19th Century Woman

“19th Century Life as a Woman”
The writings of several American authors of the nineteenth century are great portrayals of the American experience during that time. During this time there were many social and political changes happening in America such as an empowerment of women, the fight to abolish slavery, removal of Indians, and the civil war. The literature from this era gives people in modern day a peak at how our history affected people’s everyday life. An aspect that particularly interests me is the uprising of female writers. As a woman myself, I can’t help but be inspired by the female revolutionists. One author in particular that intrigues me is Sarah Willis Parton, known as Fanny Fern. She was a newspaper columnist and a novelists …show more content…
Seems fitting considering most people would say she lived a lonely life. She wrote about religion, science, nature, contemporary events, etc. Although now she is a very well-known author, most of her poetry was not acknowledge until after she died. Dickinson wrote a poem named “Title divine, is mine”, it was female perspective of getting married. Similar to Fanny Fern, Dickinson expresses a sadness when writing about becoming a wife. In the tenth line she writes “Birthed- Bridalled- Shrouded-” (page 1666). She is explaining her life as a women after becoming a wife is hidden or nonexistent. She also writes “Betrothed, without the swoon” (page 1666) which leads me to believe that this was a fixed marriage, that she didn’t choose this for herself. During this time arranged marriages were very popular and often times women settled for husbands just so they wouldn’t be ridiculed by society. At the end of this poem the narrator questions herself, “Is this the …show more content…
Child didn’t just have a passion for pursuing gender equality but she also wanted justice for slaves and Native Americans also. In August 1843 she published at her own expense Letters From New York, a collection of her columns written for the paper. Letter XXXIV is a column written about women’s rights. On page 200, Child writes about how women are taught to be gentle, modest, meek, to control their temper, and to never complain to their husbands. She says “Would it not be an improvement for men, also, to be scrupulously pure in manners, conversation, and life” (page 200). The narrator questions the readers and contemplates why women are held to certain standards and limitations while a man can do as he please. She also explains that these limits placed on women are enforced physically. Women can’t leave the house without the protection of a man. She compares the animalistic behavior and brute force of the majority (the white males) govern the