Lady Audley
Phoebe Marks' inferiority is complex Phoebe Marks' identity is masked by being inferior to both Lady Audley and Luke Marks in the Mary Elizabeth Bradden novel Lady Audley's Secret. This inferiority not only lessens Phoebe's femininity but also forces her into a subdivision of gender she is incapable of owning. Why didn't the privileges that existed for Lady Audley exist for Phoebe? Phoebe is afraid of Luke, and terrified of refusing his hand in marriage therefore robbing her of the feminine duty or privilege to marry well. Is it a coincidence that Phoebe is treated better as a maid at Audley Court than Luke Marks' wife? Throughout the novel, Phoebe is referred to as a maid or servant of Lady Audley and the wife of Luke Marks or the "inn keeper's wife" (311). She is never characterized on her own circumstance, but on the circumstance of others. In other words, she is never able to do what she wants as a person or as a woman, instead she has to take orders from people who do not see her as the effeminate woman she could be. For example, she is forced into marrying Luke because she is afraid that if she does not marry him, he will be very violent toward her. On page 107, Phoebe explains Luke as a child "...he was alway
The inferiority inflicted on Phoebe by Luke and Lady Audley lessens Phoebe's femininity and forces her into a subdivision of gender that is inconsistent. For example, Sir Michael often refers to Lady Audley as his delicate creature, or his beautiful wife, whereas Luke refers to Phoebe very differently. Not with any very tender expression in their pale light, but with a sharp, terrified anxiety, which showed that it was the coming of death itself that she dreaded, rather than the loss of her husband. (409)Phoebe's reaction is very different when asking about Lady Audley's fate. You ain't the parson, as I've ever heerd of; nor the lawyer neither" (412). Why is she treated so differently by her husband? Women, like Lady Audley, were cherished and admired for their beauty and elegance. Just after Lady Audley brags to Phoebe about being the wife of one of the "most influential men in the county" Phoebe's treatment is described: 4Treated as a companion by her mistress, in the receipt of the most liberal wages, and with perquisites such as perhaps no lady's-maid ever had before, it was strange the Phoebe Marks should wish to leave her situation; but it was not the less a fact that she was anxious to exchange all the advantages of Audley Court for the very unpromising prospect which awaited her as the wife of her cousin Luke. Luke helped 5George Talboys (after Lady Audley had pushed him into the well) to Luke's mother's cottage and accompanied him to a doctor and then to the train station. Again on page 107, Phoebe declares that she does not love Luke:I don't think I can love him. The only conclusion that can be drawn from the above argument is that Phoebe Marks, the character, was not intended to be a part of the sensation of this novel. He speaks to Robert:Will you take upon yourself the duty of providing for the safety and comfort of this lady, whom I have thought my wife? I need not ask you to remember in all you do, that I have loved her very dearly and truly. Lady Audley refers to Luke as "the awkward, ugly creature.
Common topics in this essay:
Lady Audley,
Lady Audley's,
Phoebe Marks,
Luke Marks,
Phoebe Phoebe,
Audley Court,
I've Audley,
Phoebe Luke,
lady audley,
Audley Phoebe,
Audley's Secret,
phoebe luke,
wife luke,
phoebe marks,
phoebe treated,
lady audley's,
audley court,
phoebe treated maid,
phoebe's femininity,
treated husband,
subdivision gender,
forces subdivision gender,
femininity forces subdivision,
page 107 phoebe,
phoebe's femininity forces,
|
Acceptance Essays
