Nineteenth Century Short Stories

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Recommended: Typical 19th century women's literature

Nineteenth Century Short Stories

In this essay, we will try to depict the position of women in the 19th

century through the short stories we have studied. We will be

comparing the different views and roles of women in The Unexpected by

Kate Chopin, News of the Engagement by Arnold Bennett, The Half

Brothers by Elizabeth Gaskell and Tony Kytes, the Arch-Deceiver by

Thomas Hardy.

In those days, Victorian women had to get married in order to get

taken care of by their husbands. They didn't go to school, therefore

had no education and could not get a job. If they did not get married

and their family was not rich, they would most probably end up in

squalor or prostitution

These four short stories could be divided into two main themes. In The

Unexpected and in the News of Engagement, women want changes and the

writers are trying to show that a woman can have a more important role

in a society than that of a spouse and a mother. Whereas in the

stories by Gaskell and Hardy, the authors portray typical feminin

existence, without a life of their own, devoted to their family and

entirely dependant on their husbands or fathers.

Kate Chopin and Arnold Bennett were both great admirers of Guy de

Maupassant and we can perceive that strongly in their writing. They

both dealt with the issues of woman rights and experience. The two

stories we studied from them have both a "twist-in-a-tail" ending and

make us reflect strongly on the position of women in the 19th century.

The Unexpected is a story of a man and a woman, engaged and deeply in

love. When Randall has to leave for a while, their "parting is bitter"

and the time during which Dor...

... middle of paper ...

...utiful wife afterwards but her husband

sensed she did not love him. He reproached her not being "in the same

mind that he was" when she defended Gregory. At this, she took to her

bed too early and gave birth to a son. However, she died a few days

later. William never came over his grudge against Gregory and prefers

his real son. At the end, Gregory dies saving his half-brother, an act

at which his father realizes all his sins against his stepson.

Gaskell deals wih the same theme as Thomas Hardy, however she is far

more sensible and serious. She shows what terrible consequences can a

marriage have when the woman goes into it only for financial security

for her or her children. She is convinced that love and marriage

should never be separated and the only reason they were, is the wrong

position of women in her society.

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