The Newgate Calendar,first published during the eighteenth century, was one of the books, along with the bible, most likely to be found in any English home at this period. It contains a large number of eighteenth century trials and is based on the remarkable book calledThe Malefactor´s Register or New Newgate and Tyburn Calendar.
At this time the moving ideas of criminal legislation were retribution and deterrence, and the punishment of every felony was death. In this manner the primary intention ofThe Newgate Calendarwas to inculcate the principles of the right living and to teach the contemporary moral values according to the roles intended for the different sexes. Particularly the children were encouraged to read it because of the reasons mentioned above.
One of the most extraordinary cases recorded in these volumes is the case of Mary Blandy who was found guilty of parricide and sentenced to death in 1752. Her trial generated enormous public interest with over thirty contemporary pamphlets produced analyzing her character and the trial.1The aim of this essay is to show on the basis of the story about Mary Blandy the predefined role of women in the eighteenth-century and to give an overview about gender roles in general at this time. I will examine the relationship between the female accused and the male leading characters of Sir Francis Blandy and Captain William Henry Cranstoun.
This essay is divided into the introduction, a brief summary of the story, an analysis of Mary Blandy´ s relationship to her father and to William Cranstoun, an account of the gender roles in the eighteenth century, whereupon I put the main emphasis on the role of the women, and the conclusion.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Summary of the Story
3. Analysis of Mary Blandy´ s relationship to her father and to W. Cranstoun
3.1 Relationship to her father
3.2 Relationship to William Cranstoun
3.3 Mary Blandy´s position
4. Gender Roles in Eighteenth Century England
4.1. Ideas of female perfection
4.1.1 Modesty and Restraint
4.1.2 Subjugation
4.1.3 Chastity
4.2. Law, feminine violence and punishment
5. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This study aims to explore the predefined societal roles of women in the eighteenth century by analyzing the specific historical case of Mary Blandy, who was convicted of parricide. The research examines her interpersonal dynamics within a patriarchal framework to shed light on contemporary gender expectations and legal status.
- Examination of the patriarchal power structures in the 18th century.
- Analysis of female education and the pursuit of "female perfection."
- The influence of the "separate spheres" ideology on domestic life.
- Legal limitations and the severity of punishment for female violence.
- The portrayal of Mary Blandy as a victim versus a deliberate offender.
Excerpt from the Book
4.2. Law, feminine violence and punishment
The role to be intended for eighteenth-century women was nowhere more clearly seen than in their legal position. Law was made from men for men and thus women where excluded from almost all important areas of social and politic life and had no rights whether in or outside of marriage. After the death of the father the eldest son succeeded to the estate. Before a daughter could inherit her father´s property all the sons succeeded first. “Their legal existence, in so far as they had one at all, was that of under-age children” 39 A marriage once closed could according to law not be solved unless it was proved that this marriage was invalid. All that was possible was a legal separation, if adultery or cruelty was proven, which resulted hypothetically in a financial settlement for both partners, but normally there was no protection of the wife´s property. Even when the church permitted the dissolution of a marriage Parliament had the ability to engage in this process based on the “passage of a Private Act” 40 concerning adultery. A petition – adultery had to be proved before the court -could be presented to the House of Lords and the dissolution of the marriage took place.
But this action was extremely expensive and thus only the rich could afford it. For the majority a divorce remained impossible. A remarkable point in respect of the role of the woman is that this divorce by reason of a Private Act could indeed be accomplished by a husband whose wife had committed adultery but could not be obtained by a wife whose husband did the same.
Chapter Summary
1. Introduction: Outlines the historical context of The Newgate Calendar and the objective of analyzing gender roles through the case of Mary Blandy.
2. Summary of the Story: Provides a narrative overview of the events leading to the poisoning of Francis Blandy and the subsequent trial of his daughter.
3. Analysis of Mary Blandy´ s relationship to her father and to W. Cranstoun: Investigates the influence of the two primary male figures on Mary's actions and her emotional dependence within the patriarchal system.
4. Gender Roles in Eighteenth Century England: Defines the socio-cultural expectations for women, including the ideology of separate spheres and legal disenfranchisement.
5. Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, confirming that Mary Blandy’s behavior and tragic end align with the rigid gender expectations of her era.
Keywords
Mary Blandy, The Newgate Calendar, Eighteenth Century, Gender Roles, Patriarchy, Parricide, Separate Spheres, Female Education, Chastity, Subjugation, Domesticity, Legal History, Crime and Punishment, Femininity, William Cranstoun
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic work?
The work focuses on interpreting 18th-century gender roles and societal expectations by examining the narrative of Mary Blandy, a woman executed for the murder of her father.
What are the central themes discussed in the text?
The central themes include patriarchal power dynamics, the legal status of women, the ideology of separate spheres, and how these factors influenced the perception of female crimes.
What is the main research question or objective?
The objective is to determine how Mary Blandy’s relationship with her father and her lover reflects the predefined, submissive roles expected of women during the 1700s.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author applies a qualitative analysis of historical documents, specifically comparing the textual accounts from The Newgate Calendar with contemporary scholarly literature on gender history.
What is covered in the main body of the text?
The main body analyzes the narrative of the Blandy trial, evaluates Mary's personal dependencies on her father and Captain Cranstoun, and provides a broader survey of 18th-century gender ideologies.
Which keywords best describe the research?
Key terms include Mary Blandy, 18th-century gender roles, patriarchy, separate spheres, and the legal treatment of female criminals.
How did the legal system handle marital issues for women at that time?
Divorce was almost exclusively available to men, as laws were designed by men to maintain patriarchal control over property and family structure.
Why was the crime of parricide considered particularly shocking?
Parricide was viewed not only as a violation of familial love but as a fundamental breach of the natural order and divine law, often treated similarly to treason.
What does the author conclude about the "honesty" of Mary Blandy's regret?
The author questions whether her remorse was genuine or if it was a narrative construct utilized by contemporary editors to frame her as a tragic figure to teach young women caution.
- Quote paper
- Alexander Schulte-Stemmerk (Author), 2005, Gender Roles in the Eighteenth Century Represented in the Story of Mary Blandy, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/50597
