As we move forward in the literary history of England, we find that the conceits to a modern society involve a lot of compromise in interpersonal relations. As we see the introduction of the marketplace and social mobility to a previously unprogressive societal structure, we see the individual becoming a pastiche of the various societal structures themselves. And with the splintering of societal lines away from traditional and broadly singular class boundaries such as lineage, profession, and religion, the ideologies that influence the individual can cause conflict in multiple forms. One of those forms easily seen in “Mrs. Warren’s Profession” is that of individual moral duplicity, due to a split sense of self. One of the interesting demonstrations in this play is how the two main women leads perceive each other – as they both operate with the same goals in the “marketplace” of society, since they do it from different methods they are instantly alienated from each other. I look to show in this paper how the effects of a splintered society creates this type of market-based alienation between those with the same goals of progress, and perhaps shine light into how the Victorian era ideas of progress could have a dark side that captures the society in a way that is perceived positively. When we first meet Vivie Warren, in the presence of Mr. Praed’s bumbling attempts at flattery, we instantly see that she is of a “modern” sensibility, at least for the Victorian expectation of women. When Praed expresses “excitement about meeting you ever since your magnificent achievements at Cambridge” (Shaw 1745), Vivie expresses the view that she would not do it again, as she “was better than her bargain” (1745). The achievement itself was nothin... ... middle of paper ... ...ces them outside of the normal perception of society. They both are seen as non-conventional or troublesome women, Vivie for her distance from traditional interest in romance and art, and Mrs. Warren for her moral choices in profession, and as such are treated as other from the more traditionally set men in the play, who question each woman’s value. The interesting fact of this though, is that they both look down upon each other – instead of bonding over their rejection of societal expectations in unique ways, they stigmatize each other in a imbalanced relationship, not only alienating themselves from societal norms in the process, but also from each other. Works Cited Shaw, Bernard. Mrs Warren’s Profession. 1898. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Ed. Stephen Greenblatt and M. H. Abrams. 8th ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2006. 1746-90. Print.
This essay will explore the social interactions between characters, the effects of appearance on their relationships and how this drives them to make certain decisions. This includes how the claustrophobia of their society is portrayed and its effects through form, style and literary techniques. All four texts explore the conflict between public and private selves. In Othello , Shakespeare reveals the taboo surrounding an interracial sexual relationship between a black man and a white woman during the Sixteenth Century. In Hardy’s Nineteenth Century novel Tess of the d’Urbervilles , we see the clash between sexuality, laws and codes of the time. I will compare these texts to The Franklin’s Tale and Pride and Prejudice , looking at how the rigid codes of courtly love impact on male and female behaviour within relationships and how the social and cultural attitudes and values of Regency England influence young women in their marriage choices.
The concern of this paper is the “happy ending,” typical in Women’s Fiction according to Harris (46), present in A New England Tale, in which Jane Elton sacrifices her autonomous self through marrying Mr. Lloyd. I will critique this ending by applying several of the points Harris makes, including the conflict between theme and structure, the “extended quest for autonomy” (50), and the issue of the self-willing and “socially determined self” (54); also, I will discuss the sexual and religious politics Jane faces, as well as the importance of her role as educator. Readers can understand the autonomous self to which I refer in a nineteenth-century context: this do...
Upon hearing the term, “The Victorian Woman,” it is likely that one’s mind conjures up an image of a good and virtuous woman whose life revolved around the domestic sphere of the home and family, and who demonstrated a complete devotion to impeccable etiquette as well as to a strong moral system. It is certainly true that during Victorian England the ideal female was invested in her role as a wife and a mother, and demonstrated moral stability and asexuality with an influence that acted as her family’s shield to the intrusions of industrial life. Yet despite the prevalence of such upstanding women in society, needless to say not all women lived up to such a high level of moral aptitude. Thus, we must beg the question, what became of the women who fell far short from such a standard? What became of the women who fell from this pedestal of the ideal Victorian woman, and by way of drunkenness, criminality, or misconduct became the negation of this Victorian ideal of femininity?
Throughout the plays, the reader can visualize how men dismiss women as trivial and treat them like property, even though the lifestyles they are living in are very much in contrast. The playwrights, each in their own way, are addressing the issues that have negatively impacted the identity of women in society.
...ndicates a level of justification each felt in their actions. These actions, immortalized in two of the most widely read classics of all time, even today call into question the values each society held so dear, and led the modern reader to explore what honor and traditional gendered values mean both in these societies and our own.
To sum it up both of these plays share the same broad message conveyed throughout the entire play. Which includes, women have the capabilities to do more than they show and are allowed to do. As well as the relationship men and women share is not constant, or the same, there are many different views on the relationship they share and many different variations that change as time progresses. Furthermore the rights of women also change with much time, and hard work by many women who have worked hard for their rights and future rights of all women. Some of this can lead to these two plays, giving new, bold ideas that were frightening for many during their times but helped for the push for a better tomorrow.
