GENDER, POWER, AND HISTORICAL ANXIETY IN ANNA BURNS’ MILKMAN: A NEW HISTORICIST PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

This article examines Milkman by Anna Burns through the lens of New Historicism, a theory developed by Stephen Greenblatt. Set during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the novel shows how political violence affects ordinary people in their daily lives. Instead of focusing only on major political events, Burns highlights how fear, suspicion, and social pressure shape personal experiences. The unnamed narrator, Middle Sister, represents how historical conflict enters private life through community surveillance, gossip, and gender expectations. By analyzing themes such as power, fear, and social control, this paper argues that Milkman reflects the cultural and historical tensions of the Troubles. The novel demonstrates that history is not just something that happens in public spaces, but something that deeply influences individual thoughts, emotions, and everyday actions.