The Representation of Gender in Eliza Haywood's 'Fantomina'

Dossier / Travail , 2012 , 12 Pages , Note: 1,3

Philologie Anglaise - Littérature

Looking at the representation of Eliza Haywood in the works of literary scholars reveals an ambivalent positioning. Whereas some authors regard Haywood's works as central cornerstones of either the genre of the novel or women's writing in general (or both), others hardly mention her and if so, Eliza Haywood is presented more as a public figure in the early eighteenth century or for the arguments she had with contemporary writers like Jonathan Swift or Alexander Pope (cf. Probyn 229f.) than as a competitive writer.
A similar phenomenon can be noticed in the way in which her novel Fantomina; or, Love in a Maze is included. Again, some authors make Fantomina and the female protagonist the center of their studies (especially in cases where the main focus is on the role of women), others consider it not even worth mentioning, even when selecting works by Haywood for a special edition (cf. Backscheider). All this leads to the conclusion that Fantomina (or Haywood in general) is especially relevant for writers dealing with the role of women in literature, either as writers or as protagonists within the actual works.
The concept of gender as the distinction between male and female entities is one which has been developed in the 20th century and is at the same time especially a matter of English language. Many other languages express gender with the same word they use for genre (cf. Skinner 53) or for sex1. However, gender roles have also been an issue in literature before before the term's introduction. In this paper, I will first discuss whether the rise of the novel and Eliza Haywood as a writer have been promotive elements to gender issues in literature. Secondly, I will use some selected elements of Fantomina to examine gender-related questions in the plot and finally, I will use the conclusion to point out the gender roles represented in Fantomina with respect to the time it was written in.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• The rise of the novel and Haywood's contributions to feminist literature
• Gender case studies in Fantomina
  • The Proper Lady vs. the hunter and gatherer
  • The quasi-unmentioned rape of Celia
• Doing gender: generalization and the all-dominant question "Who's in charge?"
  • Gender stereotypes in Fantomina
  • The shifting dominance in the relationship between the protagonist and Beauplaisir

Objectives and Key Themes

This paper examines the representation of gender in Eliza Haywood's novel Fantomina, analyzing how gender roles and stereotypes influence the plot and characters' actions. The paper first explores the historical context of the rise of the novel and Haywood's contribution to feminist literature. It then delves into specific case studies in Fantomina, highlighting the interplay of gender roles, class consciousness, and social expectations. Finally, the paper investigates how gender stereotypes shape the dynamic relationship between the protagonist and Beauplaisir.

• The role of women in 18th-century literature
• Gender stereotypes and their influence on behavior
• The power dynamics between men and women in relationships
• The representation of female agency and desire
• The impact of social conventions and expectations on individuals

Chapter Summaries

The introduction provides context for the study of Eliza Haywood's work, highlighting the ambivalent reception she received from literary scholars. It also establishes the paper's focus on examining gender representations in Fantomina.

The second chapter explores the connection between the rise of the novel and the development of women's writing in 18th-century England. It discusses how female novelists like Haywood, Behn, and Manley challenged male perspectives and ideologies by writing about female heroines for a predominantly female audience.

The third chapter delves into specific instances in Fantomina where gender roles are evident. It contrasts the protagonist's need to conceal her true identity with Beauplaisir's more open pursuit of multiple women. The chapter also explores the issue of female agency and the transgression of courtship norms in the novel.

Keywords

The key concepts explored in this paper include gender, gender roles, female agency, social conventions, the rise of the novel, feminist literature, 18th-century English literature, Eliza Haywood, Fantomina, and the representation of women in literature.

• Université: University of Wuppertal (Fachbereich Geistes- und Kulturwissenschaften)
• Cours: British Literature
• Note: 1,3
• Auteur: Bastian Immanuel Wefes (Auteur)
• Année de publication: 2012
• Pages: 12
• N° de catalogue: V201479
• ISBN (ebook): 9783656274995
• ISBN (Livre): 9783656277064
• Langue: anglais
• mots-clé: Gender, Fantomina, Eliza Haywood