The Portrayal of Women in the Victorian Age. Gender in Thomas Hardy's "The Mayor of Casterbridge"

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Focusing on gender, this seminar paper analyzes Thomas Hardy's portrayal of women in "The Mayor of Casterbridge." It examines Hardy's alignment with Victorian fiction trends and the societal ideals of women during that era. The author argues that Hardy presents an ambivalent perspective, depicting women as both inferior and superior, which challenges the conventional Victorian ideal. Key aspects include Hardy's narrative viewpoint and the dynamics between the protagonist Henchard and female characters like Susan, Lucetta, and Elizabeth-Jane.