Perceptions of female fallenness : an analysis of Elizabeth Gaskell’s ‘Ruth’ and George Eliot’s ‘Adam Bede’

Abstract

This dissertation explores the Victorian fixation with the fallen women narrative in literature, which reflects the angst of the nineteenth century. By concentrating on the divergent portrayal of two fallen women in two nineteenth century novels, namely, 'Ruth' by Elizabeth Gaskell, published in 1853, and 'Adam Bede' by George Eliot, published in 1859, this dissertation will analyse the different methods used to provoke compassion and sympathy for the plight of fallen women. Additionally, the way that the traditional narrative of female fallenness is inverted will be explored, highlighting the different methods used by Gaskell and Eliot to challenge Victorian ideals, possibly influenced by aspects of the authors’ own personal experiences. The first chapter will establish how the Victorian obsession with female purity led to the creation of the archetype of the fallen women, while closely analysing the characters of Ruth Hilton and Hetty Sorrel. Meanwhile, the second chapter will focus on the male seducers of the novels, Henry Bellingham and Arthur Donnithorne, highlighting the Victorian sexual double standard. This double standard guarantees that men are never blamed for their sexual promiscuity, whereas the women are left to live with the consequences, usually falling into a downward spiral. This will be discussed in chapter three, together with the idea of infanticide, suicide and death which are what traditionally await fallen women at the end of their spiral.