| Trollope's position regarding "The Woman Question" is still unclear to many critics; his public statements and the portraits of his female characters are often at odds with one another. Is he a feminist, or does he adhere to the traditional Victorian's position on this issue? One answer to this question may be formulated by looking at Trollope's depiction of courtship and marriage in the six novels which make up the Palliser series.;Over the course of these novels, Trollope creates a new vision of the ideal young woman: she is self-sufficient and knows what she desires from life. His vision of a successful marriage comes to resemble that of his contemporary John Stuart Mill. Trollope, like his creation the Duke of Omnium, is able to separate his personal opinions regarding "The Woman Question" from his role as a chronicler of the "real" world. |
