In 1989, she became head of drama at Granada, where other programmes she oversaw included Jeeves and Wooster (1990-93), The Cloning of Joanna May (1992) and Maigret (1992-93). At LWT, she commissioned two literary adaptations, Jane Eyre (1997) and Tess of the D’Urbervilles (1998), as well as Wokenwell (1997). (Anthony Hayward)

Fans of Outlander will recognize familiar elements immediately: a passionate romance, gothic atmosphere, and a fiercely independent heroine. Jane Eyre even contains a subtle supernatural element: Jane and Rochester’s bond, despite being at times problematic and tragic, is tightly woven by a mysterious power–typical of gothic novels–difficult to detect, but impossible to ignore.

Jane’s unwavering emotional and moral equality in her relationships feels very modern and close to Claire’s worldview. Both women are passionate, loyal, steadfast in their beliefs, and possess an inner strength that makes them remarkable. If you empathize with Claire, you almost certainly will love Jane, one of literature’s great heroines. (Noelle Mazzoni)

Bodies of Refusal: Food, Power, and the Paradox of Female Agency

Cameron Zwierlein, Chapman University

Spring 5-2026

First Advisor: Joanna Levin

Second Advisor Lynda Hall

Third Advisor: Rei Magosaki

Abstract

This thesis examines representations of female food refusal across Wuthering Heights, Play It As It Lays, “Los Angeles,” and The Vegetarian, arguing that restrictive food behavior extends beyond individual psychology to function as a culturally embedded form of protest. Drawing on Susan Bordo’s theoretical framework, this thesis looks at the female body as a site disciplined by patriarchal norms, where the refusal of food becomes a paradoxical act that simultaneously resists and reproduces systems of control. Through the characters of Catherine, Maria, Alice, and Yeong-hye, these texts depict food refusal as a symbolic language used in contexts where conventional forms of agency are constrained or silenced.

Despite differences in historical and cultural context, these works converge in portraying anorectic behaviors as both an assertion of autonomy and an internalization of oppressive ideals surrounding femininity and control. This duality reveals the inherent contradictory nature of food refusal. It operates as a form of protest against patriarchal expectations while also enacting self-erasure. Ultimately, this thesis argues that such acts of resistance are limited in their transformative potential, as they often culminate in further alienation, exploitation, or even death. By situating these narratives within a broader cultural and theoretical context, this thesis demonstrates how female food refusal demonstrates a complex, yet ultimately unsustainable, negotiation of female identity, agency, and power.

“I’ll walk where my own nature would be leading: It vexes me to choose another guide.” The quote of the day Emily Brontë perfectly summarizes the significance of listening to your instincts and being faithful to yourself.

The author implies that there is no point to make oneself conform to the will of others, which may prove to be exhausting and uncomfortable. (Alisha Louis)

The quote comes from the poem  Stanzas (Often rebuked, yet always back returning), whose attribution to Emily Brontë is somehow controversial.