Women's Sexuality in the late 19th century
Women faced many limitations on their sexuality in the 19th century, and The Awakening, The House of Mirth, and A New England Nun all seem to have a part in describing the restrictions women faced. The form used in the three stories used some specific conventions in the 19th century. First, the protagonist is usually a single woman looking to get married. Second, socio-economic class must be a factor in determining whom the woman will marry. Third, the novel must include many scenes that portray the proper and improper way to act within high society, and also outline differences and relations between classes. And finally, the novel usually ends with either the marriage or death of the female protagonist. During the late 19th century, this type of novel was one of the most popular novel genres. Wharton adapted the form in her own way to better suit the New York society. Wharton creates a social circle comprised of elegant New York snobs. Class mobility is a large factor in The House of Mirth, which shows the attempts of Lily to assimilate herself into the elite group, only to slide down the social scale into the working class before her death. A marriage to Pe
Man is seen as a threat to the serenity and security of a spinster's life. She had accepted it to such an extent that she felt safe with it. It was not the first time she had heard an artist at the piano. Both comparisons are of restriction and fear of freedom. "One by one she had detached herself from the baser possibilities, and she saw that nothing now remained to her but the emptiness of renunciation. The image of a spinster is of an old maid; a woman never married waiting for a man. She has a claustrophobic feeling of Joe invading her space as shown by the comment on how he fills the entire room. The dog exemplified her domestication. "The very first chords which Mademoiselle Reisz struck upon the piano sent a keen tremor down Mrs. Edna's independence frequently amounts to selfishness. This leads to the allegories used in this short story. Breaking through the role appointed to her by society, she discovers her own identity independent of her husband and children. This passage shows though the bird, the feelings of anxiety she had over the impending marriage. The man's influence is seen as disruptive. Imagery put forth by this story, and by stereotypes of the day is of the New England spinster.
Common topics in this essay:
Louisa Ellis,
England Nun,
Edna Pontellier,
Wilkins Freeman,
Mademoiselle Reisz,
Grand Isle,
Joe Dagget,
Grice Lily,
House Mirth,
Essay II,
little yellow,
yellow canary,
little yellow canary,
19th century,
animals woman story,
edna pontellier,
late 1800s,
own identity,
england nun,
animals woman,
sexual desires,
discovers own identity,
house mirth,
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