The Power of Two: Reciprocal Feminism in Browning's "Aurora Leigh" — Presentation Detail — Celebration of Scholars

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The Power of Two: Reciprocal Feminism in Browning's "Aurora Leigh"

Name: Tyler Strohl
Major: English
Hometown: Aurora, Illinois
Faculty Sponsor: Alyson Kiesel
Other Sponsors:
Type of research: Senior thesis

Abstract

The Power of Two: Reciprocal Feminism in Browning's Aurora Leigh

Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s self-proclaimed “novel in verse” Aurora Leigh (1856), centers on two female characters, Marian Erle and Aurora Leigh, both of whom pursue non-conforming roles in Victorian England. For the purpose of this argument, Aurora and Marian’s relationship has been classified as reciprocal and complementary. Aurora and Marian are characters that emerge from the patriarchic society, particularly because of their reciprocal relationship. This thesis ties in the emergence of their non-traditional traits and the complementary nature of Aurora and Marian, which qualifies them as ‘new women.’ This thesis addresses Browning’s novel through the immediate emergence and independence of Aurora and the subsequent mentoring of Marian by Aurora into a leading character herself. Paying specific attention to the intimacy of Aurora and Marian, and Marian’s newborn son, this paper addresses how the complementary nature of the principle characters’ relationship promotes their classification as ‘new women.’ It uses a feminist approach to analyze Aurora’s attitudes and actions, then explore Aurora’s continuing independence as well as her modeling and guidance to Marian on her own search for clarity and self-governance. Finally, this paper analyzes the end of the novel, where Aurora marries Romney Leigh and Marian chooses to raise her own son as an independent woman, and how the culminations of each female character contributes to the overall classification of Aurora and Marian.

Primary Source

Barrett Browning, Elizabeth. Aurora Leigh. 1859. Margaret Reynolds. Norton Critical Edition. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1996.

Poster file