Female Friendship inShirley by Charlotte Bronte
Introduction
In the novel “Shirley,” Bronte profoundly explores the theme of friendship between females throughout her plot. The novel focuses on the friendship between Caroline and Shirley, who happen to be from two very different backgrounds. While Shirley hails from a wealthy family and has a lot of resources and wealth passed down to her from her wealthy father, Caroline lives with her uncle having been abandoned by her mother after her father died (Alhaj, 22). Within the central theme of female friendship, Bronte goes ahead to address a number of issues including feminism and class conflict (Marcus, 96). The novel’s focus on the friendship between Caroline and Shirley stands as a model to show that the friendships that women establish among themselves are vital in their lives. This essay argues that female friendship is based on females’ emotional wellbeing and originates due to the need to have a close person with whom to relate and share deep feelings.
The major points the final essay will develop
The final essay will analyze the period in which the novel was set in relation to the topic of female friendship and will discuss how female friendship in the Victorian society offered women the solution to the problem of emotional survival prior to marriage. Another point the final essay will build on is that female friendship offers both the parties a sense of sisterhood and identity. Therefore, it makes it possible for females to share their common problems and available solutions. Additionally, female friendship as a neutralizer of female rivalry will also be explored in the final essay
How the critics would contribute to the main argument
Bronte analyzes the satisfaction that spinsters during the Victorian period found in maintaining close relationships with each other (Taylor, 84). Hunt (55) argues that the deep friendship bonds between women in the Victorian society could have been explored as a solution to the problem of emotional survival among the unmarried women. Hunt goes on to point out that “Shirley” investigates the possibility of female friendships asan alternative to romantic relationships between men and women. Bronte introduces female friendship as an important means to find comfort and support when faced with emotional challenges. The life of Caroline, who is single, is presented as empty and full of suffering, while Shirley’s life is that ofas being full of enjoyment and freedom. However, they are unable to maintain stable romantic relationships with men and can only find emotional satisfaction in their friendship.
Marcus (96) points out that from the friendship that exists between Shirley and Caroline, it is evident that they act on the behalf of each other, meaning that they become “agents who are shielded from charges of unwomanly boldness.” Throughout the novel, the author is also able to show how friendship between women is shaped by social attitudes as well as other forces that they have little control over. The friendship between Shirley and Caroline springs up as a result of their meeting at the Mrs. Pryor’s house. The bond between the two friends is made stronger at the end of the novel when they become sisters -in -law.
Female friendship is also brought out as being a neutralizer of rivalry between women. Through her rejection of Robert as a suitor, Shirley is able to eliminate feelings of rivalry between her and Caroline. This rejection also sets off the eventual engagement of Caroline to Robert in motion. Through female friendship, the real feelings that the two have for their eventual suitors is revealed (Ward and Mink, 78). Additionally, the novel presents friendship between women as a symbol of solidarity. Shirley rejects Robert’s hand in marriage while keeping in mind that Caroline has romantic feelings towards him. Marcus (97) points out that by choosing not to be a traitor to her sisters. She chooses not to take part in activities that would set her aside from other women, meaning that she pursues friendship with others as a means of identifying with them.
Shirley’s rejection of Robert is not only out of loyalty to her friend Caroline, but also shows that she respects and treasures the friendship they have. It can thus be argued that the friendship between females is built on loyalty and fidelity and the friendship is made strongerthrough expression of these values. The author transforms the rivalry between women into friendship between women in order to bring out the equality between men and women. Shirley avoids engaging in a competition for Robert with her friend, which would otherwise have depicted femininity as a lack that had to be supplied by a man and whose shortage can only be overcome through competition and rivalry among women.
Conclusion
The deep friendship bonds between women in the Victorian society could have been explored as a solution to the problem of emotional survival among the unmarried women. “Shirley” explores the different possibilities and consequences of female friendship. The novel’s focus on the friendship between Caroline and Shirley stands as a model to show that the friendships that women establish among themselves are vital in their lives. Apart from being a solution to the problem of emotional survival among the unmarried women, friendship between women is also presented as being a symbol of loyalty and an important means to finding comfort and support when faced with emotional challenges.
WorksCited
Alhaj, Ali. The Portrayal of Women in Charlotte Bronte’s Shirley. Hamburg: Anchor Academic Publishing, 2015. Print.
Hunt, Linda C. ‘Sustenance and Balm: The Question of Female Friendship in Shirley and Villette’.Tulsa Studies in Women’s Literature 1.1 (1982): 55. Web.
Marcus, Sharon. Between Women. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2007. Print.
Taylor, Helen. ‘Class and Gender in Charlotte Bronte’s Shirley’. Feminist Review 1.1 (1979): 83-93. Web. 7 Mar. 2015.
Ward, Janet Doubler, and JoAnna Stephens Mink. Communication and Women’s Friendships. Bowling Green, OH: Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1993. Print.
