RUTH: AN UNUSUAL PROSTITUTE. ELIZABETH GASKELL’S SPECULATIVE GAZE VS. VICTORIAN MASCULINE VISION OF WOMAN

In a society based on prudery and repression of female sexuality, a prostitute reinforced the masculine dichotomised image of woman: Madonna/harlot. Prostitutes were liminal characters of subplots, until Gaskell’s Ruth. The unlucky destiny of an unwed mother, compelled to work as a dressmaker in sla...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	British and American studies : B.A.S Vol. 21; no. 21; pp. 55 - 60
Main Author:	Fusco, Carla
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Timisoara Editura Universităţii de Vest din Timişoara / Diacritic Timisoara 2015 University of the West Timisoara Publishing House Diacritic Timisoara West University of Timisoara, Faculty of Letters, History and Theology
Subjects:	British & Irish literature Bronte, Charlotte (1816-1855) English literature Eye movements Literary criticism Literary Texts action masculine judgement fallen woman prostitution work labor
Online Access:	Get full text
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Summary:	In a society based on prudery and repression of female sexuality, a prostitute reinforced the masculine dichotomised image of woman: Madonna/harlot. Prostitutes were liminal characters of subplots, until Gaskell’s Ruth. The unlucky destiny of an unwed mother, compelled to work as a dressmaker in slavery condition, was supposed to be disturbing enough to shake Victorian hypocrisy. The aim of my study is to analyze the novel as a contrasting counterpart of Victorian social beliefs and show the hermeneutic complexity of the protagonist who reacts by creating her own position in society without becoming a rebel.
ISSN:	1224-3086 2457-7715