In the 19th Century, women had different roles and treated differently compared to today’s women in American society. In the past, men expected women to carry out the duties of a homemaker, which consisted of cleaning and cooking. In earlier years, men did not allow women to have opinions or carry on a job outside of the household. As today’s societies, women leave the house to carry on jobs that allow them to speak their minds and carry on roles that men carried out in earlier years. In the 19th Century, men stereotyped women to be insignificant, not think with their minds about issues outside of the kitchen or home. In the play Trifles, written by Susan Glaspell, the writer portrays how women in earlier years have no rights and men treat women like dirt. Trifles is based on real life events of a murder that Susan Glaspell covered during her work as a newspaper reporter in Des Moines and the play is based off of Susan Glaspell’s earlier writing, “A Jury of Her Peers”. The play is about a wife of a farmer that appears to be cold and filled with silence. After many years of the husband treating the wife terrible, the farmer’s wife snaps and murders her husband. In addition, the play portrays how men and women may stick together in same sex roles in certain situations. The men in the play are busy looking for evidence of proof to show Mrs. Wright murdered her husband. As for the women in the play, they stick together by hiding evidence to prove Mrs. Wright murdered her husband. Although men felt they were smarter than women in the earlier days, the play describes how women are expected of too much in their roles, which could cause a woman to emotionally snap, but leads to women banding together to prove that women can be...
...atherines materialistic side emerge as she aspires to be a “lady” and Heathcliffs evilness develop as he constantly dwells about how he will “pay Hindley back”, it is also through this relationship that Bronte is able to interrogate the portrayal and attitudes surrounding women and class. Debatably in A Streetcar Named Desire Williams shows aggravation for the relationship imbalance between husband and wife through Stanley and Stella’s relationship and the change of dynamic created by Blanch that causes Stanley to say things to Stella like “Since when do you give me orders?” We see that this stems from William’s personal experiences. Shakespeare, however, shows this conflicting relationship a little more light heartedly as his play ends in multiple marriages with almost everyone happy which contrasts with the other texts as audiences may see this to be unrealistic.
Within this extended essay, the subject chosen to study and formulate a question from was English Literature, in particular the portrayal of women during the 19th and 20th centuries, where the following novels 'The Great Gatsby' written by F. Scott Fitzgerald and Jane Austen's 'Pride and Prejudice' were set in and originated the basis from. The question is as follows 'How does Jane Austen and F Scott Fitzgerald portray gender inequalities in both lower and upper class relationships particularly through love and marriage within the novels 'Pride and Prejudice' and 'The Great Gatsby' from the different era's it was written in?' This particular topic was chosen reflecting the morality and social class during the two different era's and determining whether there was change in the characteristics of women as well as men and how their behaviour was depicted through the two completely different stories, as they both reflect the same ethical principles in terms of love and marriage. The two novels were chosen in particular to view their differences as well as their similarities in terms of gender inequality through love and marriage, as the different era's it was set in gives a broader view in context about how society behaved and what each author was trying to portray through their different circumstances, bringing forward a similar message in both novels.
The nineteenth century saw rapid development and reform across the whole of the country; with the Industrial Revolution transforming life in Britain. For working class women life was an endless struggle of passivity and labour; as soon as they were old enough they worked on farms, in factories or as servants to the middle classes (Lambert, 2009). For women in general, life was oppressive; constantly overshadowed by the male gender who were considered dominant leaders. In a Victorian household, the male was head of the family; his wife and children respected him and obeyed him without question. This critical analysis of two nineteenth century novels - Hard Times by Charles Dickens and Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, will discuss the representation of the two female protagonists in the context of the Victorian period and question whether they do indeed portray an endless struggle for survival and independence.
Vivie firmly rejected the norm thinking of how women should carry herself and how women were ought to be. Thus, making Vivie a radical “New Woman” herself. The New Woman typically values self-fulfillment and independence rather than the stereotypically feminine ideal of self-sacrifice; believes in legal and sexual equality; often remains single because of the difficulty of combining such equality with marriage; is more open about her
... or desires. This claustrophobic sensation daily burdens women, disabling them to reach their greatest potential. In Romeo and Juliet, this thick environment suppresses each of the three crucial women, and ultimately, it is the agent of their fate. Would Juliet's tragic death been avoided if the societal structure been changed? Would Lady Capulet had been so apathetic, withdrawn, and submissive if she was no longer bound by marriage? Or would the Nurse be so condemned every time she desired to speak her voice? Shakespeare constructs and illuminates these three distinct reactions to social oppression by portraying a determined, passionate lover, an idyllic, apathetic housewife, and a vociferous, bawdy attendant, and by doing so, he establishes that no matter what a woman does, the patriarchal society has already determined her fate in infinite, confined entrapment!
In this play, the men and women characters are separated even from their first entrance onto the stage. To the intuitive reader (or playgoer), the gender differences are immediately apparent when the men walk confidently into the room and over to the heater while the women timidly creep only through the door and stand huddled together. This separation between genders becomes more apparent when the characters proceed in investigating the murder. The men focus on means while the women focus on motive: action vs. emotion. While the men...
The "Autobiography". Abrams 1601 - 1604. Mulock, Dinah. Maria. A Woman's Thoughts About Women.
In William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night,” a unnatural love triangle unfolds as the leading heroine, Viola, disguises herself as a male to obscure her social class in society in order to find herself without being bound by her gender. While many of Shakespeare’s works elaborate on the traditional and religious understanding of marriage during the 1600s, “Twelfth Night” obscures these traditional motifs by creating a humanistic portrayal of love that blurs not only social class but gender as well. The determinism throughout the play demonstrates how nature imposes limitations on the characters through cause and affect. For the characters