Symbolism, Moral Ambiguity or Attitudes Toward Women in American Literature of the Period 1776-1860

Women were also expected to maintain their social positivity and kindness by never speaking or listening to evil about other women. Men hearing these women speak evil would appear to “listen gladly” but ultimately “hold such women in small respect” and “esteem them so lightly as to despise their company” (177.) From the accounts held in The Courtier of women in the Renaissance, it can be said that women were almost considered to be “status symbols” during this time period. Some men aimed to treat women with courtesy and respect but never viewed them as true equals. Women were expected not to make a fuss, not to speak up too loudly, and to act positive and apolitical at every turn, resulting in a stifling lack of agency. As a whole, women were expected to be seen and not heard, ultimately having a scarce role in the era. Even still, misogyny and hatred was ubiquitous in this time period.

In the sixteenth century the role of women in society was very limited. Women were generally stereotyped as housewives and mothers. They were to be married, living their life providing for her husband and children. The patriarchal values of the Elizabethan times regarded women as the weaker sex.’ Men were considered the dominant gender and were treated with the utmost respect by females. Women were mainly restricted within the confines of their homes and were not allowed to go school or to university, but they could be educated at home by private tutors. Men were said to be the ones to provide for their families financially. Women were often seen as not intelligent. Property could not be titled in the name of a female within the family. Legally everything the female had belonged to her husband. Poor and middle class wives were kept very busy but rich women were not idle either. In a big house they had to organize and supervise the servants.

The second area that saw the littlest change for women in the Renaissance was the expectations that came with their social status. Overall women were deemed to be a lower class in terms of gender, and men often treated them with less respect as a result. Within social classes, stereotypical beliefs regarding women and their role were held. Lower class women were expected to be housewives and take care of everything to do with the house. The expectation of working-class women, however, was slightly different. They were expected to work for their husbands and help them run their business, although they couldn’t partake in any of the work by themselves or outside of the house. However, this different expectation wasn’t necessarily new and was upheld from previous times, supporting this idea of women not receiving a Renaissance in the area of social class. Some women in the elite were able to become slightly more independent from their husbands and gain more responsibility, but the vast majority of women in the Renaissance continued to be used for the sole benefits of the men; as providers of a dowry, homemakers

the women had expectations to be a real woman and marriage was often forced without the woman's say. Women were idolized as perfect beings with no flaws and no say in many things, since men dubbed the philosophy upon them, they were “objects”. In china women were respected among their families, and in greece women were also seen as objects and given no voice in who they would marry. Today it is different, although women are still considered inferior today, we can still choose who we would like to marry and we also have many rights.

The formation of virtue as an important aspect of an ideal women can be traced back to several changes that occurred after the United States gained their independence. The rise of American industry saw many women being sent to work at mills for the textile industry. Here they were exposed to many diverse perspectives in their communities and continued to study religion and develop a different set of moral values. This sudden independence from predefined gender roles gave many women stronger feelings of independence, allowing them to have more control over themselves. Another catalyst behind the shift in virtue to women can be traced back to how they were raised. The American Frugal Housewife written in 1829 compares two women raised with different backgrounds. One woman was raised in a virtuous household while the other did not. The virtuous woman led a righteous, pleasant life despite frequent misfortunes such as the amputation of her right arm and the loss of everyone she loved. Regardless of these events, she remained pious and confident. The other woman suffered similar loss but had nothing to fall back

Then in society, men were portrayed as “dominant figures” and women were the “nurturers”. Men not only filled the fatherly role but they also usually earned the “breadwinning”, went to work all day, and financially provided for the wives and

Therefore, during this period a moral “crisis” had developed questioning traditional gender roles. During this period women gained more freedom outside the household and the common idea of shopping started to develop during this

Women in the 13th - 20th century mostly played a “mother's role”. Often taking care of their kids, cooking, cleaning, baking, etc… At the end of the 15th century, girls were able to get an

In this research project, I plan to analyze portrayals of how men, who are intoxicated, treat women in 1840s and 50s literature. I will study these portrayals to better understand that details of specific actions drunk men did towards women, and how women responded in those private moments during this time. As a result of this study, I hope to shed light on the details of the abuse by inebriated men towards women during this time, as few first hand accounts are available. It is my working hypothesis that through the sheer number of women involved in temperance movements, we can infer that the horrors that inebriated men would inflict on women were widely known, if little discussed, and that while first hand accounts are highly limited,

Women were seen as having more remarkable moral influence on the family as a whole. Because of this, women were designated as the caretaker, and child-rearing became their

The way women were treated was nothing compared to how the men were treated. There was no equality in this male dominated society which made it difficult for women to play a key role. Women faced obstacles on a daily basis and commonly endured hardships because of their gender. Women were primarily responsible for domestic chores around the house and taking care of the children. The most valuable thing a woman could do was become pregnant with a child, however in Greek civilization having a boy was more favored. If women gave birth to a girl it was

Women were accepted as individual than sexual objects and as second class member after men. They were more the ideal and the domineering character. The marriage was still arranged but some women did love marriage. Women in this period have supported more their husband in outside works. However women were paid less than their husband but they have helped their husband on land and farm works. Some important public jobs for women were witches, abbess and nurses who were taking of children and sick people. One of the important women in this period was Anna Comnena who was the first world female

Colonial American Literature encompasses many different styles, people, cultures, religions, ideas, and beliefs. All these different aspects come together to form the first era of literature in America. In this is essay I will discuss some of the different people and beliefs that helped establish American Literature. These fundamental beginnings laid the roots for the American style to take hold and grow.

Throughout history woman have been portrayed in novels, often with varying degrees of sexism and/ or realism. From the representation of Mary Magdalene in The Bible, right through to J.K Rowling’s Hermione Granger, story tellers and subsequent authors have seen fit to include such characters in their work.

Paine emphasizes that married women were expected to display moral characteristics. Gender roles were based on societal perceptions. Also, during the 18th century women who failed to meet societal morality standards were immediately not valued. Furthermore, men were considered courageous