Jennifer 1 Jennifer Bernal Dr.

Haas Writing 37 January 31, 2014 How the Roles of Women Have Changed Women have always been viewed as an object that can be owned. They are rarely ever seen as just a human being like a man is. Looking back many centuries ago womens roles were completely different. We see this in the story of the Hound of the Baskervilles, when we see the roles played by both Mrs. Stapleton and Mrs. Barrymore. Why were woman viewed as minorities and why did they have to obey the laws of men? Religion had a lot to do with this norm, in the Victorian Era. Religion was a big part of an individuals life in the Victorian Era and individuals usually did everything they could to live by the rules of religion because if they didnt they would be damned or disowned. The Church of England had marked the Victorian Era and since then it has played a major role in not only politics but in social status as well. Living by the rules of religion was also seen as a norm that the man would be the main provider of the family while the woman was expected to stay home care for the children, have the house spotless and attend her husband. Women were expected to do so much, and although they did not contribute financially they were basically the backbone of the household. Overall women usually played the stereotypical roles of house wives throughout the Victorian Era. At the beginning of The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle there is an example of the roles played by women in the Victorian Era. An example of a typical role that a woman would have played in the Victorian Era would be Mrs.

Jennifer 2 Barrymore. Mrs. Barrymore was the wife of Mr. Barrymore, they were both workers of Sir Charles of Baskerville the heir of the Baskerville fortune. Mrs. Barrymore was the sister of the escaped prisoner who was a murderer. Yes, sir, my name was Selden, and he is my brother. (Doyle 68) Even though her brother was a criminal Mrs. Barrymore felt obligated to help her brother because she had helped raise him. But to me, sir, he was always the curly headed boy that I had nursed and played with as an older sister would. (Doyle 68) When he dragged himself here one night weary, and starving, with the warders hard at his heels, what could we do? (Doyle 68) This short passage shows that Mrs. Barrymores motherly instinct kicked in, this is very typical behavior for any older sister, she felt that it was her obligation to help her little brother in his time of need. Another example portraying the role of women during the Victorian Era in The Hound of the Baskervilles would be Miss Stapleton, she was said to be the beloved sister of the naturalist Mr. Stapleton but we later find out that she was actually his wife. The lady who has passed here as Miss Stapleton is in reality his wife. (Doyle 92) The fact that Miss Stapleton listened to Mr. Stapleton and agreed to be known as his sister shows how little woman had a say in things. In the novel we learned that Mrs. Stapleton was not allowed to associate with people unless her husband approved of it. Hush, my brother is coming! Not a word of what I have said. (Doyle 51) These women were both expected to follow the stereotype that was expected of women in the Victorian Era. They were not allowed to be educated and were not supposed to be more successful than men or hold high positions like men do. In another of Sir Arthur Conan Doyles short stories A Scandal in Bohemia, we see another example of a role played by a woman. Although this time there was an

Jennifer 3 exception, the role that was played wasnt that of a typical woman during the Victorian Era. In this novel a woman named Irene Adler was introduced, she was a female actress during the Victorian Era. Irene Adler was a wanted woman because she had taken a scandalous picture with the King and the King immediately demanded that Sherlock found her so that he could take the picture away from her because it could cause a bad situation for the Kings upcoming marriage. "Threatens to send them the photograph. And she will do it. I know that she will do it. You do not know her, but she has a soul of steel. (Doyle 11) Although Holmes was always able to solve mysteries this was the first one he could not solve. Holmes usually used disguise to help him solve his mysteries because they would help him out smart people. In this case it was different. Irene Alder did not let Holmes outsmart her, she was a very smart and educated woman unlike most woman of her time period. Although Holmes was in a disguise Irene immediately knew it was Sherlock. When Holmes went back to Irene Alders house the next day to take the next step towards solving his mystery he was informed by her housekeeper that Irene had moved and she had left a note. The note explained that she knew it was him all along and she was the first person male or female to ever out smart Holmes. And that was how a great scandal threatened to affect the kingdom of Bohemia, and how the best plans of Mr. Sherlock Holmes were beaten by a woman's wit. (Doyle) These short passages show the differences in the role played by Irene Adler when compared to the roles of Mrs. Barrymore and Miss Stapleton. Overall the roles of women throughout the Victorian Era were pretty similar to each other. Most women played the role of the typical housewife like Miss Stapleton and Mrs. Barrymore in The Hound of the Baskervilles while few others like Irene Adler from

Jennifer 4 a Scandal in Bohemia did not follow the norm that was expected of women during the Victorian Era.

Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan. The Hound of the Baskerville. United Kingdom: The Strand Magazine, 1902. Print. Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan. A Scandal in Bohemia. United Kingdom: The Strand Magazine, 1891. Print.