Subverting Female Intellect: The Feminization of Literacy and the Portrayal of the “Unreasonable” Mind in Victorian Novels (1850-1870)

Abstract

Drawing on the framework of female identity and its relation to available education, this thesis explores the feminization of literacy in Victorian England and its effects on popular novels of the era. By exploring both the sociological and psychological dynamics of identity formation, it can be shown that societal norms reinforced segregated gender roles. By connecting this rigid sociological framework to the publishing advancements seen during the Victorian era, this thesis will show how literature became a powerful mirror to Victorian society, contributing to a broadening of access to literature and an enabling of women to engage in self-education. This analysis focuses on how popular sensational novels, such as The Woman in White and Lady Audley's Secret, and popular introspective novels, such as Villette and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, fostered an imaginative space for readers to explore the complexities of female anxieties and aspirations. Through these narratives, this thesis underscores the enduring struggle for female autonomy within restrictive societal frameworks, emphasizing the profound role of literature in both reflecting and shaping societal perceptions and its connection to the construction of female identity during the Victorian period.