Negotiating Conflicts amongst Muslim Female Characters in Malay Romance Novels: A Narratological Perspective

Here's the abstract:

Twenty-first century Malay romance novels allow readers an insight into the evolutionary roles of Muslim women. This essay explores how female characters in recent publications reflect the changing roles of women in domestic and professional spaces in twenty-first century Malaysia. The overlap of tradition and modernity for Malay women is examined from a close reading of three novels. Plot and interactions exhibit how conflicts trigger character development critical to plot movement. Such analyses hope to highlight how beliefs and culture come into play as selected Malay female characters overcome conflicts that illuminate the subtleties of modern Muslim women.