English 216 FINAL Presentation

Slide One (cover): n/a

Slide Two: In Robin West’s book “Caring for Justice” (1999) in her chapter “Law, Literature, and Feminism” West discusses how literature has the potential to expose the ways that the law is tied to literature. Her book shows a unique viewpoint on topics like gender and sexuality. She then goes on to analyze how these topics not only challenge, but expand people’s understanding of the law. Throughout her chapter “Law, Literature, and Feminism,” she also examines the ways in which feminist legal theory has been shaped throughout history by literary influences. At the end of West’s book, she reviews three structural reasons as to why law and literature have bonded influence on each other. I think that Robin West’s third reason, their relationship to justice, sticks out most to me because, as the prompt of this essay points out, West comments on how “both law and literature have an “interested but ambivalent” relationship to justice”. To me this means that the law is indifferent when faced with fictitious literary interpretations and depictions of it, and that there is no real clear or obtainable meaning of the word justice. When West says on page 191 under “THE CRITICAL PROJECT: THE LITERARY CRITIQUE OF LAW AND LEGALISM” how “law is oftentimes a subject of literature”…”Literature is replete with protagonists who are judges, lawyers, and other legal actors: trials that serve as vehicles for plots; god themes that seem to express well-developed jurisprudential conceptions of the nature of law.” she’s expressing that literature often incorporate fictitious characters that reflect from real legal proceedings and instances- using them as a way to move the plot forward through a realistic lens. She also notes that there are often underlying themes in literature that reflect a well-developed understanding of the nature of law and justice. In other words, literature often explores and reflects upon legal concepts and principles.
In “The Type-Writer Girl” by Grant Allen written in 1897, this is shown through our main character, Juliet Appleton, a woman who works as a typist in a time when women were not allowed to hold many professions. Grant Allen highlights the social and economic constraints that women had to face, the glass ceilings that limited their career opportunities, and the harassment and sexist treatment they had to endure. “The Type-Writer Girl” mirrors the feminist movement of the late 19th century, which focused on women’s right to equal opportunities in education and employment. This relates and reflects back to West’s theories in which she emphasized the ways in which the legal system can perpetuate and reinforce sexism and other forms of oppression, which relates to Juliet and how she was a victim of sexism.
In “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall” by Anne Bronte written in 1848, Bronte’s own ideals are reflected onto feminist legal theory when she explores gender inequality, and the restrictive roles imposed on women in Victorian society. The protagonist, Helen, challenges patriarchal norms by leaving her abusive husband and asserting her independence as a single mother. Additionally, the novel touches on the issue of women’s property rights, which was a significant feminist legal issue in the 19th century. This relates back to West’s ideas that suggest how property law can be used to disadvantage women and other marginalized groups, and that a more caring and empathetic approach is needed to address this issue.

Slide Three: In “Ruth” by Elizabeth Gaskell written in 1853, this is shown when Ruth’s predicament highlights the injustices and prejudices against women in the legal system during that era, where women did not have the right to make their own choices or defend themselves against sexual advances from men. The book reviews the importance of feminist law. Moreover, Gaskell’s portrayal of Ruth’s character and her journey towards redemption highlights the importance of women’s agency and empowerment. Ruth reclaims control over her life by rejecting societal expectations and conventions and embracing a new sense of identity and purpose. This relates back to Robin West’s ideas that a more empathetic and caring legal system could be better equipped to address issues like domestic violence and sexual assault, which are often touched upon in Elizabeth Gaskell’s “Ruth”.
In “Mr. Meeson’s Will” by H. Rider Haggard written in 1888, this is shown when Augusta challenges the patriarchal legal system that often enforces gender-based inequalities such as unequal pay and lack of representation in positions of power. Augusta’s insistence on asserting her right to inherit her uncle’s estate, despite the attempts of the male members of her family to thwart her inheritance, can be viewed as a form of resistance against the oppressive legal norms of her time. This relates back to West’s ideas that a more holistic approach to property ownership could help to challenge patriarchal power structures, which often rely on individualistic and exclusionary notions of property and relates back to the plot of “Mr. Meeson’s WIll” in general.
Despite West’s essay having thought provoking ideals and confidence in dealing with touchy subjects, I feel that overall she can’t convince people who have based their beliefs around the opposite ideals that feminism reenacted through law is the right direction to turn to. Not everyone will agree with her and even in this day and age 24 years later something as profound as Roe V. Wade has been overturned. Despite an armada of women, West included, men are the backbone of this country to this day. We still haven’t had a woman as president, and the fact that we are still fighting for equal pay proves that society in this day and age, for as long as even I can remember and more, has been built around and geared towards white men. This is not to say that I disagree with any of her ideals, I just find that a sense of “justice”, whatever that word may mean to any which person, will always be hard to achieve when she’s writing for a more liberal audience. I feel that if she wrote more equally to both sides of the political spectrum and tried to indoctrinate some of the more republican ideals then more people may be prompted to agree with her.

