Constructing a Heroine

Abstract

This thesis examines the conception of a heroine in fiction screenwriting by analyzing the work of Danish filmmaker Lars von Trier. It mainly focuses on the inscribed qualities and characteristics of his female protagonists, and interprets their instrumentality and influence over their narratives, outlining each character's social, emotional, and intellectual entanglements and utilizing their predicaments to assess their agency and empowerment within Lars von Trier's universe. It also addresses the peculiarities of what constitutes a von Trier heroine, referencing Freytag's technique of the drama, and offers a comparative approach between the heroines themselves. The thesis also concentrates on what each of these characters have to say about the state of society, and their resolve in confronting the hardships imposed upon them.