Article Abstract:
Child custody and incarceration were prevalent themes in the novels of the late 19th century and home was associated with prison. The 1839 Custody of Infants Act continued the law that the father had complete rights over the child. In Anne Bronte's 'The Tenant of Wildfell Hall' Helen tries to remove her son from her husband's custody. Helen's marriage and her restricted life resemble imprisonment. In Emily Bronte's 'Wuthering Heights' the problem of Heathcliff's legal custody of Linton and his guardianship of Hareton are central to the novel, as are the virtual imprisonment of Isabella and Nelly.
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Article Abstract:
An analysis of the works of women novelists in the 19th century reveals the transition of the novel from a medium that showcased the captivity of women in a society that excluded them and was dominated by men to one of emancipation. The transition comes at the wake of women's transcendence into areas such as the workplace that were formerly restricted to men. Actress Demi Moore's movies, for instance, reveal the migration of captive women into a state of emancipation as portrayed in 'A Few Good Men' and 'G.I. Jane.'
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Article Abstract:
Emily Bronte's novel 'Wuthering Heights' is analyzed in terms of its role in the process of redefining the perception of Englishmen and women regarding their status within a developed country. The focus of this cultural change is the era between the 1830s and 1840s when the middle class became established in society and in their dealings with the masses. It is suggested in the analysis of Bronte's novel that it was part of a restructuring of the British culture.
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