In the term paper, I argue that the presented father-daughter relationship is shaped by and founded on the Cult of True Womanhood. In addition, the narrator comments on sentimental values such as domesticity and purity in order to show how Kate embodies those.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1. Thesis and analytical approach
1.2. Contextualization
2. Main part
2.1. The narrator and Kate
2.2. Interaction with her father
3. Conclusion
Objectives & Research Focus
This term paper explores the representation of the father-daughter relationship in T.S. Arthur's short story "The Broken Merchant," specifically analyzing how individual identity and agency are shaped by the societal expectations of the mid-19th century.
- Examination of the Cult of True Womanhood as a rigid ideological framework.
- Analysis of narrative discourse and focalization in the text.
- Investigation into the influence of alcoholism on family dynamics.
- Assessment of gender roles as performative constructs within 1840s literature.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1. Thesis and analytical approach
Relationships between people are subjective and multi-layered because they always involve more than one head and therefore allow different ways of perception. In literature, however, the situation is different, as the characters and their relationships are fixed to one viewing angle and are described from only one perspective. In the short story "The Broken Merchant" by T.S. Arthur, the relationship between Kate and her father is a central theme, and their relationship is largely influenced by the young woman's actions and behavior.
In the following term paper, I will argue that their father-daughter relationship is shaped by and founded on the Cult of True Womanhood. In addition, the narrator comments on sentimental values such as domesticity and purity in order to show how Kate embodies those.
As in any literary performance, it is crucial to differentiate between the narrative and the narration. Insofar as fictional texts create imaginative worlds and possibilities, they also create the characters they contain, their patterns of relationships, as well as their individual gender identities, which can be understood as temporal-spatial performances.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter defines the central thesis, arguing that the relationship between characters Kate and her father is heavily constructed through the lens of mid-19th-century gender ideologies.
2. Main part: This section provides a detailed analysis of the narrative techniques, focalization, and the specific societal pressures exercised on the character of Kate under the Cult of True Womanhood.
3. Conclusion: The concluding chapter summarizes how the story reinforces these ideals, suggesting that Kate's trajectory is determined by both her father's failures and the passive role assigned to her by contemporary morality.
Keywords
T.S. Arthur, The Broken Merchant, Cult of True Womanhood, sentimentalism, temperance movement, gender roles, narrative theory, father-daughter relationship, 19th-century literature, domesticity, identity, performativity, textual analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the literary representation of the father-daughter relationship in T.S. Arthur’s "The Broken Merchant," analyzing the impact of 19th-century moral and temperance-related ideals.
Which theoretical concept is central to the analysis?
The primary theoretical framework used is Barbara Welter’s "Cult of True Womanhood," which dictates the standard for female purity, domesticity, and submission.
What is the research goal concerning the female protagonist?
The goal is to demonstrate how the protagonist, Kate, embodies the rigid societal expectations of her time and how her agency is limited by her submissive role.
Which methodological approach is applied?
The author uses literary narrative analysis, focusing on narrative mode, voice, and focalization as proposed by narratological theorists like Martínez and Scheffel.
What primary themes are investigated in the main analysis?
The analysis covers the influence of the Temperance Movement, the impact of alcoholism on familial structure, and the performance of gender identity.
How is the term "True Womanhood" defined in this context?
It refers to the 19th-century ideal of the American woman, categorized by piety, purity, domesticity, and submission, often marketed through women’s magazines of the era.
Why is the narrator described as "unreliable"?
The narrator is viewed as unreliable because they consistently idealize Kate, describing her only as a "guardian angel" while filtering out her complex internal emotional life.
How does the father's alcoholism contribute to the story's conflict?
The father’s alcoholism serves as the catalyst for the social and financial decline, which forces Kate deeper into her restrictive role as a caretaker, fulfilling the "True Womanhood" trope.
Does the story offer any form of liberation for Kate?
No, the analysis concludes that the story offers Kate no path outside of her prescribed social boundaries; even her eventual survival is linked to external help from others.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2022, Cult of True Womanhood in "The Broken Merchant" by T.S. Arthur, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/1332138
