteress, Hester is branded with a scarlet 1) “A” on all of her clothing. She shows incredible strength though her community has shunned her, and she even gets a little sassy. Totally worth a read (or re-read!)
- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë: Definitely a classic, Jane Eyre follows the story of Jane, a plain girl, and her work as a governess, and exploration in love, morality, and class systems among other topics. She’s incredibly strong and she’s a feminist.
- The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood: Another one you probably had to read in high school. This novel tells the story about a futuristic community of women who are ruled by a military dictatorship. Forced to complete tasks and do certain jobs, many of which are humiliating, The Handmaid’s Tale follows the journey out of this community, what it’s like for women inside these walls, and how some women choose to disobey the rules to keep their sanity.
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins: No list of strong female characters could be complete without the mention of Katniss Everdeen. A girl who faces the harsh realities of her community while struggling to help her family as well as keep her own life definitely makes for an interesting story. And let’s face it, we all want to be Katniss.
Strong female characters are not that easy to come by, but extremely important. Many of the women listed above broke societal boundaries, especially for their time periods, and made a huge impact on how people viewed women. In addition, powerful women in novels inspire us to be just as strong and determined in real life. So grab your favorite book from this list, curl up with some hot cocoa, and get inspired, collegiettes!