Women in Victorian Poetry

The Blessed Damozel. 1875-78.

The Victorian era was important, with industrialization, cultural innovations, and a rapidly changing society. While society continued to grow and develop, the view of women was still narrow. During this time, women faced numerous legal and social restrictions. Looking at people in general, in the Victorian era, the desire to be respectable often led to hypocritical behavior, and people made efforts to appear respectable. In addition, artificial inhibitions in sexual matters and religious rigidity were common. While people in this period were overly satisfied with the order of their country and their personalities, they had a great fondness for money; therefore, the penniless value was ignored. Submission to sexual taboos led to loveless marriages, and prostitution became increasingly common, with one-third of the female population even living off prostitution. Therefore, the writings of this period and the poems that will be analyzed here offer a perspective on the role, status, and challenges faced by women in the Victorian era.

Victorian poetry often depicted women as symbols of love and beauty. They were portrayed as angels or fairies with pure, innocent, and virtuous qualities and were used as the epitome of nature, spring, and beauty. Women in this period could earn respect as writers of novels and poetry in their own right, but it was difficult to live independently as they were often seen as the property of their fathers and husbands. Since they had no right to education, most women could neither read nor write, and their social roles were limited to mothers and wives. Women did not participate in politics, government, or most professions, were under pressure not to be open about their sexuality, and had little life outside of domestic and childcare responsibilities.

In Elizabeth Browning's Aurora Leigh, women are portrayed as strong and free individuals. Despite being orphaned at a young age, Aurora, the poem's protagonist, can stand on her own feet, complete her education, become a writer, and draw her path without getting stuck in gender stereotypes. In her poem, Browning portrays women not as weak and dependent on men but as individuals equal to men in intellect and emotion. She also defends women's rights to be educated, to have a profession, and to determine their character, which shows that the images of women in her poetry are progressive and free for that period.

Lucrezia de' Medici by Bronzino or Alessandro Allori, is generally believed to be the subject of the poem.

In Robert Browning's My Last Duchess, the Duke clarifies his belief that women are objects to be controlled, owned, and discarded, demonstrating how Victorian social mores denied women the opportunity to live free and independent lives. In the Duke's mind, women are simply ornaments for men rather than real people in their own right. He finds his ex-wife's actions unforgivable because they reflect her as an independent person rather than an inanimate being. The characters section states that the duchess has a cheerful and sociable personality, is independent-minded, and opposes the Duke's desire for control and ownership. Although these characteristics do not coincide with the female model of the period, they show that she is subjected to male oppression and control.

In Tennyson's Mariana, Mariana is depicted as a young, lonely, and abandoned woman who waits for her man's return with hope and anxiety. In accordance with gender roles, Mariana appears dependent on the man. This shows that Mariana is deprived of family support, and her loneliness is deep and long-lasting at a time when unmarried women could not be alone by living with their families.

The Goblin Market, by Hilda Koe, 1895.

In Christina Rosetti's Goblin Market, Lizzie and Laura are emphasized as brave, adventurous, and curious, which contradicts the Victorian view of women in a passive role. In addition, while their strong relationship in harmony with nature is depicted, it conflicts with the idea that Victorian society was disconnected from nature. In the Victorian era, men had more freedom, education, opportunity, and leeway to express themselves sexually, while women were expected to remain sexually innocent or face serious consequences. While Rosetti suggests that valuing innocence and keeping women ignorant about their sexuality leaves them vulnerable, Rosetti does not reject the belief that women are naturally suited to marriage and motherhood. This suggests that although Rosetti criticizes the sexual double standard, she also questions some Victorian beliefs about women's gender roles.

In Swinburne's Dolores, Dolores is portrayed as a young, beautiful woman with sexual desires. She openly accepts sexuality and does not hesitate to express it, which shows that while sexuality was considered a secret and shameful subject for Victorian women, Dolores has a different attitude towards it. Dolores prioritizes her own desires and does not limit herself to gender roles, which contradicts the view of the Victorian woman as a passive being under the command of her husband or family. Dolores is also dominated by a powerful and controlling man, which contrasts with the identification of the Victorian woman with submissive and powerless images. Dolores does not hide her body and sexuality but displays it freely, which is a stance against the Victorian woman being forced to hide her body and focus on the "perfect mother/wife" image. In these ways, Dolores presents a different image of a woman who rejects the stereotypes imposed on women by the English society of that period and emphasizes sexual freedom.

These poems, written in the Victorian era, offer a unique perspective on the role and status of women and the difficulties they faced. During this period, it was difficult for women to live independently as they were often seen as the property of their fathers and husbands. Without the right to education, most women could not read or write and had little life outside their social roles of housework and childcare. However, in some works, notably Elizabeth Browning's Aurora Leigh and Swinburne's Dolores, women are portrayed as strong, free, and sexually expressive individuals. These works challenge the social norms of the time and emphasize that women should be seen as real human beings.