O romance policial pós-moderno: um estudo sobre violência contra a mulher e protagonismo feminino na série Millennium

Abstract

The prioritization of male protagonists has been a constant in crime fiction since its inception, exemplified by the rational and infallible detectives of the puzzle mystery as well as the cynical and violent detectives of noir fiction, both of whom possess relatively stable profiles. Across the different strands of the genre, women have typically occupied minor roles, often associated with the position of victims. However, within the context of contemporaneity and postmodernity, a process of increasing complexity in these narrative conventions can be observed, particularly in the construction of protagonists and in the representation of violence, which acquires greater critical depth. In this scenario, the space for female protagonists expands, as exemplified by the Millennium series, which constitutes the object of analysis of this study. The research aims to examine the construction of the protagonist Lisbeth Salander, particularly in the first three novels of the series created by Stieg Larsson. The objective is to investigate how the character's personality and trajectory articulate a scathing critique of gender-based violence in its various forms, while simultaneously engaging with the detective fiction tradition. Starting from the premise that the protagonist is a simultaneously transgressive and ambivalent figure, the analysis focuses on different dimensions of her characterization. These dimensions act as narrative devices that foster tension between the pursuit of women's autonomy and the hurdles imposed by social and institutional structures. The study examines transformations related to the emergence of female protagonists and the incorporation of gender-based violence as a central theme in narratives, while providing a detailed analysis of key aspects of Lisbeth Salander’s profile, such as her extralegal activities, her dissident appearance, her status under state guardianship, her active sexual life, and her difficulty forming stable emotional bonds. The research adopts a qualitative, interpretive approach, grounded primarily in postmodern studies as well as contributions from feminist criticism. The study demonstrates that the Millennium series shifts the theme of violence against women from an individual to a collective level, pointing to a broad framework that positions Larsson's protagonist as an “ex-centric” figure who occupies multiple narrative positions - such as investigator, suspect, and victim. This narrative shift, combined with the protagonist's uniqueness, transforms her trajectory into a point of convergence that highlights the historical, social, and cultural dimensions of gender-based violence, while simultaneously exposing the ambiguities and contradictions inherited from the patriarchal system itself in the pursuit of female emancipation.