THE ROLE OF HESITATION IN K. BARNHILL'S THE GIRL WHO DRANK THE MOON: A TODOROVIAN PERSPECTIVE

This article investigates the narrative role and linguistic significance of hesitation in The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill, interpreted through the theoretical framework of Tzvetan Todorov's concept of the fantastic.According to Todorov, the fantastic is characterised by a moment of hesitation experienced by characters and readers alike when confronted with events that defy rational explanation and hover between the natural and the supernatural.In Barnhill's novel, such hesitation is experienced most intensely by the protagonist, Luna, whose magical powers become a source of internal struggle.Through a close reading of Luna's internal dialogue and speech patterns, the article demonstrates how hesitation functions as a key narrative device and a marker of the fantastic genre that maintains ambiguity and emotional tension.At the same time, the article explores how hesitation is shaped by gendered norms of communication. Drawing on Deborah Cameron's [4] work on gendered language, it argues that Luna's use of hedging phrases such as I think, Maybe and What if reflects societal expectations that girls and women speak cautiously, with modesty and self-restraint. These linguistic features are interpreted not merely as expressions of uncertainty but as culturally conditioned responses to the burden of responsibility and fear of transgression. As Luna gradually learns to control her powers and assert her identity, her hesitation evolves from a manifestation of internalised doubt into a vehicle for critical reflection and self-awareness.Ultimately, this article argues that Luna's use of hesitation is an essential window into her internal process and a more significant interplay of linguistic and gendered forces.Examining Luna's elements of speech with a gendered language lens reveals the nuance of how this hesitation acts as both an indicator of her psychological development and a reflection of societal expectations in how girls and women are supposed to communicate.The story of Luna's oscillating indecision and eventual self-acceptance highlights how language manifests in the identity-building process and the movement towards empowerment when manipulation and subjugation exist in the cultural framework.