Social Mask and Inner Collapse: Women’s Condition in Liviu Rebreanu’s Jar
Social Mask and Inner Collapse: Women’s Condition in Liviu Rebreanu’s Jar

Summary/Abstract: Caught between tradition and innovation, Romanian writers of the interwar period crafted complex female characters, notable especially for their ways of relating to social reality. Whether rebellious or resigned, more or less capable of breaking free from the constraints of patriarchy, these characters often astonish readers through unsettling actions that defy the expected patterns of supposed docility. This article aims to analyse the case of Liana Rosmarin from Liviu Rebreanu’s novel Jar, a character caught between social constraints and her own overwhelming emotions. Through this literary portrayal of femininity, Liviu Rebreanu suggests the impossibility of achieving complete individual happiness within a restrictive society. Liana epitomizes the condition of women dominated by patriarchy, where individual desires must be sacrificed to align with social norms. Yet, the heroine subtly rebels against this universe, seeking an idealized love, only to ultimately resort to suicide.

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