Explore Solutions To Social Problems

As an important female writer of the Victorian era,Mrs.Gaskell shows deep concern about social issues.She expresses her thoughts on class contradictions,women's issues and ethical issues through the female characters in the social-problem novels,which has a profound humanitarian spirit.In English literature,Mrs.Gaskell is arguably the first writer to describe labor-capital contradiction in her novels.She expresses her deep sympathy for the unfortunate fate of the working class by showing the miserable life situation of the female workers.On the one hand,Mrs.Gaskell longs to change the poor life of workers,however,on the other hand,she expresses her opposition to the violent resolution of contradictions through the perception of female figures.She uses the mouth of the female characters in the novel to express the wish that the employers and employees can put their respective class identities aside,and communicate in an equal personal capacity.In this way,they can resolve the conflict in peace.In addition to the class contradiction,Mrs.Gaskell also follows the trend of the times and reflects the plight of women in Victorian times.It is because Mrs.Gaskell is soberly aware of the reality that women are imprisoned in a patriarchal society that the women she shapes in her novels show the same wisdom and bravery as men.They are the rational angel in the house and can deal with home affairs independently.They go out of the house into society to realize their own value,and even become heroines to save men at critical moments.Through shaping these women,Mrs.Gaskell confirms women's own value.In a word,she calls for equality in gender relations.But it is undeniable that the writer's female thoughts also have limitations.As for the morality of the Victorian era,Mrs.Gaskell also expresses her reflection through the female characters.By showing the impact of utilitarianism on the unfortunate fate of women,Mrs.Gaskell questions the utilitarian ethics that only pursue personal interests in the Victorian period;at the same time,she advocates Kantian's deontology by shaping typical altruistic women.Mrs.Gaskell also writes about the bumpy experiences of fallen women on the fringes of society in order to condemn the hypocritical and rigid Victorian morality,advocating the evangelical doctrine which believes the possibility of redemption and gives sympathy and help to fallen women.Mrs.Gaskell pays attention to the social problems,which reflects her sympathy for the unfortunate people who are oppressed by exploitation,the emphasis on human dignity and the call for equality among people.On this basis,she hopes to build a harmonious society that transcends class,gender and ethics,giving everyone a place to shelter.