Aurora Leigh (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Elizabeth Barrett Moulton
- First Published: 1856
- Type of Work: Poetry and novel (verse novel)
- Type of Plot: Bildungsroman
- Time of Work: Mid-nineteenth century
- Setting: Italy and England
- Genres: Short fiction, Bildungsroman, Poetry, Narrative poetry
- Subjects: Love or romance, Gender roles, Nineteenth century, Europe or Europeans, Marriage, Poetry or poets, England or English people, London, Youth, Italy or Italians, Victorian era or Victorianism
- Locales: Paris, France, London, England, Italy
Characters Discussed
Aurora Leigh, a heroic woman who dares to defy contemporary and traditional attitudes toward women, female writers in particular. Bravely, she rejects the security of Romney’s proposed “bequest” and offer of marriage to live alone in London, pursuing her career as a poet on very limited funds. She asserts that women can be artists and accepts the loneliness of a single life rather than surrender into the role of a submissive wife. She befriends Marian and offers to take her to Italy as her companion and “sister.” She accurately evaluates Lady...
[The entire page is 1195 words long]
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