Complicity And Subversiveness ——Dandy And Hegemonic Masculinity In Austen’s Novels

Regency dandy,based on the archetype of Beau Brummell,is defined as a type of men with obsession with appearance and no serious occupation.He also attaches importance to rank and has close connection with aristocracy in the late 1 8th and early 19th century.These features were often labelled as negative qualities by contemporary standard,but dandy image is indispensable for plot development and characterization in Jane Austen’s novels and has complicated relationship with the traditional norm of English maleness.By applying sociologist Connell’s theory of Hegemonic Masculinity to the analysis of the creation of dandies in Austen’s novels,this paper discovers that the portraits of dandies in these novels are often complex and multidimensional.On the one hand,they show complicity with hegemonic gentry masculinity by strengthening male hierarchy and gender inequality;on the other hand,some of them exert subversive power through the rejection of stereotypical masculinity and their empathy with women.Focusing on Austen’s four dandies,this paper argues that dandy plays a more complicated role than the gentlemanly heroes in the hierarchy of masculinities and gender relations.Among these four,Robert Ferrars and Sir Walter seem to verify the prejudice about dandies that they not only prioritize their appearance and rank but also objectify women,but their positive qualities are worthy of investigation.Frank Churchill also embraces the quality of the hegemonic,but his complicity results from a subordinated status under rigid masculinity in Highbury and a marginalized position in Mrs.Churchill’s household.And his vivacity and sensitivity manage to bring a subversive breath to Highbury and Emma’s life.Henry Crawford,with fortune and land property,has more independence wandering between the complicit and subversive.His chameleon-like nature conceals his threat to Sir Thomas’s authority but gives the strongest attack on the hegemonic masculinity.He also has empathy with women in Mansfield and liberates them from confinement.Austen’s three types of dandies,the complicit,the victimized and the chameleon-like,expose the cruelty and harm of hegemonic masculinity on both sexes and reflect her wish to change it from rigid sense of rank and patriarchy to vitality,sensibility,and more response of men to women’s voice and empathy with their feeling.