Independent The Characteristics of Roxana

From the quotation above, it means that women have no right to choose their own selves because there is a patriarchal system in the society. The parents will choose the mate for the m. Roxana is arranged to marry her parent‟s chosen husband. Roxana was fifteen when she was married with a Brewer. Moreover, according to Lucy Bushman who writes an article entitled “Family Life in the 18th Century”, she stated that women and men of the upper classes did not marry for love. Instead, they married strictly for financial and social reasons. Women who wished to continue living within a wealthy household simply did not marry a man of the middle or lower class http:EzineArticles.com?expert=Lucy_Bushman. It can be inferred that the middle class men and women have to marry for financial supported and social status not for love. If an middle class woman wants to live in good fashion and prosperity, she will have to marry an aristocratic man or an middle class man who is mostly working as a Brewer, Landlord, and Merchant. In patriarchal family, the parents will choose a husband or a wife to their children. The middle class men and women marry supposedly for financial support and social status. This custom of marriage arrangement is often happened in England in 1700s-1800s. Roxana who is a middle class woman also faces a marriage arrangement with a Brewer. In the first part, Roxana is described as an educated and smart woman. She is educated and smart woman but still gets inequality from man. Not only lower class women get inequality and hard life but also the upper class women. At that time, only a child of the rich family can go to school. Roxana learn some girl‟s education. Though the upper class women live in prosperity, they are under men‟s control. According to Ashley in her essay “Womens Education” explained women education in the 17 th and 18 century England: During the 17th century, only the daughters of the wealthy or nobility could get an education. By the mid 17th century young women were allowed to go to school with their brothers. Sometimes if you were from money you would be placed within a household of a friend and within the household and you would be taught various things. Some of the things you would learn would be to read and write, run a household, and practice surgery…..Common studies women learnt were French, needlework, geography, music and dancing. Studying anything else was thought to be unnecessary and hurtful to the mind of women. In the 17th and 18th centuries schooling was focused on how to govern a household and how to behave properly within the social class in which her marriage placed her. A lot of the focus was to teach women how to run a household. ” www.womenseducation.blogspot.com. The upper class women in 1800s already had the opportunity to get education. Ashley does not mention that the upper class women learn about politics and economics. The writer can see that they have to had reading, writing, and dancing skill. They also have to run the household; women pursued “womanly art” such as needlework, music, literature and art. These are characteristics and skills the middle class girls must have to make themselves appeal to wealthy men. Thus, the writer can see that the middle class women are only familiar in their own domain, which is restricted by the Victorian custom. Roxana sees that it is unfair treatment for her. Moreover, the documents site clearly explained about middle class women. They typically did not work outside the home. They were expected to focus on her family. Families tended to be large, and it was common for a woman to have five or more children. www.bcpcc.comOutreachss10filesmiddleupper.html. From the document site above, it can be inferred that women‟s area is inside the house. The main and important of school teaching is running a household and needlework. They are expected to manage the home, bearing children and household. It is uncommon for them to join in political institution or manage a business. Roxana also faces this situation. She does not work outside her home. The second characteristic of Roxana is an admirable woman. Roxana‟s appearance is attractive and beautiful. She can easily appeal to a wealthy man such as the Landlord, the King, and the Merchant. Roxana sees that her life is hard and unfair with men. She wants to get money for her survival so that she uses her beauty to attract men. According to Vern and Bonnie Bullough in Women and Prostitution: A Social History book stated the upper class women were probably came to the profession as a mistress or whore for reasons of economic hardship, they were able to turn beauty or talent to advantage Vern and Bonnie Bullough, 1987: 38. From the statement above, it can be inferred that the middle class women take advantage of her beauty and talent to attract wealthy men who met her. Economic hardships become the main reason why the middle class women choose to be a mistress. Being a mistress is common in Victorian era. This condition also happens to Roxana. Roxana and her five children are abandoned by the husband because the trading business of her husband is bankrupt. There are no other relatives that want to help their family. Roxana has to fulfil her five children need. She faces economic hardship as a single parent. Roxana become a mistress in order to survive and fulfil her family needs. Roxana turns her beauty and talent to advantage. Roxana is also described as an independent woman. Though the upper class women live in prosperity, they are under men‟s control. Roxana becomes poor because her husband‟s irresponsibility. She decides to be a mistress and does not want to be under a man‟s rule. Roxana collects a lot of money from some rich men so that she can build her business. She thinks that woman has the same right as man has. She wants to prove that she able to handle and run business. According to Donna J. Guy in her article entitled Stigma, Pleasures, and Dutiful Daughters. Guy stated that prostitution is linked to religious beliefs, family survival, and patriarchy authority. However, women choose prostitution to find independence, provide an income or control their own sexuality 1998: 181. From Guy‟s statement, the writer sees that family is based on patriarchy system. The husband is controlling the family. Because of women has low status in patriarchy society, many women are forced into mistress for helps the family economically. They choose to be a mistress to find independence, survival and control their own sexuality. Guy sees this condition as common object at the time of patriarchy authority in Victorian era. This condition also happens to Roxana‟s life. Roxana is portrayed as an upper class woman in 1800s. She comes from a patriarchal family. Her husband is dominant in the family. Everything he said is right. Roxana‟s opinion for saving