СДУ хабаршысы - 2009

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The Reflections of Victorian Culture and Victorian Gender Roles on Elizabeth Gaskell's Cranford
(Suleyman Demirel University, 2009) Fatma Kalpaklı
This article explores Victorian culture and gender roles through Elizabeth Gaskell's novel Cranford (1851). Victorian society was patriarchal, emphasizing male superiority, obedience, and strict gender divisions. Women were largely confined to domestic duties, denied proper education, and excluded from professions such as law and medicine. In contrast, Cranford presents a unique social microcosm dominated by independent women, who manage finances, run businesses, and engage in intellectual discussions, thus embodying masculine traits within a female-centered society. Gaskell also depicts harmonious and flexible gender relations in marriage, suggesting an androgynous model where both men and women share responsibilities and adapt to changing circumstances. Furthermore, the novel highlights Victorian women’s fears and social conditioning while illustrating their resilience and moral strength. Through Cranford, Gaskell critiques rigid Victorian gender norms and promotes greater equality, adaptability, and mutual respect between men and women.