Unconventional Victorian Women

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Unconventional Victorian Women

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1Booksloth
Modificato: Set 4, 2011, 9:02 pm

I'm thinking ahead to the dissertation I'll be writing next year and I need an unconventional female character from a Victorian novel. I want it to be someone who would have been considered 'outside' polite society because of her unconventional attitudes to life/sex/relationships/the woman's role etc. Perhaps the most obvious would be Becky Sharp from Vanity Fair, though I'm also very strongly drawn to Jude the Obscure's Sue Bridehead. Do other LTers have a favourite? And what is it about her that qualifies her for the role? (Cross posted in Victoriana.)

2Lcanon
Ott 11, 2011, 4:32 pm

Lucy Snowe from Villette?
I suggest this because I'm re-reading it now and I'm struck by the almost bipolar nature of poor Lucy -- teeming with passionate need for something she can't name and yet insisting that she doesn't deserve it, she's just a poor, modest thing, no one should look at her, etc. etc.
If Lucy is supposed to be an insight into Charlotte Bronte's true self...*coughs, looks away*
Aside from that Lucy setting out alone to travel to a foreign country, with no prospects, marks her as unconventional, although she's not exactly Sue Bridehead.

3CurrerBell
Modificato: Lug 10, 2012, 12:46 am

Questo messaggio è stato cancellato dall'autore.

4pjjackson
Ott 22, 2012, 8:21 pm

How about George Elliot?

5bjbookman
Ott 24, 2012, 8:51 am

Marien Halcombe from The Woman in White .

6Booksloth
Ott 24, 2012, 10:05 am

It's odd to see this thread pop up again after such a lull. There were a lot of good suggestions posted in the Victoriana group (Marian Halcombe was near the top of many people's lists and I can understand why.) In fact, for a number of personal reasons, I eventually decided to take a year or more out from studying so the question becomes sort of irrelevant for the time being. I do appreciate everyone's ideas though (#3 I assume you were referring to one or more of Eliot's characters and not the author herself?) and it still makes an interesting conversation. Thank you both for your replies.

7kac522
Ott 25, 2012, 2:08 am

Not a novel, but Henry James' Daisy Miller would fit the bill, as well as Isabel Archer from The Portrait of a Lady. I personally like Lucy Snowe, or even Jane Eyre.

8Sandydog1
Dic 17, 2012, 1:10 pm

Aren't all Victorian women unconventional?

9AuntieCatherine
Ago 30, 2013, 1:17 pm

Miss Wade from Little Dorrit?

10jordantaylor
Ago 31, 2013, 3:27 pm

I second Sue Bridehead!