In comparison Fay Weldon’s Letters to Alice, written a few centuries after, shows a clear link of how particular concerns, held by society, have altered. A women living in the late 1800’s had very few rights and freedoms. Education was a thing men and if a women engaged in such activities she was at risk of being shunned by society or “left on the shelf.” Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice follows a young girl, Elizabeth Bennet, who struggles against society’s expectations. Being a smart and well educated women, she is somewhat frowned upon, however this has been disguised by Austen through her dialogue. An example is seen near the beginning of the book in which Mr Darcey and Mr Binley’s brother are engaged in polite conversation.
The wenches were mere women to play a role in entertaining men of higher class, they were not considered outcasts but also were not considered to have any worth, they were stuck in the class they were at never really being able to rise to become a peacemaker or hostess. Grendel’s mother was portrayed and seen as such a lowly character that she did not even receive a proper name. Throughout the story Grendel’s mother is only seen and described as an evil, monstrous, and manly person. Not one positive characteristic is given to her. She is referred to as a descendent of Cain, one of the first humans to be truly sinful and evil in gods eyes.
School wasn’t important to her and it wasn’t important to me” (76). It is easy to see that this statement holds significant truth when you look at how Rosa Lee raised her children. Looking at it this way can take some of the heat off Rosa Lee. Rosa Lee’s mother had a lot to do with her not being ready to be an active, successful person in society. If Rosa Lee never had a good role model, then how is she supposed to know how to be one?
As a result of this, social mobility was limited at this time and people socialised in small circles, with only those of a similar class. Any socialisation out of this was seen as absurd. It was women especially that felt the limitations of the late 18th century/early 19th century, as there were strict expectations of them. Women were seen as possessions of men, and expected to be educated and well behaved, mostly in hope to ensure themselves a husband of wealth in order to further themselves as women did not inherit any land or money from their fathers, this went to the closest male relative. Any kind of acting out of against the expected image of a woman would be seen as shameful and would lead to isolation even further in terms of socialisation and the hope of a husband.
She is treated as less than a servant at Gateshead, despite being significantly more than that. Her fault lies in that she has no money of her own, and the only reason that the Reed's care for her is that it was Jane's uncle and Mrs. Reed's husband's dying wish that she should be looked after. John and Jane's other cousins take pleasure in aggravating her regarding her position, for example John Reed says to Jane, 'you are a dependant, mamma says; you have no money; your father left you none; you ought to beg, and not to live here with gentleman's children like
http://www.victorianweb.org/index.html The Women at English Literature Jane Eyre (by Charlotte Brontë) The role of Jane Eyre is an excellent example on the view and manners of women in the Victorian Period. She is resigned, but already have personal thoughts and pursues. She is a middle-class worker, with no actual family and no prospects, at the beginning, of improvement. But, because of her personality, she manages to transform her life in many ways. If she were a "kind" child, by the eyes of Mrs. Reed, she would never go to Lockwood school; she were able to grow up in terms of knowledge in the school, because she had the need of being liked by others and was strong enough to improve herself in many ways; she, by herself, took a chance when announcing to be a governess.
Due to the limited amount of resources and the restrictions laid upon women for practicing rhetoric, it is astonishing how many women were still able to make a significant impact on the field of rhetoric which I feel has paved the way for women’s liberations rights today. Christine de Pizan portrayed the art of rhetoric through language and letter writing as she challenged the boundaries of women’s input at the time. She sought to save the reputation of women, who at the time were being slandered and shine a new spotlight for women’s advancement. It is imperative that more time and space be dedicated to Christine De Pizan in Herricks textbook of rhetoric and many more to follow. Christine De Pizan is a brave woman who stood up to the verbal assaults on women in the 14th century.
Misha Myles Ms. Broaddus English AP 12 December 2011 Miss-Judgment Judging others by only their outward appearance and background isn’t always an effective way to get to know or understand one’s nature. In the novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen the character Elizabeth is influenced by one’s vanity and demeanor and is quick to judge their character. Which she later realize about her grave mistake when she understands that she has miss-judgment of both Mr. Wickham and Mr. Darcy. Elizabeth plays an important role in the novel; she is the most logical out of all of her sisters. Austen reveals Elizabeth’s character as an example about how she wanted to have her own self independence during that time period.
‘During Jane Eyre, theme of appearance and reality is the cornerstone of the novel’ During the novel, Jane has appeared to suppress her feelings of being an independent woman. Although, this is what Jane appears to want in reality. Feminism at the time was not very good and not very up to scratch. Women were seen as an ornament for men, and men believed that women should do what they say. They were almost treating women like children.
Charlotte Bronte wrote Jane Eyre because it compared to her life in some ways, such as attending a boarding school. Another reason why Bronte wrote Jane Eyre is because she wanted to create a book the showed that women were also thinkers, because during the time period that Bronte lived in women were not considered to be thinkers only just very emotional and good for being a wife or teacher. Bronte shows another side of women in Jane Eyre. Many wonder whether the boarding school that Charlotte went to, Cowan bridge, was as bad as Lowood, but it was certain that the neglect of the teachers were spot on compared to eachother for the teachers at Cowan failed to notify parents of their ill students. Charlotte’s older sisters, Maria and Elizabeth, came down with tuberculosis in 1825, and by the time the school notified Mr. Bronte, the girls were gravely ill. Maria died a few days after her return home, Elizabeth a few months later.