An Analysis Of Thornton's Theatrical Masquerade

The supporting cast of Thornton’s theatrical masquerade consisted almost entirely of male figures, whether romantic, paternal or controversial figures. This chapter discusses the media descriptions of the different relationship dynamics between Thornton and the range of male characters. Contemporary ideas of love, marriage, class and patriarchy coincided with expectations of masculinities and impacted the portrayal in question. The interactions between her and the various men in her tale also reflected continued traditions of the female sailor trope. Overall, the relationships and behaviour she exhibited with the men reflected in many ways an idealized woman who was bold, brave and fiercely loving but also was crucially aware of her place …show more content…
The tale of marriage spun for Thornton was similar to the romance depicted with Captain Burke, hazy and scandalous, however reflecting none of the strength she exhibited in the first encounter. Most of the media sources concluded reporting on her prior to her return to Ireland, so most did not track the story to her marriage. The other media on her, the ballad, broadside, autobiography and Ladies’ Magazine all did not mention it. The articles that did discuss her marriage did so with a flair for the dramatic, focused on the scandal of her rescue while her husband was not even named. Thornton was to marry a man, apparently against her will. On her way to the Chapel, a second man intervened and attacked the first, succeeding, ‘in carrying off in triumph the object of his affections’. The press again assured the general public that the second man was a suitor of Thornton’s and that the marriage was mutually desired. The ‘rescued by a man’ trope was a common theme in romance stories of the 19th century, but appeared contradictory in Thornton’s context as she undoubtedly faced greater challenges than the situation from which she was ‘rescued’. However, this ending was necessary to re-establish masculine strength in contrast with the weakness associated with femininity that Thornton was supposed to exhibit, particularly after reverting back after her cross-dressing. This reassertion also served to demonstrate to the reading audience that Thornton had left her days of cross-dressing and male behavior behind her, as will be addressed further in Chapter Three. Like the enigmatic Captain Burke, the husband was a mysterious figure and an essential part in the end of her tale. Reflective of the genre of Female Warrior literature she became a part of; Thornton’s tale inevitably ended in marriage. Renewed expectations of marriage and its