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Key Quotations: Gender

Shelley both enforces and challenges certain gender stereotypes of the nineteenth century in her characterisation and use of language.

The Angel in the House

The Angel in the House

  • Although Elizabeth loves Victor deeply, she is so selfless that she values his happiness above her own.
  • She cannot imagine getting any joy from marrying the man she loves if it is not exactly what he wants.
  • In her self-sacrificing devotion to Victor here, Elizabeth seems to epitomise aspects of the Angel in the House.
Elizabeth

Elizabeth

  • “I confess to you, my friend, that I love you…But it is your happiness I desire as well as my own when I declare to you that our marriage would render me eternally miserable unless it were the dictate of your own free choice.” (Volume Three: Chapter 5)
Shelley's use of language

Shelley's use of language

  • Shelley focuses on Safie’s agency.
    • The use of “resolved” makes her sound active, independent, and certain.
  • Shelley emphasises this with the strong adjectives that she uses to describe Safie’s opinions.
    • Safie describes Turkey as “abhorrent” and her feelings “adverse”.
Safie's agency

Safie's agency

  • Shelley demonstrates how Safie takes sensible actions in order for her plan to be successful, “taking” jewels and “money” with her to support herself.
  • Her agency is further demonstrated through Shelley’s use of verbs, with “quitted” and “departed” making her actions seem decisive and final.
Safie's resolve

Safie's resolve

  • “When alone, Safie resolved in her own mind the plan of conduct that it would become her to pursue in this emergency."
  • "A residence in Turkey was abhorrent to her; her religion and her feelings were alike adverse to it."
  • "She hesitated some time, but at length she formed her determination." (Volume Two: Chapter 6)
Safie's departure

Safie's departure

  • "Taking with her some jewels that belonged to her, and a sum of money, she quitted Italy...and departed for Germany.” (Volume Two: Chapter 6)
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Plot Summaries

2

Characters

3

Key Themes

4

Authorial Method

5

Context

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Recap: Main Quotes

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