Further Reading

First, if you haven't already read both of these novels (Lady Audley's Secret and The Woman in White) I would highly recommend them despite any flaws they may have. These are a few of the sources I used when I was researching these novels if you are interested in the topic they would be good places to start.

Consequences

Now we get to talk about consequences! We can learn a lot about an author's priorities by looking at the consequences they dole out to their characters.

The Woman in White upholds masculine ideals through the benefits that male characters gain, surprise surprise. And Lady Audley’s Secret undermines them through the consequences that male characters suffer. Because these differences made the woman more threatening and the man more vulnerable it is understandable that some critics stuck with what was familiar to them.

Are You Insane?

Insanity gets a little crazy in these novels. Ready? Let's dive right in.

In The Woman in White the main villains use insanity to discredit the main female victim and to conceal her true identity. In Lady Audley’s Secret insanity doesn’t become a factor until Lady Audley’s crimes are discovered. At that point she pulls the insanity card.

So insanity went from a weapon which male villains used against female victims in The Woman in White to a defense used by a female villain to stave off punishment in Lady Audley’s Secret.

Who's Who?

Is the woman an angel or a devil?

That is the question.

In The Woman in White the female characters were cast in a more typical light. But then in Lady Audley's Secret the leading female character’s went from follower to leader, angel to devil, victim to villian. Lady Audley was manipulating those around her and every action was for her own selfish purposes while Laura dutifully did as she was told even when she knew she wouldn't be happy.

The contrast is stark.

From this:




To this:

Murder? Mystery? Sensation Novels and Gender

“I must say I think the ‘Woman in White’ a marvel [of] workmanship. I found it bear a second reading very well, and indeed it was having it thrown my way for a second time which attracted so strongly my technical admiration” (Coghill 186).

That is very high praise indeed.

Post the First Post

This is a blog I haven't explored, but this one post caught my attention and I really liked what he had to say: thecurrentconscience.com/blog/a-message-to-women-from-a-man-you-are-not-crazy

The First Post

This is my first post :)