Remember the Ladies: Seven Depictions of the 19th Century and the Women Who Wrote Them

In a letter to her husband in 1776, former First Lady of the United States Abigail Adams reminded him to, “remember the ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than [his] ancestors.” It would not be until over a century later that women would begin to gain political rights in the United States and Great Britain. Nevertheless, Adams’s words are evocative of the shifting attitudes of women in her time. As the 19th century dawned, women took advantage of popular platforms like the novel in order to scrutinize the societies that considered them second class citizens. Here are some of the most influential texts written in or about the 19th century by women, describing how they revolutionized literature and society itself.

‘Frankenstein’ by Mary Shelley (1818)

“Frankenstein” was originally published when Mary Shelley was just 20 years old. Often considered to be one of the first horror novels ever written, the story follows Victor Frankenstein, a Genevese medical student, who becomes obsessed with discovering the origins of life and figuring out how the dead can be reanimated. After finally managing to achieve his mission, the monster that Frankenstein animates comes to plague his existence rather than bringing him the satisfaction he desires. Still, Shelley does not provide the audience with a clear victim or aggressor, forcing the audience to sympathize more with the creature than his maker. This lens allows Shelley to offer the poignant message that it is those who shun members of society who are guilty of their own disastrous fates and not the “monsters” themselves.

‘The Tenant of Wildfell Hall’ by Anne Brontë (1848)

“Wuthering Heights” may be the Brontë novel of the moment, but Anne Brontë’s 1848 novel, “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall,” stands apart as one of the earliest feminist novels. The book begins with the arrival of the mysterious young widow Helen Graham and her son in a small town in Northern England. Rather than residing near the other villagers, Mrs. Graham chooses to inhabit a run down mansion on a hill named Wildfell Hall. Her behavior attracts disdain from others but intrigues a young farmer named Gilbert Markham. After he discovers her dark secret, Markham finally understands why Mrs. Graham hides away in her forbidding home. In “The Tenant of Wildfell Hall,” Brontë depicts the dark side of domesticity, rendering a staunch critique of the unequal treatment that women received in 19th century marriages. Mrs. Graham’s fearless abandonment of her husband makes her one of the first feminist characters. She does not desire to stick to convention but literally runs away from it.

‘Middlemarch’ by George Eliot (1871)

While the author of “Middlemarch” is often mistakenly assumed to have been a man, author Mary Ann Evans took refuge in the use of the pen name George Eliot. “Middlemarch” chronicles the lives of several characters in the titular town across the four year period surrounding the passage of Britain’s 1832 voting reform act, a law which expanded the suffrage for men. The novel depicts several classes from the wealthy landowner Mr. Brooke to the Reverend Mr. Casaubon and Dr. Lydgate. Despite its seemingly mundane theme, Eliot’s book is able to capture the struggles of every rank and leave readers with a clear message: Those who conform to societal standards live to regret it and those who follow their hearts live full and happy lives.

‘The Age of Innocence’ by Edith Wharton (1920)

Unlike the other novels on this list, “The Age of Innocence” was not written in the 19th century. Nevertheless, Wharton’s temporal distance from the events she describes give her more license to offer a scathing retrospective. Set in New York during the American Gilded Age in the 1870s and ’80s, the novel criticizes the shallowness which characterized the time in which Wharton grew up. The novel centers around the experiences of Newland Archer, a member of the rich old money class in New York high society. Initially content in both his career and romantic life, Archer’s life is suddenly disrupted by the arrival of the Countess Ellen Olenska, his future wife’s cousin. Though Ellen’s return to New York is followed by scandal, as Ellen’s newly appointed lawyer, Archer is forced to interact with her. The more he discovers about her story, the less careful Archer becomes in his own life. Through their tumultuous relationship, Wharton demonstrates that even those who are financially liberated may be socially unfree.

‘Sense and Sensibility’ by Jane Austen (1811)

“Sense and Sensibility” revolutionized English prose with the introduction of free-indirect discourse, a writing technique that blends third-person narration with a character’s inner voice. While “Pride and Prejudice” — published in 1813 — is often associated with this style, “Sense and Sensibility” contains early examples of the form. The narrative follows the widowed Mrs. Dashwood and her three daughters: Elinor, Marianne, and Margaret. After the death of their patriarch, the Dashwoods are forced to leave their home and live on a meager income. As the two oldest sisters, Elinor and Marianne, adjust to the social and romantic world from their new position, they learn to navigate a world dominated by men, where it is difficult to determine which suitors have selfish motives and which are sincere. Though Austen’s novel may largely end happily, “Sense and Sensibility” does not shy away from revealing the harsh truths of being a woman in the early 19th century.

‘North and South’ by Elizabeth Gaskell (1855)

Like many other novels on this list, “North and South” critiques the society it depicts. The story follows Margaret Hale, a 19-year-old girl who is forced to move from the small village of Helstone to an industrial town in northern England after her clergyman father decides to leave the Church of England. The events that precipitate Margaret’s move from her childhood home allow Gaskell to underscore the complete dependence of women on men. As an unmarried woman, Margaret has no choice but to follow her parents. Gaskell further offers a striking criticism of the working conditions of factory laborers. This issue is epitomized by Bessy, a poor factory girl who Margaret befriends after moving to Milton North. In the bleak world of the 19th century, Gaskell emphasizes that chance determines a woman’s fate and independence more than anything else.

‘Little Women’ by Louisa May Alcott (1868-1869)

A beloved young adult novel to this day, “Little Women” is known for its heart warming scenes and honest depiction of the struggles families faced during one of the most turbulent moments in American history. Set during the American Civil War, the story follows the four March sisters through their teenage years, describing every aspect of their lives from petty arguments to overwhelming tragedies. Central to the story is the second eldest sister — Jo March — who laments that she was not born a boy so that she might more easily become a famous writer. With its relatability and charm, it is clear why Alcott’s thinly veiled personal history cemented itself as a timeless classic.

—Staff writer Nina Jasanoff can be reached at [email protected].