From the statements above it can be seen that she is proper to be a mistress that a wife. She has a freedom to determine what she wants to be done or not. She
prefers to be a mistress because there is no limitation to gain everything. Yet, for her idea, a wife is such as a servant and has poor law in the family.
Roxana describes as an educated and smart woman in this novel. It can be seen through the way she criticizes her husband, solving problems and herself as a
mistress.
2. Admirable
One of the characteristics of Roxana is an admirable person. She is beautiful and charming so that every man who she has met is attracted to her. As
stated by Murphy, the author can describe a character‟s appearance and clothes.
From author‟s description about the character physically, the readers can imagine the character 1972: 161. Even though she is a widow, she is still attractive and
pretty that can appeal a wealthy man who met her. By the concourse of ladies and the others that thus came to visit me I
began to be much known, and as I did not forget to set myself out with all possible advantage, considering the dress of a widow, which in those days
was a most frightful thing, I say, as I did thus my own vanity, for I was not ignorant that I was very handsome, I say, on this account I was soon made
my very public, and was known by the name of La belle veuve de Poitou,
or „The pretty widow of Poitou.‟ As I was very pleased to see myself thus handsomely used in my
affliction… Defoe, 2000: 28
Roxana is a beautiful widow and popular in Poitou. Many men adore to her. As stated by Murphy states
that a person‟s character in the novel can be revealed through what the character says. Whenever a character speaks in
conversation, we can see his personality from the opinion that he gives 1972: 161. Roxana‟s physical appearance can be seen by her speech.
I was rich, beautiful, and agreeable and not yet old; I had known something of the influence I had had upon the Fanciest of Men, even of the
highest r ank…having already been adored by Princess, I thought of
nothing less than of being a Mistress of the King himself Defoe, 2000: 79
Roxana realizes that now she is a beautiful rich woman. She has inherited much money and jewellery from the Landlord. It means as a beautiful woman,
Roxana is interesting for wealthy man. Her beauty also makes the Prince fall in love with her so that he asks her to be his mistress. Being his mistress is the
chance of Roxana to be called as the finest woman in French. She wants to live better as before she is left by her first husband. She comes from the upper class
before facing the bad circumstances in her life.
3. Independent
Roxana is an independent woman. Roxana thinks that her life is not balance and equal with man. She is educated and admirable but still gets
inequality. Therefore, she does not want to be under a man‟s control. She wants to
be independent woman. Murphy states that a person‟s character in the novel can
be revealed through the reaction of the character. The author can also give the readers clue to a character by letting them know that character reacts to various
situations and events 1972: 162. Although most women prefer to stay at home and do house works, Roxana
chooses jewel trading as her business. According to her, woman has to be
productive and able to earn money for herself. She also wants to prove that she has an ability to run her business. Money is a source to gain power. Money
supports her authority and to be an independent woman. Roxana does not have to be under man‟s control because she is independent person.
All this work took me up near half a year, by managing my business thus myself; and having large sums to do with, I became as expert in it, as any
She-Merchant of them all; I had credit in the Bank for a large sum of money, and bills and notes for much more Defoe, 2000: 106.
If she holds on the concept of a quality being independent woman, man will not govern her easily. Thus, she shows the way of being a free and her quality
of being independent that she can run and manage a business of jewel without being dependent to man. Business activity is an ordinary thing to do for a man in
Victorian era. It is uncommon thing to do for middle class women. Since the middle class women in her society prefer to leave the business for the husband or
other relatives who are considered an expert, they prefer to be a wife or a mother that doing home activities. They are mainly educated in accomplishments like
French, drawing, painting, singing, dancing-everything which helped them to get a
perfect match
httpezinearticles.com?Life-of-Women-in-the-Victorian- Era7id=2359711. Roxana does not follow what becomes a common idea in
Victorian era. It shows that she has a quality of being independent. Moreover, the desire of Roxana to manage a business shows that she, as a woman, has the same
right as men to run a business. Murphy states that a person‟s character in the novel can be revealed
through what the character says. Whenever a character speaks in conversation, we
can see his personality from the opinion that he gives 1972: 161. Roxana is determined herself to be a businesswoman based on her own reasons. She does
not want to be influenced by the Victorian custom. Through business, she develops of her money management skills and converse with several of
businessman who is mostly men. It can be seen from the following quotation. The business I had had now with many people, for receiving such a large
sum, and selling jewels of such considerable value, gave me opportunity to know and converse with several of the best Merchants of the place, so I
wanted no direction now how to get my money remitted to England Defoe, 2000: 79.
From the quotation above, it can be seen that Roxana is success in running her business. Her business collaborates with many people. Her jewellery business
becomes her opportunity or key to show that she is independent woman. Roxana knows and converse with several of the best Merchants in England. She wants to
show that not only a man whose ability of running business but also she has too. Roxana stands as same as with man while carry her business.
All this work took me up near half a year, and by managing my business thus myself; and having large sums to do with, I became as expert in it, as
any She-Merchant of them all; I had credit in the Bank for a large sum of money, and bill and notes for much more Defoe, 2000: 64.
From the quotation above, it can be seen that she develops of her business management skills so that she get a large sum of money. Therefore, she can be
categorized as an expert of managing her own business. By managing jewel trading, it contributes to gain her freedom and personal fortune.
B. Women’s Life in England in 1800s as Seen in Roxana’s Characteristics
In the first part of the analysis, the writer explained the characteristics of Roxana in the story are the used by the writer to describe how the woma
n‟s lives in 1800s is like.
Colin Ford and Brian Horrison in A Hundred Years Ago: Britain in the 1880s in Words and Photographs
book stated that “The highest class was the
Nobility and Gentry, who inherited their land, titles, and wealth. To the outsider, it might seem as if women of this class did very little but their work was very
important and sometimes very hard, as they were expected to manage the home and the household
”. It can be inferred that the middle women who inherit land, titles, and prosperous are also expected to manage the home and household. They
have no duty outside home. As Etty Raverat, who was a young woman in the late 1800s, said, Ladies were ladies in those days; they did not do things themselves,
they told others what to do and how to do it Harrison and Ford: 1983, 226. It can be seen that the women have some servant to help his duty like cooking and
cleaning the house. The upper class women only command the servants what have they do and how to do the household.
Travelyan in A Shortened History of England 1959: 318 book, discussed for marriage.
It is still exception for women to choose their own husband and when the husband has been assigned that he is lord or master, so far at least as law
custom make him ”. From the quotation above, it means that women have
no right to choose their own husband because there is a patriarchal system in the society Travelyan, 1959: 318.
