Women In The Victorian Era Essay

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The Victorian Era was a time in which many constitutional, political, and economic reform movements took place—leading it to also be known as the Age of Reform. Despite the advances made regarding numerous social issues, women during this time were still heavily restricted by societal standards. Women were prevented from having any real lives of their own and often existed only in relation to men. Their main role was primarily in the household, where they were expected to complete household duties, such as cooking, cleaning and childbearing. Men, on the other hand, were typically the breadwinners and controlled most of the finances—leaving women with very little opportunity to gain financial or social mobility. Henrik Ibsen was an avid supporter of women’s rights and portrayed some of the recurring social issues of the Victorian Era in his play, Hedda Gabler. In Hedda Gabler, the three main female characters— Hedda, Thea, and Miss Tesman—demonstrate the differing ways in which women dealt with their restricted role in society during this time period. The purpose of this essay will be to provide a literary analysis on women’s role in society during the Victorian Era through the viewpoints of Hedda, Thea, …show more content…

The financial insecurity that women faced during this time made it difficult for them to gain any kind of financial or social mobility unless marrying someone who was able to provide a substantial amount of wealth. Before marrying Tesman, Hedda Gabler lived a comfortable and privileged life in her father’s house. Her father’s occupation as a General provided her with a glamorous life of wealth and elite social status. Once her father died, she had no money or social status of her own—leaving her with no choice but to marry in order to gain some sort of financial security and continue living her lavish lifestyle. The following is an excerpt from the

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