Portrayal of Jane Osborne in Vanity Fair Essay -- Victorian Era Willia

The Redundant WomanThackerays delineation of Jane Osborne in Vanity Fair is precise troubling to the reader of the 20th century. Grown to be a muliebrity who is stuck under her tyrannical contracts roof, her life appears to be very confining and menial. Her sister snubs her, her nephew mocks her fundament her back, her father mocks her to her face, and her main role in life seems to be as her fathers housekeeper. However, Thackerays portrayal would have had a very different effect on the mincing reader. While all of these things which affronted us would have been equally awful to them, Thackeray uses another key phrase which has alienated its effect on our modern minds that unfortunate and now middle-aged one-year-old lady (448). Jane Osbornes future has progressed from being uncertain, waiting somewhat impatiently for a suitors attentions, to a dreadful certainty she is quickly becoming what the Victorians referred to as a redundant woman.DestinyA Victorian woman was bred up with the honored ideals of someday being wives, daughters, and guardians of the home (Parkinson). A model young woman was designed as a talk terms tool her person, characteristics, skills, and, for those who were fortunate, dowry were key chips to be laid in a game of houses which defined the noblest aspirations of Victorian society. The very spheres of influence written about by so many authors of the time, both male and female, dictated that what the woman is to be within her fates, as the centre of order, the balm of distress, and the mirror of bang that she is also to be without her fates, where order is more than difficult, distress more imminent, paleness more rare (Ruskin). However, being bred for marriage produces a number of problems hundre... ...n has arrive very antiquated, and purposeless in a world where women have more and more opportunities for equal advancement, affirmative action, etc. It is interesting, however, to note that the ideas of spheres of influen ce suave persist, though somewhat altered.Works CitedGreg, W. R. Why Are Women Redundant? (excerpt). tail fin Junior. Elizabeth Langland. Broadview Literary Text. Toronto Broadview pressing Ltd., 2002. Pages 449-450.Ruskin, John. Of Queens Gardens (excerpt). Phoebe Junior. Elizabeth Langland. Broadview Literary Text. Toronto Broadview Press Ltd., 2002. Pages 446-449.Parkinson, Allison. Sphere Switching Polly, Work/Life Choices and the redundant woman in 19th Century London. November 9, 2004. Thackeray, William M. Vanity Fair. New York Random House, Inc., 2001.