Role of Women in 19th Lit

A detailed Summary of Role of Women in 19th Lit

In the 19th century, the vast majority of women had very limited freedom. They were, in most respects, property of their husbands or fathers, and had very little choice in the direction of their life. Perhaps because women's roles were so restricted, romance novels were one of the most popular ways for women to escape the drudgery of their pre-set life. However, in the novels of the time, in works such as Jane Eyre, Madame Bovary, and La Bete Humaine, seeking romance was shown to have nothing but negative consequences. It is important to remember the prevailing attitudes and social codes of the time when analyzing the role of women and romance in 19th century novels. Women were by and large portrayed as the domestic ideal, because that's what was expected of them in society. This domestic ideal consisted largely of the ideas of selflessness and sympathy, a sort of "angel of the house" mentality that placed women in roles that discouraged discourse and intellectual endeavor. What is left, then, but the world of romance? Yet this romantic world is impossible precisely because of the role of women. Being entirely dependent on men, the course of action is limited.

"Little by little, these fears of Rodolphe's took hold of her. Love had intoxicated her at first, she had had no thought of anything beyond it. But, now that her life depended on him, she dreaded losing the least part of his love, or even merely upsetting him (133)."

Later, inevitably, ennui sets in. This is the trap that Emma sets for herself in her search for romance in a world that cannot possibly keep giving it to her, because this world of romance and passion can only be satiated by something new and exotic that will entertain the senses. We see Emma sink into fits of the deepest depression when her lavish spending becomes impossible and her new lovers deny her or become lackluster, which is another example of how a woman searching for passion in a world controlled by men leaves her at their mercy.

Similarly, women's forced reliance on men leaves them exposed to men's will. Although the sentiment of the time is that women should be revered and be put on a pedestal for their selflessness and sympathy, this reliance leaves them open to victimization and violence should the men desire. Consider the lead woman character Severine in Emile Zola's La Bete Humaine.

Another important difference between Jane and Emma and Severine is that Jane embodies the domestic ideal of selflessness and sympathy. She recognizes these ideals as a virtue; she is not rebelling against that. Whereas Emma virtually ignored her only child and cuckolded her husband, Jane dotes on her student Adele and honors Mr. Rochester.

The world she lives in, though, strictly limits her ability to do so. If she is to entertain new passions, she must rebel against the code of selflessness and sympathy, because in the 19th century world controlled by men the two cannot coexist. So she abandons her vows of fidelity in search of this passion, and in doing so aban

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Approximate Word count = 1249
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English