GESCHLECHTSSPEZIFISCHE MACHTVERHÄLTNISSE IM ROMAN DIE BAGAGE VON MONIKA HELFER
GENDER-SPECIFIC POWER RELATIONS IN MONIKA HELFER’S LAST HOUSE BEFORE THE MOUNTAIN

Summary/Abstract: The portrayal of gender-specific power relations in Monika Helfer’s Last House Before the Mountain (German: Die Bagage, lit. 'the baggage' or 'the rabble') emerges through the interplay of narrative structure and social norms. This article explores how patriarchal structures in rural Austria during World War I shape women’s lives, particularly Maria’s. Repetitive routines, spatial restrictions, and community surveillance limit female agency, while men enjoy mobility and decision-making power. The narrative perspective reveals how memory and interpretation are influenced by gender. Social judgment, gossip, and silence reinforce inequality. The study highlights the importance of linking literary analysis with gender theory to show how storytelling both perpetuates and challenges traditional gender roles.

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