A CONCEPTUAL, LINGUOCULTURAL, AND PRAGMATIC INTERPRETATION OF THE FEMALE IMAGE IN WESTERN LITERATURE THROUGH THE WORKS OF MARGARET DRABBLE

Abstract

This article examines the conceptual, linguocultural, and pragmatic interpretation of the female image in Western literature through the prose of Margaret Drabble. Drawing upon interdisciplinary approaches from cognitive linguistics, feminist literary criticism, discourse analysis, and linguocultural studies, the research investigates how female identity and subjectivity are linguistically and artistically constructed in Drabble’s novels. Particular attention is devoted to the interaction between conceptual metaphors, narrative discourse, psychological introspection, and sociocultural representation in shaping female consciousness. The study demonstrates that Drabble’s female characters embody complex intellectual, emotional, and social experiences that challenge stereotypical representations of women in traditional literary discourse. Through conceptual and pragmatic analysis of selected textual examples from The Waterfall, The Millstone, The Realms of Gold, and The Gates of Ivory, the article reveals how linguistic structures and narrative strategies contribute to the representation of female agency, emotional conflict, and gender identity. The findings indicate that Drabble’s prose reflects broader transformations in Western cultural attitudes toward femininity, individuality, and social autonomy. The article contributes to contemporary literary linguistics and comparative literary studies by proposing an integrated model for analyzing female representation at the intersection of language, cognition, culture, and discourse