Student Question
What are the double standards in Middlemarch?
Quick answer:
In Middlemarch, double standards highlight societal constraints on women, particularly through Dorothea's experiences. Her ambitions, like designing cottages for the poor, clash with societal expectations for women to focus on social events. Despite being capable, Dorothea's influence is limited by her husband Casaubon, who imposes restrictive conditions even in his will. The novel portrays marriage as a necessity for women, akin to employment, contrasting with men's varied career options, reflecting broader societal and legal inequities.
Various examples of double standards are used in Middlemarch to particularly demonstrate the societal constraints women faced during this historical era.
The characterization of Dorothea offers several examples of double standards. She is passionate about designing cottages for the poor as a means of making a meaningful impact in her society; unfortunately, women are not expected to pursue such serious matters, and she never finds a truly receptive audience for her plans. Her uncle admits that Dorothea does "not [have] the same tastes as every young lady" and that perhaps a "good fellow" like Casaubon, who "doesn't go much into ideas," might be a good match for her. Dorothea is expected to enjoy "a great establishment, balls, dinners, that kind of thing," and her failure to conform to those societal expectations of women places her on the fringes of society. However, Dorothea is perhaps a bit too confident that a...
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"voluntary submission to a guide who [will] take her along the grandest path" will lead to lifelong happiness. By agreeing to marry Casaubon, Dorothea believes that she will "learn everything" and that she can fulfill her "duty" to "help him ... in his great works." Although she is well educated and capable, Dorothea finds that Casaubon limits her voice and influence. Casaubon trusts his wife, but only to a degree; the double standards which exist even within marriage are exposed by Casaubon's conflicting feelings toward Dorothea. He worries that Ladislaw will "sow her mind with disrespect, and perhaps aversion, toward [him]." Yet he also worries that someone will discover that "he did not find marriage particularly blissful."
Casaubon's double standards for Dorothea's happiness are exposed in a single clause in his will. Upon his death, he leaves his estate to his wife with one stipulation: should Dorothea marry Ladislaw, she will forfeit everything. Although Casaubon recognizes that he and Dorothea do not share an ideal marriage, he also tries to prevent her from ever finding true marital contentment. Of course, women were never able to create such legal contexts as they remained nearly entirely financially dependent on the men in their lives. The very fact that Casaubon is able to create such a clause exposes the legal double standards of this historical context.
Some people believe that Dorothea's second marriage exposes her own double standards as she seemingly contradicts her earlier statements regarding her intended role as a wife. Does she wish for her own personal freedom, or is she determined to once again submit to societal expectations in this marriage?
It could also be argued that women approach marriage much like a form of employment in this novel, because of the limitations placed upon them. While men in the novel have various careers (pastors, physicians, and political leaders, to name a few), women are relegated to becoming wives—to nearly anyone. Talents are dismissed in favor of "ideal" matches which hopefully secure a family's societal influence for another generation.
Other women in the novel face their own double standards, including Rosamond (who represents the double standards of the manufacturing middle class) and Mary (who represents the double standards of the poorer classes).