Slide Four: All of this leads me to say how the theory of Robin West’s third reason, law and literature’s relationship to justice, can be applied to the four women in our novels. In this scenario I direct if students Helen (from “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall” by Anne Bronte, 1848), Ruth (from “Ruth” by Elizabeth Gaskell, 1853), Augusta (from “Mr. Meeson’s Will” by H. Rider Haggard, 1888), and Juliet (from “The Type-Writer Girl” by Grant Allen, 1897) in the twenty first century will be accepted into UNE via Frances Power Cobbe’s essay “The Education of Women” (1870). I’ll be reviewing four young women from the novels we’ve discussed throughout class. Our first heroine is Juliet Appleton from “The Type-Writer Girl”. In this novel by Grant Allen written in 1897, the portrayal of the struggles of women trying to make a living when women’s rights in the workplace are highlighted not only via the limiting law of the time but were also through societal norms and expectations. Our second heroine is Helen from Anne Bronte’s “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall” published in 1848. In this book, Helen’s husband, Arthur, squanders her inheritance and controls her finances, highlighting the lack of legal protection for women’s property rights during this period. Therefore, “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall” speaks to the necessity of feminist law to protect women’s rights and challenge patriarchal norms that have historically oppressed women. In the 1853 novel “Ruth” by Elizabeth Gaskell, it portrays societal norms and expectations during the Victorian era, particularly those relating to women. Ruth, the protagonist, is a young orphaned woman who becomes a victim of seduction by a wealthy gentleman, resulting in her becoming pregnant and shunned by society. Our last heroine is Augusta from “Mr. Meeson’s Will” written by H. Rider Haggard in 1888. She acts as a ward of Mr. Meeson. Augusta is under the legal guardianship of Mr. Meeson, who has significant power over her life and future. Augusta’s struggle to assert her own autonomy and make her own decisions can be seen as a reflection of the broader struggle of women in general.

Slide Five: Overall, I feel that Ruth from “Ruth” by Elizabeth Gaskell (1853) would have the most difficulty getting into UNE because she has no previous education and has been a single mother. She’s also very emotional and is easily tricked. Early in the novel this is stated through the quote in chapter III “She was too young when her mother died to have received any cautions or words of advice respecting the subject of a woman’s life” emphasizing Ruth’s innocence and lack of knowledge about the dangers and temptations of the world. I feel that because of this, Ruth wouldn’t get into UNE because of France’s Power Cobbe’s quote “The girl who has no more lessons”… “who spends her days in frivolous or merely mechanical occupations, has indeed to be pitied, whether she knows it or not.” This quote suggests that a lack of education can leave young girls naive and unprepared for the challenges of life, and since Ruth never had an education and has never been fully exposed to an environment where she’s surrounded by people her age doing normal “girl things” (gossiping, having fun, etc…) I feel that she would not fit in at college or school in general either way. Though she wouldn’t be admitted, I feel that she would choose to major in English or social work with a possible minor in a music field or creative writing. Ruth is kind, compassionate, and an overall empathetic person with a deep love and drive for literature, poetry, and music. She has a strong desire to help others and make a positive impact on the world, so I feel these majors fit her rather well.

