FEMININITY AND MASCULINITY PORTRAYED BY THE MAIN FEMALE CHARACTER IN THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS: CITY OF BONES (2007) NOVEL

Abstract

Gender is cultural concept constructed by society to define man and
 woman. This study aims to analyze gender performance in Cassandra Clare’s The
 Mortal Instruments: City of Bones. The writer expects to see the portrayal of
 femininity and masculinity through the main female character in the novel and her
 negotiation toward the society. Clary Fray as the main female protagonist in this
 novel is a teenage girl determined to search her missing mother. She is portrayed
 as feminine-masculine character through her performance by joining
 Shadowhunters. It is a community which has duty to maintain the Shadow World.
 They are human with an extraordinary power of angel. Thus, this study uses
 qualitative method and the theory of gender performativity by Judith Butler as a
 framework. Based on the analysis, the writer found that Clary Fray learns to
 behave in a certain way to be accepted by the society. She learns it from her
 mother, Jocelyn, and Isabelle. Thus, she imitates both of them to attain the certain
 ideal of beauty.