THTRFLM 1T03 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Caroline Norton, English Law, Platonic Idealism
16 May 2013
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Document Summary
The play challenges contemporary ideological assumptions about gender roles. Gender theory argues it is not an essential influence-male sex does not automatically equal masculine gender. Within the christian ideology of the day gender was innate and directly related to biological sex (same is largely true in christian ideology today) The roles of men and women and their behavior are explained in reference to moral ideals. Authority for patriarchy came down from above. In the bible eve is created from adams rib. English common law in 12th century gives women status of men"s other goods and chattels. Caroline norton, a letter to the queen on lord chancellor cranworth"s marriage and. Wives are the properry of their husbands. Respectable women (middle class women) are expected to stay home. Women are considered less intelligent and capable. Women carved out realms of influence within victorian society, especially in the home, but they remained severely restricted by the law and the attendant attitudes.
