Feminism in 19th Century Literature

     This paper focuses on the concept of mid-19th century feminism present in the action and writings of published women in this era. By examining the writings of Sara Payson Willis, known as Fanny Fern to her readers,... [ view full abstract ]

     This paper focuses on the concept of mid-19^th century feminism present in the action and writings of published women in this era. By examining the writings of Sara Payson Willis, known as Fanny Fern to her readers, through the lens of literary criticisms, this paper seeks to illustrate the concept and development of “practical feminism” in the declining era of the Cult of True Womanhood.  The paper moves through the birth of female social commentary by highlighting the importance of sentimental female writers as the beginnings of individual self-worth, with women pursuing careers in writing to support themselves (Welter 159, Wood 6).  It was not until the revolutionary novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin, however, that a women produced a social commentary defying the traditional constructs and expectations of female writers (Shoup 88).  Despite heavy criticism from male reviewers, Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel paved the way for other women, such as Fanny Fern, to exploit the literary market and promote social commentaries criticizing the patriarchal, oppressive society while becoming financially independent (Homestead 211).  

     The success of Stowe’s book and Fern’s writings was revolutionary in order to defy the traditional male literary market; Fern quickly became one of the most successful and financially independent female writers of the mid-19^th century.  The latter half of the paper utilizes this historical background and concepts to analyze Fern’s own writings, from her editorials to her semi-autobiographical novel, Ruth Hall, as a means to understanding the expansion of “practical feminism” and the problematic patriarchal society.  Fern’s scathing criticisms of male writers and critics through the deconstruction of their personas highlights the problematic structure of the patriarchal literary world while also encouraging women confined by an oppressive society to seek out a creative outlet, if only to escape the bonds of male repression.  Through her writings, Fern created a concept of feminism in which women could escape financial and mental destitution in order to become independent from men, allowing the traditional social constructs of the Cult of True Womanhood to deteriorate and women to gain agency in society.