Mill On The Floss- women in society

The role of women in society is very different today compared to the role of women in Victorian society, in the 19th Century. Discuss this statement with reference to Maggie Tulliver in ‘Mill On The Floss’ Since the book ‘Mill on The Floss’ was written nearly two hundred years ago, it is no surprise that society has changed, especially for women. The fact that Mary Anne Evans had to use a pen name of ‘George …

…to young ladies. Maggie’s social education is seen in all its painful detail. The warring with her mother over her hair and her dress, being hurt by Mr. Stelling’s sexist views of clever women, and her father’s collusion with dominant social conventions all educate Maggie into accepting her inferior status as a woman in a patriarchal society. This ‘training’ inhibits her development as an individual and leads to self-destruction and internal conflict.