A Book Summary of The Madwoman in the Attic by Sandra Ellen Mortola and Susan Gubar

Summary

In 'The Madwoman in the Attic,' Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar delve into 19th-century literature, examining the portrayal of women as either 'angels' or 'monsters.' Using Jane Eyre's Bertha Mason as a symbol, they critique the societal pressures on female authors in patriarchal Victorian England. Despite its focus on a narrow demographic, the book remains a seminal work in feminist literary criticism, challenging readers to consider the hidden feminist messages in classic literature.

Takeaways

• 📚 The book 'The Madwoman in the Attic' by Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar is a seminal work in feminist literary criticism, first published in 1979.
• 🔐 The title is inspired by Charlotte Brontë's 'Jane Eyre,' where Bertha Mason, Mr. Rochester's first wife, symbolizes the 'monstrous other' confined to the attic.
• 👩‍💻 Gilbert and Gubar explore the portrayal of women in Victorian literature, highlighting the dichotomy of women as either 'angels' or 'monsters'.
• 📈 The book was influential enough to warrant a second, updated edition in 2000, more than two decades after its initial release.
• 🎭 It discusses the 'anxiety of authorship' faced by women writers in patriarchal Victorian society, who often felt isolated in their literary pursuits.
• 📖 Authors like Jane Austen, Mary Shelley, Emily Brontë, Charlotte Brontë, and George Eliot are analyzed for their contributions to feminist messages within traditional narratives.
• 🤝 The study reveals how female authors of the time subtly embedded feminist critiques in their works, often through the portrayal of dual female characters.
• 🔍 The 'angel in the house' and 'madwoman in the attic' tropes are used to illustrate the suppressed rage and power of women under patriarchal oppression.
• 💭 The book acknowledges the gap between how women authors saw themselves and how society perceived them, often leading to a dichotomy in their literary representations.
• 🔄 Despite its criticisms for being too narrow in scope and overly simplistic, 'The Madwoman in the Attic' remains a cornerstone in feminist literary analysis.
• 👀 The summary invites listeners to engage with the book, reflecting its enduring relevance and the authors' call for a broader discussion on women's experiences in literature.

Q & A

What is the title of the book discussed in the script?

The book discussed in the script is titled 'The Madwoman in the Attic: The Woman Writer and the Nineteenth-Century Literary Imagination' by Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar.

When was the first edition of 'The Madwoman in the Attic' published?

The first edition of 'The Madwoman in the Attic' was published in 1979.

What is the significance of the title 'The Madwoman in the Attic'?

The title 'The Madwoman in the Attic' is derived from Charlotte Brontë's 'Jane Eyre', where Bertha Mason, Rochester's first wife, is locked in the attic, symbolizing the 'woman as monster' trope.

What does the 'anxiety of authorship' refer to, as discussed in the book?

The 'anxiety of authorship' refers to the difficulty women writers faced in establishing themselves in the patriarchal society of Victorian England, feeling isolated and without female peers to discuss writing.

Which female authors are mentioned in the script as being discussed in 'The Madwoman in the Attic'?

The script mentions Jane Austen, Mary Shelley, Emily Brontë, Charlotte Brontë, and George Eliot as female authors discussed in the book.

How did Victorian female novelists often hide their feminist messages according to the book?

Victorian female novelists often hid their feminist messages by placing them just beneath the surface of stories that seemed traditional, using characters that were split into two extremes: the 'angel in the house' and the 'madwoman in the attic'.

What criticism has 'The Madwoman in the Attic' received more recently?

More recent scholars have criticized 'The Madwoman in the Attic' for being too simple, reductionist, and for focusing on a small number of white, often wealthy, female authors, leaving out other types of novels and the experiences of middle and lower-class women.

What is the main argument of Gilbert and Gubar regarding the portrayal of women in Victorian literature?

Gilbert and Gubar argue that Victorian literature often portrayed women as either 'angels' or 'monsters', reflecting the societal pressures and limitations placed on women during that era.

What is the 'woman as monster' trope as it is discussed in the book?

The 'woman as monster' trope refers to the portrayal of women in Victorian literature as monstrous or deviant from societal norms, often used to highlight their passion, strangeness, or madness, as exemplified by Bertha Mason in 'Jane Eyre'.

How does the book 'The Madwoman in the Attic' contribute to feminist literary criticism?

The book 'The Madwoman in the Attic' contributes to feminist literary criticism by analyzing the portrayal of women in Victorian literature and the challenges faced by female authors in a patriarchal society, thus highlighting the hidden feminist messages in their works.