Thackeray

Abstract

As a man and as a male author Thackeray faced different problems from those faced by Eliot, Brontë and Austen. We have shown how the standards of sexual behaviour expected of women during the nineteenth-century differed from those expected of men. Henry Crawford can sin and get away with it, Mr Rochester can have a string of mistresses, attempt bigamy and still be forgiven. In contrast, Maria Rushworth after an unfortunate marriage pays a horrible price for her attempt to escape from this marriage, although not as horrible as that paid by Hetty Sorrel in her attempt to make a fortunate marriage. Eyebrows are raised at the conduct of Maggie Tulliver and even of Jane Eyre, although they are guilty of nothing more than indiscretion. Brontë and Eliot were reluctant to admit their female identity as authors. Men could visit the Lewes ménage, but women could not. Men could and did profit from the infamous double standard, not suffering the risk or the disgrace of pregnancy and thus being less likely to suffer the shame or the scandal of sexual exposure. Male authors are perhaps less inclined than female to challenge the standard, although they had less to lose if they made such a challenge.