Finding the Self Within: Feminist Perspectives on Home and Identity in Little Fires Everywhere

Abstract

This study explores the emotional and social challenges that affect female self-actualization within the domestic sphere and examines the ways in which women resist and redefine traditional roles in order to claim their identity. The problem lies in socially constructed gender expectations that associate female fulfilment with domestic order, often limiting women’s autonomy and personal growth. This qualitative research is grounded in Sara Ahmed’s feminist theory, particularly her ideas of the feminist killjoy, wilfulness, and institutional walls. Through a close textual analysis of Celeste Ng’s novel Little Fires Everywhere (2017), the study reveals how female characters navigate the demands of motherhood, conformity, and emotional labour within a suburban setting. The novel presents a contrast between two women, Elena Richardson and Mia Warren, who follow different paths in search of meaning and selfhood. As the narrative unfolds, acts of quiet resistance and emotional honesty emerge as key to self-actualization. The findings show that personal transformation becomes possible when women question dominant norms and create space for emotional truth. This study contributes to feminist literary discourse by reimagining the home as a space of both conflict and possibility in the journey toward self-actualization.