Abstract
This paper examines the complex nuances of feminist narratives and their diverse interpretations through an in-depth analysis of JoJo Moyes’ novel Me Before You (2012). Within the framework of feminism, the paper questions normative gender ideals through the lens of the interconnectedness of class, culture, and identity. The paper fills a gap in the research on feminism, womanism, and related movements by analyzing them in a more contextualized way, demonstrating how sociocultural norms are imprinted on the lives of individuals. The paper summarizes how, even in the context of a familiar setting of Luisa Clark, the protagonist, sociocultural forces dictate class, gender, and caregiving expectations. Using a critical lens and sociocultural analysis, the article illustrates how family traditions and social practices strongly mediate Luisa’s decisions, needs, and self-worth. It provides a less radical tone but more pragmatic and inclusive feminism compared to much feminist rhetoric. Overall, the article advocates that more studies on feminist literature, gender stereotypes, and identity formation among cultures across the world, with a focus on intersections of gender, power, and social class, are needed. Thus, this study will offer researchers of literary criticism, feminist theory, and identity development with critical new knowledge.