"The Woman Question"

The "woman question" was not born when Eve ate the apple; no, it all began when Eve was created-second. God can't be at fault for the "woman question"; after all, men wrote the bible. A man wrote a story about creation: Man is born first and is given life by the Almighty. Woman is born second and is given life by the Almighty and from the rib of the first man. Hence, woman could not have existed without man. The shortcomings of females began early on and have persisted throughout the history of this world even into present day. The subordinate status of woman is based primarily on her supposed inferior intellect; because woman is less intelligent than man is, she should be submissive to and dependent on the superior gender. Additionally, a woman should have attributes that are considered to be feminine: "tenderness of understanding, unwordliness and innocence, domestic affection, and, in various degrees, submissiveness." 1(1719). Women and men alike of England began to question gender-specific roles during the 19th century. Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Alfred Lord Tennyson and Robert Browning were prominent author

Desperately questioning the complacent behavior of women, Aurora is asking why a woman should have to destroy her body to serve a man. Aurora does not subscribe to the idea of a complacent woman. Her complete rejection of Victorian ideals is evident when she turns down her cousin's marriage proposal. She reasons to him, "You have a wife already whom you love, / Your social theory...I am scarcely meek enough/ To be the handmaid of a lawful spouse." Leigh refuses to marry Romney because she knows that he isn't in love with her, but rather with an ideal woman; Leigh knows she is not and never can be the Victorian ideal. Evident in Aurora's unhappiness in England, her opinion of her "caged bird" aunt, and her rejection of Romney are Elizabeth Barrett Browning's convictions on woman's place in society. Through use of persona, Browning fully embodies the pre-feminist movement.

The works of women are symbolical.

Through dramatic monologue in his "My Last Duchess", Robert Browning reveals the value that a man's world places on women by creating a character who objectifies women. During a marriage negotiation, the speaker is showing off a portrait of his late wife to the marriage broker. The marriage negotiation itself is insight into what these men and society thought of the value of women. The simple idea that a woman can be "bought" objectifies and dehumanizes her. The speaker tries to lead the audience to believe that the Duchess was promiscuous by claiming "She had/ A heart - how shall I say? Too soon made glad, / Too easily impressed" (1353). His intent is to invoke sympathy for himself. However, the Duchess was not so impressed by him as to treat him specially. The Duke becomes jealous and reveals this when he tells the broker, "She thanked men...as if she ranked/ My gift of a nine-hundred-years old name/ With anybody's gift" (1353). In this passage, the Duke reveals his true nature, for if the Duchess really was "too easily impressed", then she would be in awe of his nobility and status. Sympathy now shifts to the Duchess. It is really the Duke who is caught up in a material world. Possessions are all important to him. He reveals his lust for possessions when speaking to the marriage broker: "His fair daughter's self, as I avowed/ At starting is my object" (1353). He blatantly states that he perceives a woman only as an object and a possession. The speaker further reveals his objectification of women as the poem progresses, for he finds it more and more difficult to distinguish between the portrait and his late wife. He announces to the broker, "There she stands/ As if alive" (1353). It does not matter to the Duke whether the Duchess can speak or think, so she is the ideal woman as a portrait. Not only can he admire just her beauty, but also he can be assured that she won't be giving her attention to other men. Robert Browning is clearly portraying Victorian England's attitude on women through his persona. However, the death of th

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Approximate Word count = 2011
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)