In Hard Times, Charles Dickens uses the characterization of Rachael and Sissy to represent and embody the Victorian ideal of femininity. During the nineteenth century, the Industrial Revolution had a large impact on gender roles and inequality, especially in the upper and middle class. Women in English society were confined to the domestic sphere, where they were left at home all day to oversee more domestic duties, while the men went off to work in factories and shops (Hughes). The Victorian ideal of femininity consisted of qualities such as emotion, passivity, submission, dependence, selflessness, and purity (Hughes). “It is a well-known fact that women were seen as inferior to men in most areas of the life in Victorian England. They were
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Through her father’s teaching of only facts, he removed the ideal of femininity, this, however, leaves her unprepared and unable to fulfill the idealized roles society has set out for her. Thus, Louisa really struggles in the domestic sphere she has been placed in. Dickens reveals this in the novel when Louisa’s father tries to convince her that it would be rational for her to marry Bounderby, Louisa looks out of the window at the factory chimneys and observes: “There seems to be nothing there but languid and monotonous smoke. Yet when the night comes, Fire bursts out” (Dickens 74). This analogy describes the character of Louisa, a “languid and monotonous” exterior with emotions repressed inside. It also shows how Louisa can only state a fact about her surroundings and is unable to convey the true feelings she has inside. However, she still tries to be a model daughter, wife, and sister. For example, her decision to return to her father’s house rather than elope with Harthouse demonstrates that while she may be unfeeling, she does not lack virtue. Additionally, she still aims to fulfill the role of the angel in the house, as seen in the earlier excerpt from Hard Times comparing Louisa to her home with Mr. Bounderby, which further reveals how Louisa’s character has a “languid and monotonous” (Dickens 74) …show more content…
In addition, the Victorian ideal of femininity, represented in the novel by Rachel and Sissy, creates a standard expected of women by men and society. Overall, during the nineteenth century, women were seen as lesser than men and were expected to conform to standards set by men and society. Lastly, Victorian women were practicing the Jesuit value of men and women for and with others through the many qualities and characteristics expected of them during the nineteenth century. Further, in accordance with the Jesuit thought on inequality, people need to avoid and help reform the social structures that dehumanize individuals and groups, devalue human life, break up families, alienate races, escalate violence, discriminate against gender, and spread poverty. In addition, people must do justice, as well as charity to help eradicate gender inequality. In doing so, not only would need to improve conditions for women, but also affirm that men don’t have to give into the cultural expectations of
Through her father’s teaching of only facts, he removed the ideal of femininity, this, however, leaves her unprepared and unable to fulfill the idealized roles society has set out for her. Thus, Louisa really struggles in the domestic sphere she has been placed in. Dickens reveals this in the novel when Louisa’s father tries to convince her that it would be rational for her to marry Bounderby, Louisa looks out of the window at the factory chimneys and observes: “There seems to be nothing there but languid and monotonous smoke. Yet when the night comes, Fire bursts out” (Dickens 74). This analogy describes the character of Louisa, a “languid and monotonous” exterior with emotions repressed inside. It also shows how Louisa can only state a fact about her surroundings and is unable to convey the true feelings she has inside. However, she still tries to be a model daughter, wife, and sister. For example, her decision to return to her father’s house rather than elope with Harthouse demonstrates that while she may be unfeeling, she does not lack virtue. Additionally, she still aims to fulfill the role of the angel in the house, as seen in the earlier excerpt from Hard Times comparing Louisa to her home with Mr. Bounderby, which further reveals how Louisa’s character has a “languid and monotonous” (Dickens 74) …show more content…
In addition, the Victorian ideal of femininity, represented in the novel by Rachel and Sissy, creates a standard expected of women by men and society. Overall, during the nineteenth century, women were seen as lesser than men and were expected to conform to standards set by men and society. Lastly, Victorian women were practicing the Jesuit value of men and women for and with others through the many qualities and characteristics expected of them during the nineteenth century. Further, in accordance with the Jesuit thought on inequality, people need to avoid and help reform the social structures that dehumanize individuals and groups, devalue human life, break up families, alienate races, escalate violence, discriminate against gender, and spread poverty. In addition, people must do justice, as well as charity to help eradicate gender inequality. In doing so, not only would need to improve conditions for women, but also affirm that men don’t have to give into the cultural expectations of