How do nineteenth-century narratives encode suppressed sexuality through illness, fainting, and bodily fragility?
Nineteenth-century narratives employ various techniques to convey the suppression of sexuality, including illness, fainting, and bodily fragility. Throughout the Victorian era, women were expected to conform to strict social norms that restricted their expression of sexual desire and passion. These stories often depict women who are physically weakened by emotional turmoil caused by repressed desires, which manifest in symptoms such as illness and fainting. By using these tactics, authors can explore taboo themes without breaking societal rules.
The first technique is to portray female characters who suffer from physical ailments due to sexual frustration.
In Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre, the eponymous protagonist suffers from fits of fever when she refuses to marry her employer Mr. Rochester. The sickness represents her intense feelings for him, which she cannot express openly because of societal constraints. Similarly, in Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, Cathy's deathbed confession reveals how her love for Heathcliff has destroyed her health. In both cases, the authors use illness as a metaphor for sexual tension, allowing readers to interpret the characters' subconscious thoughts without explicitly stating them.
Another way nineteenth-century narratives encode suppressed sexuality is through fainting episodes. In Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South, Margaret Hale faints after witnessing John Thornton's uninhibited behavior at the mill. This reaction indicates her own repressed passions and desire for intimacy with him. Similarly, in George Eliot's Middlemarch, Dorothea Brooke experiences frequent bouts of dizziness that seem related to her unhappy marriage. These fainting spells suggest that she is not fulfilling her sexual needs and may be looking for something more passionate elsewhere.
Bodily fragility also appears as a symbol of suppressed sexuality in these stories.
In Thomas Hardy's Jude the Obscure, Sue Bridehead becomes physically weakened by the stress of living apart from her lover Jude Fawley. Her frail body represents the emotional toll of denying herself intimacy and physical affection. Similarly, in D.H. Lawrence's Sons and Lovers, Paul Morel suffers from lung problems due to his repressed desires for Miriam Leivers. His physical vulnerability reflects his psychological state and suggests that he cannot fully express his feelings.
By using such techniques, nineteenth-century narratives create intricate webs of meaning that explore taboo topics while adhering to societal norms. They convey the idea that sexual suppression has tangible consequences on mental and physical health without breaking social rules or being censored. Through their use of illness, fainting, and bodily fragility, these authors offer insight into the complexities of human relationships and the power dynamics between men and women.
How do nineteenth-century narratives encode suppressed sexuality through illness, fainting, and bodily fragility?
To begin with, the nineteenth century was known for its Victorian culture which emphasized strict social norms and values that restricted any form of sexual expression. As a result, authors often used subtle tactics to communicate suppressed sexuality through characters' physical and mental states. Illness, fainting, and bodily fragility were some of the most common ways authors encoded this topic in their works.