Women's lack of independence in the 17th century
Danielle Dutton’s novel, Margaret the First, explores the complexities of womanhood, and how Margaret’s role as a woman changes throughout the course of the novel. From the beginning of the novel, Margaret was aware of her perceived role in society. Even when she married William Cavendish, the duke of Newcastle, and gained status she didn’t have before, this status provided her nothing since her role as a female came first. Many of the people who were close to or worked for William didn’t have the same amount of respect for Margaret. She shares how “Over them all, I, Lady Cavendish, now presided. To varying degrees, each ignored me.”( Dutton 42) This isn't something she tries to battle or change, and goes along with her given role. She stayed ladylike as she “greeted with practiced curtsies”(Dutton 43) and sat out of male driven conversations “pretending to read or sew”(44). She was interested in all the new things they were talking about, but decided not to interject with her own thoughts. Even later in that same chapter, when asked to share her opinions, she passes on the opportunity, using her sex as a valid excuse. Her passiveness ensured that she didn't risk jeopardizing her or her reputation.
When Margaret decided to start publishing her writings, her image as Lady Cavendish, William's husband, changed as she made a name for herself. Her published books reached numerous people, including the king, who pointed out her new status by stating, “you are something of a celebrity in London”(Dutton 83). Being a female published author breaks the classic feminine mold and has caused more people to care and value her opinion. This comes with drawbacks, as there are some people who don't agree with her opinions. After she wrote the essay on how Parliamentarians are demons, “few friends came to the house”(Dutton 72) and Margaret is curious if she lost friends due to her article. Despite this, her becoming an author has resulted in a net positive change in her life, and breaks the commonly known female stereotypes she exhibited in the first part of the book. As she published more books, many people started to question the legitimacy of her writings, as she wasn't educated and couldn't read latin, and the general public surmised the work wasn’t hers and “It fell to reason a man was behind (her) work”(Dutton 75). Although the work is entirely her own, this statement has some truth to it in the sense that Margarets work would have most likely not been published if it weren’t for her husband’s status. Most women’s work would get rejected immediately, while Margaret’s was published without any pushback since William supported her endeavors. This proves an unfortunate truth that despite how successful a woman was, that success would be impossible without male support in the 17th century.
This blog post does a great job of highlighting how Margaret’s character evolves throughout the novel, but also how her growth as a female character is limited. Initially, Margaret is viewed strictly as Lady Cavendish, a woman whose sole purpose is to be a wife to William and silent observer of the world and people surrounding her. Her frustration over her restriction as a woman grows, as she says, “It was seven years since I first sat listening to their talk… and I was as invisible this evening as I’d ever been in Paris…Can you hide and yet be angry when no one looks at you?” (Dutton 64). Due to her desire to be seen and heard by others, Margaret publishes her first work, which garners both attention and backlash. Some readers were angry that a woman had written at all, and some suggested her writing was really the work of a man. As the post emphasizes, this sentiment portrays the skepticism and dismissiveness women face, no matter their accomplishments. While Margaret’s newfound literary fame allows her to break free from the stereotypical role women filled in the seventeenth century, it also reveals the harsh reality that a woman’s success, no matter how independent, is often attributed to male influence.
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ReplyDeleteI believe the blog does a great job of demonstrating the societal norms of the 17th century and how these rules were especially restrictive for women. It highlights how Margaret, despite being criticized for expressing herself, persists by continuing to break through the “gender regulations”. Adding on, I believe it is important to address the significance of Margaret's sisters in the novel, as they represent the women who from a young age, were taught to conform to the societal ideals of femininity, It would have been difficult to break-free from these ingrained ideas when they are all they've been taught. But Margaret’s passion for writing, and her persistence in continuing to pursue her craft despite the ridicule from her family and the public, shows her true identity. For women like her sisters, achieving this level of independence was impossible because they had internalized these gendered expectations so deeply. This internalized pressure is evident in Margaret's own reflection when she says, "it seemed impossible to make myself be any way but wrong" (Dutton 18). This statement shows how challenging it was for Margaret to be understood or accepted for expressing her individuality and defying societal norms. This makes Margaret an important figure in the larger journey of feminism, as her refusal to conform highlights the struggles women faced in asserting their autonomy and intellectual freedom. I hence believe it is important to celebrate Margaret for carrying forward with her goals, and using her power and support especially by her husband to pave the way for more female independent thinkers to bring greater change into the society.
ReplyDeleteI think this blog post makes great points the struggles that Margaret faces as woman in a patriarchal society during the 17th century. At the beginning of the novel Margaret’s passiveness is demonstrated through her “practiced curtsies” and avoidance of male-driven conversations. Her passiveness can be seen as more of a strategy for survival rather than an act of submission. Her choice not to engage in male-driven conversations results from an awareness of the dangers of overstepping societal boundaries as a woman in the 17th century. This restraint allowed her to remain in spaces where she would usually be excluded. Through Margaret’s quiet observations, her intellect and aspirations grew. When Margaret began publishing, she transitioned from an observer to a participant in intellectual discourse. Her writings allowed her to have a voice in a male-dominated space. Margaret became subject to suspicion and ridicule, which highlights the societal discomfort with women occupying intellectual spaces. The idea that a man must have written her works reveals the broader misogyny of society during this period. While her husband’s support may have facilitated her career, I also think it is important to acknowledge Margaret’s determination to write despite ridicule, as it highlights her agency and courage. Her skills and character traits undoubtedly contributed to her success regardless of if she received help from a man or not.
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