Mary Barton Research Paper
Roles of Women
The nineteenth century had the most radical and revolutionary ideas in history. The status of women during this time being one of those ideas. This time period has been named the Victorian Era, and was influential on British society. Elizabeth Gaskell’s novel, “Mary Barton,” was designed to portray the cultural customs and ideas of Britain. One of Gaskell’s motives was to bring awareness to the life and trials of a Victorian woman. A scholar writes that “for women the situation is complicated by the fact that not only their work, but their bodies have a cash value” (Stoneman 548). A woman from the Victorian Era has to focus on the marriage market, finding work, and not becoming a prostitute. This essay will reveal what …show more content…
They are now seen as commodities. Love was not an issue when bonds were made. It was simply a partnership that women soon regretted. A scholar writes, “Middle-class women play the marriage market; working-class women can take a risk—they may land a husband, as Mrs. Carson did (p.107), they may end up a cheap bargain, as Mary nearly does (p.120), or as spoiled goods, like Esther (p.112)” (Stoneman 548). The women of this time were lead to believe that marriage was the only option. The middle-class women were most likely born into wealth and given to a husband their father chose. The working-class women had to find a job to help out their family while fantasizing about romance that could remove them from their poverty-stricken lifestyle. Mrs. Carson is one of the fortunate characters that marry out of poverty. Mary was close to becoming a “cheap bargain,” but learned from her mistake before it was too late …show more content…
Women were thought of as commodities or like children. On many occasions they were told what to do, how to think, and what to say. Vanity was instilled in women at a very early age. Some women learned to use the power of their beauty and body to try to advance their status in society. In some cases this worked well, but in many instances these women sold their souls to the devil for what appeared to be heaven on earth. Many things have changed in society today as far as women in their quest for marriage and a career. However, women today still face some of these same obstacles as women of the Victorian
The nineteenth century had the most radical and revolutionary ideas in history. The status of women during this time being one of those ideas. This time period has been named the Victorian Era, and was influential on British society. Elizabeth Gaskell’s novel, “Mary Barton,” was designed to portray the cultural customs and ideas of Britain. One of Gaskell’s motives was to bring awareness to the life and trials of a Victorian woman. A scholar writes that “for women the situation is complicated by the fact that not only their work, but their bodies have a cash value” (Stoneman 548). A woman from the Victorian Era has to focus on the marriage market, finding work, and not becoming a prostitute. This essay will reveal what …show more content…
They are now seen as commodities. Love was not an issue when bonds were made. It was simply a partnership that women soon regretted. A scholar writes, “Middle-class women play the marriage market; working-class women can take a risk—they may land a husband, as Mrs. Carson did (p.107), they may end up a cheap bargain, as Mary nearly does (p.120), or as spoiled goods, like Esther (p.112)” (Stoneman 548). The women of this time were lead to believe that marriage was the only option. The middle-class women were most likely born into wealth and given to a husband their father chose. The working-class women had to find a job to help out their family while fantasizing about romance that could remove them from their poverty-stricken lifestyle. Mrs. Carson is one of the fortunate characters that marry out of poverty. Mary was close to becoming a “cheap bargain,” but learned from her mistake before it was too late …show more content…
Women were thought of as commodities or like children. On many occasions they were told what to do, how to think, and what to say. Vanity was instilled in women at a very early age. Some women learned to use the power of their beauty and body to try to advance their status in society. In some cases this worked well, but in many instances these women sold their souls to the devil for what appeared to be heaven on earth. Many things have changed in society today as far as women in their quest for marriage and a career. However, women today still face some of these same obstacles as women of the Victorian