Women's Role in Society

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Recommended: the portrayal of women in 19th century literature

Woman: Individuals or Possession?

We live in an extremely patriarchal society, and the Eighteenth century and Restoration period was the point in history where this became more of a constant and authoritative reality. Woman had no rights. The only way to accomplish their goals was going in opposition to men and doing as they wanted, writing literature or behaving as prostitutes, they had no real opportunities, but doing this would mean having a hectic life. In consequence, many would just marry and continue living as objects dominated and controlled by society, a society that was subjugated and proscribed by men. Women in this period were not taken very seriously, they were just an additional possession in a man's collection.

These female figures were isolated from society due to their gender. While they were single women, they were targeted and had to behave strictly as society wanted them to. While in their houses as dependents, they were subsumed to what their fathers had to say, and after being married they were then to act as subordinate women and be willing to please their husbands at all times. The house needed to be clean, the children needed to be watched and fed and of course the women needed to be capable of doing all of the chores without ever complaining, they were expected to be the perfect domestic housewife. After married they were not seen as individuals any longer, but as a property of their husbands. His and her properties were automatically his, so in fact, she had not anything, and she did not even own herself because she belonged to her husband. Husbands were the authority and treated wife similar as slaves were treated, with no freedom of speech, no privacy, alto...

... middle of paper ...

...women are individuals posing as possessions to men's authority. Men have dominated society since there has been knowledge and still today they pose as the upper hand.

WORKS CITED AND CONSULTED

Addison and Steele.”The Aims of the Spectator”. Norton Anthology English Literature.Ed.8th. New York: W.W Norton and Company, 2006. 2473-2475.

Addison and Steele.”The Spectator’s Club”. Norton Anthology English Literature.Ed.8th. New York: W.W Norton and Company, 2006. 2470-2473

Johnson, Samuel.”Rasselas”. Norton Anthology English Literature. Ed.Steven Greenblatt Et. Al.8th. New York: W.W Norton and Company, 2006. 2680-2743

Reynolds, Bridget. "Patriarchy." Norman Rockwell. 10 Apr 2000. Ithaca College. 6 Sep 2008

"Woman in the Eighteenth Century." 27 Aug 2008. Miami University. 8 Sep 2008 {http://www.units.muohio.edu/miamimoo/images/thompsj9/wmn.html}.

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