Mata Hari as a New Woman in Paul Coelho’s Novel The Spy: Magnifying Hari’s Subjugation Through A Feminist Lens

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the character of Mata Hari as a new woman, who goes
to any extent to safeguard her desires and to materialize her dreams in a
patriarchal society, where she is systematically kept oppressed and is at last
executed. However, she strongly resists discrimination and oppression by
demonstrating the traits of a new woman. This study analyzes. Hari’s character
from a feminist perspective and magnifies her strong resistance against
subjugation. The study uses textual analysis via a qualitative method to explore
the newness in Mata Hari’s character. The finding reveals Mata Hari in The Spy
is an unusual, powerful, courageous, sensational, free-sighted, and independent
woman who dares to defy the conventions of her times. She is not presented as a
dependent, weak, and passive woman, as women used to be in her time. She is
found as a woman of great charisma and an influential feminine figure.