„Árva” leányok: Az apa hiányának megjelenése Vörösmarty Mihály nőalakjainál

The absence of paternal protection shapes the emotional vulnerability and personality development of female characters in Vörösmarty Mihály’s works. In his epic poetry, an elderly father and a daughter in need of protection form a recurring pairing, which Zentai Mária traces to folktales and chivalric romances. Her research suggests that these female characters, unlike their male counterparts rooted in the epic tradition, should be examined in terms of their narrative functions in fairy tales. In Vörösmarty’s later works, the figure of the elderly or unmentioned father persists: his daughter, who symbolically remains in need of protection, is rescued by a hero who also causes harm. Without a protective father or hero, these female characters are compelled to develop their own defences. This process is difficult, as some of Vörösmarty’s apparent heroes also cause psychological harm, including the hunter in Fair Ilonka and even Csongor. The female characters must therefore undergo a long and painful process of developing psychological defences before they can find a suitable partner. This article examines how paternal neglect or absence shapes the personality development of Vörösmarty’s female characters and explores their paths towards psychological maturity.