Slide Six: Overall, I feel that Helen from the novel “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall” by Anne Bronte (1848) would be accepted into UNE because universities today often seek to admit students from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, including those who have faced social, economic, or cultural disadvantages. As a woman from a lower-class background who faces significant challenges in the novel, Helen definitely fits this profile. As a talented artist, musician, and writer in the novel, Helen might be able to demonstrate her creative abilities by contributing to UNE’s arts and humanities programs. I feel all of this is mainly shown through the quote “I might live there, with my child, under an assumed name, and still support myself by my favourite art”… “and live in lowly independence and strict seclusion” This quote from Helen’s diary entry in chapter XLI expresses her determination to succeed in life despite the obstacles she faces as a woman in the 19th century. It shows that she has a strong sense of ambition and self-motivation, and is willing to work hard and overcome adversity in order to achieve her goals. This relates back to Cobbe’s quote “Girls have always been, and must always be, hampered in their efforts to attain knowledge, by the very nature of the education which they receive.” This quote highlights the idea that young girls face inherent challenges in their education, not because of any lack of ability or effort on their part, but because of the social and cultural barriers that limit their access to education and shape the nature of the education they receive. Knowing that Helen has an appreciation towards the arts, I feel she’d major in Art, with a possible minor in Art Therapy.

Slide Seven: Overall, I feel that Augusta from the novel “Mr. Meeson’s Will” by H. Rider Haggard (1888) would be most likely to be accepted into UNE because she has a lot of perseverance and drive, especially shown through the quote “Augusta was a person of spirit, and determined that she would rather starve than that Meeson should again make huge profits out of her labour.” from chapter IV of the novel. This quote expresses how despite facing numerous obstacles and challenges, Augusta remained determined and persevered in her efforts to achieve her goals. It relates back to Frances Power Cobbe’s quote “Success is the necessary result of the wise employment of appropriate means.” This emphasizes that success is achievable with hard work, dedication, and a strategic approach. For a young woman like Augusta, this quote might encourage her to focus on developing skills, seeking out opportunities for learning and growth, and persisting through challenges in order to achieve her goals like she has throughout “Mr. Meeson’s Will”. But despite this, I feel that Augusta would have difficulty at college because of her tattoos, which are mostly normalized these days but she may be bullied because of how prominent they are. I feel she may even venture to go abroad considering she went to New Zealand already. Knowing that Augusta has an appreciation towards litarute, I feel she’d major in English.

Slide Eight: Overall, I feel that Juliet from the novel “The Type-Writer Girl” by Grant Allen (1888) would be accepted into UNE because of her constantly challenging what’s considered “normal” in the 19th century. Juliet questions the traditional responsibilities and expectations placed on women throughout the narrative, criticizing the patriarchal conventions. Despite opposition and animosity, she fights for women’s rights, equal opportunity, and freedom of speech. She would be a great member of any campus community because of her boldness and dedication to social justice. This is especially shown through the quote in chapter IV “I think that women have a right to work for their living, and that men have no right to keep them out of any occupation they are fitted for by reason of their sex.” She clearly expresses her belief in gender equality and the right of women to work. This specific passage relates back to Frances Power Cobbe’s quote when she comments on how “One most essential point in which a really liberal education can benefit women, is in the opening it may give to various employments.” This quote would have facilitated Juliet by suggesting that a liberal education can provide women with more opportunities for employment, thereby expanding their potential occupations beyond traditional gender roles. But despite this, I feel that Juliet would have difficulty at college because of how she lacks formal education and qualifications, which could be required for admission. Knowing that Juliet has a passion for writing and has already landed a job as a typist, she could potentially pursue a major in literature, creative writing, journalism, or communications. She also shows an interest in social justice issues, so she could potentially major in sociology, political science, or women’s and gender studies. Though she would get into UNE, I’m not sure if she’d stay here considering she’s moved around companies so much in the novel and seems to want only what exceeds her expectations. If she’s like that in the workplace with moving around jobs and whatnot, I feel that she’d only want the perfect university for herself.

Slide Nine: All of the women in our books have a fondness for the arts and some tie to education and feminism. What these flowers represent through a feminist light to me is how they have been used as symbols of resistance and empowerment by feminist activists in history. Many also wore flowers as badges and carried them in their protests.
A quote from each book about each girl’s tie to the arts and what they mean to them are as follows:
Ruth- “Floating away to that bounding music—now far away, like garlands of fairies” (chapter II)
Helen- “My drawing suits me best, for I can draw and think at the same time; and if my productions cannot now be seen by any one but myself, and those who do not care about them, they, possibly, may be, hereafter.” (Chapter XVI)
Augusta- “ut then that is because they do not really love their work, whatever it may be. Those who really love their art as I love mine, with heart and soul and strength, will not be so easily checked.” (chapter XXII)
Juliet- “Juliet was a lover of beauty in all its forms, and she found inspiration in the paintings, sculptures, and architecture that surrounded her.” (Chapter IV)

Slide Ten (end, thank you, sources): n/a