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Library's collection Library's IT development CancelThe term 'Victorian'is often taken to mean a strict
code of behaviour.The strict code of behaviour
especially gives restrictions to women that prevent them
to be as free as men.They have to accept the society's
assumption which assumes that women are less superior
than men so that willingly they have to be submissive to
men.This thesis is a study of one of Charlotte Bronte's
novels,Shirleyf which is set in the early Victorian
period.The study is about Charlotte Bronte's idea of
women's liberation as seen through the characterizations
of Caroline Helstone and Shirley Keeldar.The thesis
writer is eager to find out whether or not the
presentation of the two characters could lead to the idea
of women's liberation since at that time the movement of
women's liberation had not existed yet.The thesis writer
is curious to know how the characterizations of the two
characters reveals the idea.From the analysis,it can be
seen that Caroline,who wishes for a change in her way of
life as a Victorian woman,cannot have it because of the
society's oppression on women.Whereas Shirley,with her
ample wealth and fortunate position,can break the
society's oppression and lead a new freer way of life.
Therefore,through the presentation of Caroline and
Shirley,Bronte's idea of women's liberation is really
presented in that Caroline is presented as a model of the
Victorian oppressed woman,while Shirley is a model of
the liberated woman.