examine dorethea widowed condition in the light of the issue raised by the women question in the midle march
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In the latter half of the nineteenth century, the phrase “Woman Question” spread across because of Industrial Revolution. It focused on the issues of social change questioning the fundamental roles of women. The United States of America, United Kingdom, Russia, and Canada were the countries where the movement saw its rise. Issues related to women about their birthrights, reproductive rights, legal and property rights were the most discussed during this time. Their exploitation and sufferings in the culturally and male-dominated society became an important topic of discussion. Issues of marriage and sexual liberty and rights were the major concern among women.
George Eliot in her novel “Middlemarch” narrates her story of growing up. The novel is set nearly forty years before the time in which it was written. Property rights and divorce were some of the issues which left a woman in the state of dependency either on her father or her husband. Since her childhood, Dorothea wanted to achieve something great for the world. But her social environment didn’t allow her intellectual thoughts to prosper in this male dominating society. She continues her search for knowledge to get recognized and accepted by the male society. She always wanted to dedicate herself to the welfare of the society. Her wish to marry Casaubon was the result of his educational qualification which led Dorothea fall for him. marriage was a vehicle to attain knowledge and education for her. It was after their marriage that she realized that he was not the whom she wished as a husband. Her primary motive of marriage was to attain knowledge, help others and become confident in her work. However, she witnessed an inversion of it. She didn’t pass the tests which the patriarchal society wants her to get through.
Dorothea was not allowed to possess any right on property both when her husband was alive and after his death. Though she was wealthy when she was single, still she lacked full right over it. The will left by her husband stated that she would be left with no money and property if she would marry Will. It can be concluded that Casaubon not just possessed full control over Dorothea when he was alive, but even after his death he didn’t allow her to live independently. She finds this very insulting and heartbreaking. Her condition as a widow grew grosser than her earlier condition. Eliot reflects on the issue of the dominance of male cultured society on women at every stage of her life.
George Eliot in her novel “Middlemarch” narrates her story of growing up. The novel is set nearly forty years before the time in which it was written. Property rights and divorce were some of the issues which left a woman in the state of dependency either on her father or her husband. Since her childhood, Dorothea wanted to achieve something great for the world. But her social environment didn’t allow her intellectual thoughts to prosper in this male dominating society. She continues her search for knowledge to get recognized and accepted by the male society. She always wanted to dedicate herself to the welfare of the society. Her wish to marry Casaubon was the result of his educational qualification which led Dorothea fall for him. marriage was a vehicle to attain knowledge and education for her. It was after their marriage that she realized that he was not the whom she wished as a husband. Her primary motive of marriage was to attain knowledge, help others and become confident in her work. However, she witnessed an inversion of it. She didn’t pass the tests which the patriarchal society wants her to get through.
Dorothea was not allowed to possess any right on property both when her husband was alive and after his death. Though she was wealthy when she was single, still she lacked full right over it. The will left by her husband stated that she would be left with no money and property if she would marry Will. It can be concluded that Casaubon not just possessed full control over Dorothea when he was alive, but even after his death he didn’t allow her to live independently. She finds this very insulting and heartbreaking. Her condition as a widow grew grosser than her earlier condition. Eliot reflects on the issue of the dominance of male cultured society on women at every stage of her life.
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