Feminism: The Victorian Era in England Years 1837 to 1901

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Feminism
The Victorian era in England between the years 1837 to 1901 was a time of profound social and political transformation. While literary critics appreciate Mary Elizabeth Brandon’s Lady Audley as a memorable piece of written work, many do not see the social and political implications contained in the novel. In response to a male-controlled society, the characters in Lady Audley try to improve their social status with the full understanding that men economically control the society they live in (Miller). Lady Audley is a reflection of women who purpose to suppress the inequality of a male-dominated society and make every effort to challenge male dominance. The novel is a representation of the social and political changes that took place in the Victorian era, where women began defying the societal norms of a patriarchal society where men held all the positions of power and made all the decisions for the community, and women were voiceless (Matus 339). This essay seeks to discuss Lady Audley’s resistance to feminism in a society that was primarily dominated by patriarchy.
Being a patriarchal society, women in the Victoria era were oppressed, and they did not have political rights. The Victorian era woman suffered in silence once they got married because she and all her belongings became the property of her spouse. While matrimony was a societal norm in that period, it did not matter whether the women felt they were discriminated against or not; they were expected to get and stay married. In the novel, Miss Lucy Graham, who eventually turns into Lady Audley, is depicted by the writer as a woman who is not ready to accept her place in the marriage as a dutiful partner and mother. Instead, Lady Audley uses trickery as she pursues a life and marriage that is beneficial to her. While many see Lady Audley as a sensational and beautiful woman, she manages to falsify her identity to suit her goals. The writer describes Lady Audley as a femme fatale, which when translated means "fatal woman." This description matches her position as an adulterous woman whose actions according to the community border on both criminality and immorality (Tromp, Gilbert and Haynie 35). While her actions and behaviors are against the societal values of the Victorian era, the writer of the novel uses the femme fatale description to address the profound social and political issues of the period. The writer dissects the issue of women and power in relationships theatrically.
Additionally, the writer provides the readers with the view that women understood their place in society. However, in a sensational manner, the writer uses Lady Audley to reveal that women realized that marriages were oppressive, and they learned ways in which to go around the system that oppressed them (Voskuil 611). Thus, as shown by Lady Audley’s character, the women in the Victorian era could display power, and many demonstrated this ability by choosing marriages that would suit and benefit them, while others even opted to remain single. Since the law at the time seemed to discriminate against women, Lady Audley, who was previously Mrs. Helen Talboys, was not going to have an easy time trying to end her marriage to her husband, Geo...