War always has a great influence on a country and the people that fight in it. This was also the case for Canada, when England declared its entrance into World War 1 in August, 1914 .
Thousands of men enlisted during the first days of war, ready to fight and die for their homeland and what they thought to be a better world. Of course this meant a dramatic change in life for them. Leaving behind family and work, not knowing whether one would live to see Canada again.
orce on the men of a country, but most often women are affected just in the same way. This is also the case for Canada during World War 1. Women in those days had to face all kind of problems they were not used to by this time. They found themselves fear about the beloved ones and in psychological conflicts on what they could do to support their homeland. Some decided to work at the home fronts, while others wishing to be close to the battlefield, decided to follow their men overseas. In addition to such mental conflicts, a family had to be financed, and a country`s economy had to be kept stable. So, one could argue that women lives also underlay enormous changes under the influence of World War 1.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Canada and World War 1
3. Women at home during World War 1
3.1 Rilla of Ingleside by Lucy Maud Montgomery
3.2 How World War 1 changed Rilla`s world
4. Women at the front during World War 1
4.1 The Deep by Mary Swan
4.2 How World War 1 changed the twins` lives
5. Comparison
6. How World War 1 changed the lives of Canadian women in general
6.1 Canadian women before World War 1
6.2 Canadian women during World War 1
6.3 Canadian Women after World War 1
7. Conclusion
8. Bibliography
Research Objectives and Key Themes
This academic paper examines the evolving roles of Canadian women during World War 1, exploring how both historical reality and fictional narratives depict these profound societal shifts. The central research question investigates how the war experience influenced women's lives, labor contributions, and personal development as reflected in contemporary literature and the broader historical context.
- The impact of war on gender roles and societal structures in Canada.
- A comparative analysis of fictional representations of women at the home front versus the battle front.
- The socio-economic shifts experienced by Canadian women during the war years.
- The journey toward suffrage and equality in the workplace.
- The psychological and physical tolls of war on the individual and the domestic sphere.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Rilla of Ingleside by Lucy Maud Montgomery
Rilla of Ingleside depicts the life of young Rilla Blythe during the years of World War 1. Rilla, the youngest child of the Blythe family, is a beautiful but a bit selfish and foolish fifteen-year old girl when the war starts. During the course of the story she has to face serious occasions that somehow force her into adulthood. So she founds herself responsible for a little war baby she cares for, although in the beginning of the story she obviously is not very fond of babies. Also she has to see three of her brothers of to war, of which only two return.
In Rilla of Ingleside Montgomery shows what war life was like for those who stayed behind. The reader gets a good idea of what work was done at the so called “home front”. The picture of women described in Montgomery`s Rilla of Ingleside is of the more traditional kind, as will be shown on the following pages. As she herself also came from a traditional background, she knew very well what she wrote about. In the war years she took part in many activities she was going to let her protagonist do as well, for example “knitting socks for soldiers and Red Cross activities, quiltings, organization of concerts, recitations and coaching of plays.”
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the profound impact of World War 1 on Canada and sets the stage for exploring the changing roles of women through literature and historical analysis.
2. Canada and World War 1: This section provides a historical overview of Canada's entry into the war, the resulting mobilization of society, and the initial economic shifts that created new opportunities for women.
3. Women at home during World War 1: This chapter analyzes the domestic experience of women during the conflict, focusing on Lucy Maud Montgomery's narrative to illustrate the transition from traditional girlhood to wartime responsibility.
4. Women at the front during World War 1: This section examines the experiences of women who served near the battlefields, utilizing Mary Swan's novella to highlight the traumatic realities and psychological changes they faced.
5. Comparison: This chapter contrasts the idyllic, traditional portrayals of the home front with the stark, realistic depictions of women serving overseas, highlighting the differing impacts of the war.
6. How World War 1 changed the lives of Canadian women in general: This chapter provides a comprehensive historical analysis of Canadian women's status before, during, and after the war, detailing the struggle for suffrage and employment equality.
7. Conclusion: This section summarizes the ambiguous nature of the war's legacy—serving as a catalyst for women's emancipation while simultaneously imposing deep personal and societal tragedies.
8. Bibliography: This section lists the academic sources and literary works referenced throughout the paper.
Keywords
World War 1, Canadian Women, L. M. Montgomery, Rilla of Ingleside, Mary Swan, The Deep, Home Front, Suffrage, Female Emancipation, Gender Roles, Wartime Labor, Social Change, Canadian History, Literature Analysis, Psychological Impact.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
The paper explores how the experiences of World War 1 fundamentally altered the lives and social roles of Canadian women, analyzed through both historical research and fictional narratives.
Which literary works are used to illustrate these themes?
The author uses Lucy Maud Montgomery's 'Rilla of Ingleside' to represent the home front and Mary Swan's 'The Deep' to represent the experiences of women closer to the battlefields.
What is the central research goal?
The goal is to understand the scope of change in Canadian women's positions, balancing their newfound independence with the enduring hardships and societal expectations of the era.
What research methods are employed?
The paper employs a literary analysis of two selected fictional works combined with a historical evaluation of societal trends in Canada between 1914 and 1919.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The body covers the distinct experiences of women at home versus those overseas, a comparative analysis of these experiences, and an extensive review of the historical developments regarding women's rights and labor during the war.
Which keywords best describe this research?
Key terms include World War 1, Canadian Women, Gender Roles, Suffrage, Female Emancipation, and the specific literary works mentioned.
Why did the author choose these two specific books for comparison?
The author selected them because they offer contrastive but realistic perspectives—one reflecting the traditional expectations of the home front and the other reflecting the stark, traumatic realities of those serving abroad.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding the war's legacy for women?
The author concludes that while the war was a significant contributor to women's emancipation, it also brought immense personal tragedy, resulting in an ambiguous but ultimately transformative legacy for future generations.
- Quote paper
- Vanessa Lengert (Author), 2006, How World War 1 changed the lives of canadian women, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/78227
