It is clear that the men in Hard Times do not hold women in high esteem. This is because of the context in which Dickens grew up, he observed the expectations and roles of the women around him. During this time period men expected women to fill a largely inferior role. Women were not allowed to enter professions, and to sum up their role completely, 'married life is a woman's profession'. Women had to take care of their children, and most had at least five to take care of. Women were not encouraged to form their own aspirations, which is ironic, as Louisa and Sissy are the ones who have the most aspirations, and do not enjoy the factual society in which they live.
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I understand where Adam is also coming from though with his original thought. Yes, I do agree with Erica's statement that Louisa is generally seen as an equal. However, I am not sure that is the case with all women in Hard Times nor am I sure it is a positive thing in this society.
ReplyDeleteIn the Victorian ideal, the woman was the key-holder for family morality as they were responsible for nurturing their husband as well as their children. Additionally, they were often responsible for nurturing their minds as either their teacher or by reinforcing their school education. Gradgrind's educational experiment is therefore progressive as Erica hints at because he does teach the boys and girls the same thing, marking them as equal. In many ways, he has removed the tradition, feminine role from his daughter. She remarks on it herself to Tom when she says,"Because Tom, as I get older, and nearer growing up, I often sit wondering here, and think how unfortunate it is for me that I can't reconcile you to home better than I am able to do. I don't know what other girls know" (54). Here, Louisa is noting that her father's education system has made her different than other girls and left with a societal handicap because she cannot establish her own "home".
Now, I am a feminist through and through and ideally agree with this progressive view of Gradgrind, but I am not sure Dickens does. Dickens instead points out how by Louisa being an equal, she fails at being a wife. We critique her lack of emotion, and while we find Sparsit annoying by stepping in for Louisa, it is clear that Louisa is failing at her duty. More than this, Dickens portrays Mrs. Gradgrind as one type of marriage in which the woman is subjected to her husband, and while we may not view their marriage as a model, it does not fail as Louisa's does.