On Women's Independence In Aurora Leigh

Aurora Leigh published in 1856 is the masterpiece of Elizabeth Browning.Many scholars regarded this novel-poem as a Bildungsroman.In fact,Aurora Leigh is also a life record of Victorian women,a concern for women's living circumstances and an expression of women's way to independence.The poem deeply depicted the oppression suffered by Victorian middle-class women and working-class women,as well as their way to independence.This thesis studies the oppression suffered by women of different classes and their journey of pursuing self-independence by breaking the shackles of the patriarchal society in Aurora Leigh.In Victorian Britain,middle-class women were tamed by female education,and imprisoned at home through marriage.Aurora,who was against the domestic education and rejected dependence on marriage,eventually obtained economic and spiritual independence through writing.Aurora,the pioneer woman in fighting against the patriarchy,was willing to make every effort to achieve her independence.The union of Aurora and Romney was the realization of equality between men and women rather than a compromise on patriarchy.Working-class women suffered from both patriarchy and class oppression.Working-class women were attacked by domestic violence and gender discrimination within family;in society,class oppression,sexual abuse and double sexual standards were imposed on them.The working-class woman Marian persevered in her work to gain economic independence,rejected Romney's loveless proposal,realized spiritual independence,despite being trapped in poverty,abducted as well as raped.Aurora Leigh is Elizabeth Browning's presentation of women's problems,a portrayal of Victorian women's life predicaments,the hope of women in the patriarchal society,as well as the footprints of women's trudge for independence.