Research Paper
In the Victorian era, women were deprived of many rights. The only roles they could play in society were of the housewife and mother. They were expected to keep a successful household (Barrett, 2013). The treatment of women was extremely opposite compared to that given to men. They weren’t permitted to have their property, were under the full control of their husbands, and did not even have the option of divorcing them because if they had that permission, society wouldn’t have accepted them. However, a woman wasn’t allowed to meet or even see her kids if she divorced her husband.
This was until the year 1839 when a law was accepted that a child under the age of seven would stay with their mother (Zhaksybek, 2014). Women had to fulfill every wish or demand of their husbands, no matter what. The husband not only had control over his wife’s belongings and possessions but also her body. The woman could not say no to sex, for it would end the marriage (valmcbeath.com). Husband had the authority to beat and even rape his wife, and no one would dare ask him why. They were considered to be weak, fragile, and sensitive creatures. They also weren’t permitted to wear any clothing that exposed skin or make-up. They were deprived of education, job training, and even legal rights. Universities were only meant for the opposite gender. It was believed that educated mothers would give birth to weakened, sickly, and puny children. Women were expected to be sinless, both in thoughts and actions, for the proper upbringing of the children. According to the men of that time, virtuous women were only those who were submissive to the man’s sexual desires. But these desires were only for the creation of children, not for any other purpose. With the passing of time, the role or the responsibility of women extended, and the emergence of Victorian feminism started taking place.
“The women who lived during the Victorian Era were highly suppressed in their expression of ideas, so it is rare to find a male who supported the rights of these women” (M., 2014). Charles Dickens, one of the famous authors of that time, wrote a lot about these women who had to suffer a lot and were nothing but prisoners of society. In the 1890s, many debates started taking place in the press, parliament, and the literature regarding the rights of women, and Dickens actively took part in these debates, both directly and indirectly.
His book “Hard Times” demonstrates the progression and advancement of women and highlights the significance of femininity in society. Dickens analyzes the true nature of women in his book. The character named Thomas Gradgrind decides to marry Sissy without consulting Mrs. Gradgrind. Through this action, the readers get an idea that women’s decisions weren’t required or given importance in household matters. The female characters in the book are shown as shy, never arguing, polite, and compassionate. As the story reaches its end, Dickens shows the female characters to come to a realization and become strong enough to tackle the world. They rejected being in the male sphere and had entered into the feminine sphere. This change of characters conveyed the message to the readers that it was the time when women needed to stand up for themselves and change their roles in the Victorian era. Thus, Dickens, through his many books and his female characters, proposes that feminine compassion is important for the restoration of social harmony and peace.
References
Barrett, K. L. (2013). Victorian Women and Their Working Roles.
M. (2014, December 18). Women Empowerment in Hard Times. Retrieved April 18, 2018, from https://malyssagee.wordpress.com/2014/12/22/women-empowerment-in-hard-times/
V. (n.d.). Women’s Rights: Not Up for Discussion. Retrieved April 18, 2018, from https://valmcbeath.com/victorian-era-womens-rights/#.WtcQgy5uYdU
Zhaksybek, A. (2014, October 30). Women’s rights and roles in the Victorian Era. Retrieved April 18, 2018, from https://prezi.com/jqr8o1bvxn0k/womens-rights-and-roles-in-the-victorian-era/
