In Science's Shadow: Literary Constructions of Late Victorian WomenUniversity of Missouri Press, 2006 - 239 pages The Victorian era was characterized by great scientific curiosity--as exemplified by the publication of Darwin's Descent of Man--as well as by new questions regarding the place of women in society. Patricia Murphy now explores the tenuous interplay of gender and science to show how the era's literature both challenged and reinforced a constrictive role for Victorian women. Focusing on a specific body of literature involving women intensely associated with scientific pursuits, and examining selected noncanonical writings--both fictional and nonfictional representations of scientific women--Murphy demonstrates how these works informed the "Woman Question" by reinforcing or rejecting presumed truths about gender and science. Some of these texts offer lucid insights into the ways in which women were defined, marginalized, and excluded. In his novel Two on a Tower, Thomas Hardy presented science as a masculine realm threatened by female intrusion, while Wilkie Collins in Heart and Science depicted a woman interested in science as a villainous schemer who falls far short of the Victorian ideal of femininity. And although Charles Reade's novel A Woman-Hater was more sympathetic in its portrayal of a female physician, it continued to reinforce Victorian stereotypes. In contrast, Murphy also shows us the poetry of science enthusiast Constance Naden, who used the language of the discipline to reflect its marginalization of women. Murphy also uses the travel memoirs of botanical painter Marianne North, which reveal her attempts to achieve a gender-neutral voice to position her work within the Victorian scientific realm. Through the words of these women, Murphy shows how popular notions of women's inferiority and marginality were internalized and addressed. These close readings further elucidate the status of women in late-nineteenth-century England and show how prejudices about women's intellectual inferiority infiltrated popular culture. In Science's Shadow makes new inroads in the study of gendered scientific discourse while introducing readers to some little-known, but most revealing, literary works |
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Page 60
... suggests that Amy is less an independent thinker than a mimic who merely repeats the words deemed suitable for her ... suggest , misleading reading . In light of the other poems , the prosodic techniques in " The New Ortho- doxy ...
... suggests that Amy is less an independent thinker than a mimic who merely repeats the words deemed suitable for her ... suggest , misleading reading . In light of the other poems , the prosodic techniques in " The New Ortho- doxy ...
Page 104
... suggests there is no escape from female presence , which is always a source of danger ; marriage , for him , ends in death through his own successful suicide attempt . The geographic separation Swithin attains in moving to Africa ini ...
... suggests there is no escape from female presence , which is always a source of danger ; marriage , for him , ends in death through his own successful suicide attempt . The geographic separation Swithin attains in moving to Africa ini ...
Page 208
... suggests that Rhoda's ability to prac- tice is totally subject to his desires , for her brother " wishes to try one [ female physician ] " ( 326 ) . Similarly , the medical establishment's efforts to exclude Rhoda from the local ...
... suggests that Rhoda's ability to prac- tice is totally subject to his desires , for her brother " wishes to try one [ female physician ] " ( 326 ) . Similarly , the medical establishment's efforts to exclude Rhoda from the local ...
Contents
Fated Marginalization | 41 |
A Problematic Boundary | 72 |
Dangerous Behavior | 106 |
Copyright | |
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In Science's Shadow: Literary Constructions of Late Victorian Women Patricia Murphy Limited preview - 2006 |
Common terms and phrases
ability Allan argued asserted assessing associated astronomer Athenaeum attributed becomes Benjulia Birkett Blackwell body botanical Carmina character Charles Reade Cobbe Constance Naden Darwin Despite Differences displays domestic effect emotion emotionality ence essay essentialist Evolution evolutionary eyes feminine feminized Frances Power Cobbe Gallilee Gallilee's garden gaze gender Hardy's Harrington Heart and Science human husband identified inferior influence instance intellectual interest Jex-Blake Lady language Luce Irigaray Madame Fontaine male Marianne North masculine masculine rhymes Maudsley Medical Women memoirs mental mother narrative voice narrator nature noted novel observation Ovid paintings phallic physician poem position pursuits qualities realm Recollections references remarks reveals Review Rhoda role scientists seemingly serves Severne Sex in Mind sexual sexual selection Sophia Jex-Blake speaker stanza suggests Swithin t]he Thomas Hardy tion tower traits underscores Victorian Fiction Victorian women Viviette Viviette's vivisection Wilkie Collins woman Woman-Hater womanhood womanly women travelers writings