The Madwoman in the Attic summary

The Emergence of Feminist Literary Criticism

In The Madwoman in the Attic, Sandra M. Gilbert and Susan Gubar explore the works of 19th-century women writers, particularly focusing on the Victorian era. They start by discussing the image of the madwoman in literature, particularly in Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre, and how it symbolizes the societal oppression and limitations placed on women during that time.

The authors argue that women writers of the 19th century had to navigate a literary tradition that was predominantly male and often hostile to women's voices. They had to either conform to the 'angel in the house' ideal, as described by poet Coventry Patmore, or be labeled as the madwoman in the attic, an outcast from society. This oppressive binary, according to Gilbert and Gubar, forced women writers to develop split personalities, reflected in their works.

Female Writers' Split Personalities

Gilbert and Gubar then delve into the works of four major female writers: Jane Austen, Emily Brontë, Charlotte Brontë, and Mary Shelley. They argue that these women, in their writings, developed a split self, representing their internalized conflicts with the societal expectations of femininity. For instance, the authors analyze the character of Jane Austen's Anne Elliot in Persuasion as a reflection of Austen's own internalized oppression.

Similarly, they explore the themes of confinement and rebellion in Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, and the idea of the madwoman in the attic in Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre. They also discuss Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and its portrayal of the monstrous feminine, suggesting that the female characters in the novel represent the author's divided self.

The Female Author's Struggle

Continuing their analysis, Gilbert and Gubar examine the female author's struggle for self-expression. They argue that these women writers, confined to their domestic spheres, used their writing as a means of escape and self-expression. However, they also had to navigate the fear of being labeled as 'mad' or 'unfeminine' for daring to voice their opinions.

The authors also discuss how these women writers used pseudonyms or male narrators to distance themselves from their works, highlighting the societal pressure on women to conform to a male-dominated literary tradition. They further argue that the female author's struggle for self-expression is often reflected in their works, creating a complex and often contradictory female literary tradition.

Reclaiming the Female Literary Tradition

In the final section of The Madwoman in the Attic, Gilbert and Gubar call for a reclamation of the female literary tradition. They suggest that by understanding and acknowledging the split self of these women writers, we can appreciate their works in a new light. Instead of dismissing their internalized conflicts as personal weaknesses, we should recognize them as a response to a patriarchal society.

In conclusion, The Madwoman in the Attic offers a groundbreaking analysis of 19th-century women writers and their struggle for self-expression. It sheds light on the complex relationship between gender, creativity, and societal expectations, and calls for a reevaluation of the female literary tradition. This seminal work has significantly influenced feminist literary criticism and remains a vital resource for anyone interested in understanding the female experience in literature.