The Representation of Women in 19th century Literature
             The role of women in 19th century literature is influenced by the ideology "cult of true womanhood". This cult, evident in the works of both female and male writers, entails that women be: Pious, pure, domestic and submissive. The proper role for women was determined by the proper role for men. Men are aggressive, assertive, dominant and materialistic, while women were to serve as a purifying and civilizing influence by remaining outside of the man's sphere. She is the guardian of morality. S.L.Clemens's "Huckleberry Finn" and Kate Chopin's "Story of the Hour" and "The Storm", each have female characters depicted as "true" and not so "true" by the standards of the cult.
             In Clemens's "Huck Finn" there are two women who represent "true women", the Widow Douglas and her sister Miss. Watson. The Widow Douglas took the main character Huck in to her home "sivilize" him. "The Widow Douglas, she took me for her son, and allowed she would sivilze me; but it was rough living in the house all of the time, considering how dismal regular and decent the widow was in all her ways; and so when I couldn't stand it no longer, I lit out." (Clemens, 2). Civilizing a man is one of the "true" woman's main functions. Being guardians of morality and "bearers of civilization" women provided a refuge from the life of the sinful world for men. The home is a sanctuary where the man can return and cleanse himself of sins. It was the woman's responsibility to instill morals and values into men and children. "She put me in the new clothes again, and I couldn't do nothing but sweat and sweat, and feel all cramped up. The widow rung the bell for supper, and you had to come to time. When you got to the table you couldn't go right to...