The responsive life of una luna
the things I have a penchant for
(warning: favourite poems will be reblogged multiple times)
a self potrait || my blog with clothes || my Mixtapes || the ask box

The fundamental difference between the 19th century romantic novels and the contemporary romances that borrow heavily from them is in the self-possession of the heroines. Although the unmarried and all but dowerless Elizabeth Bennet and the orphan governess Jane Eyre are in positions of greater social vulnerability than their contemporary counterparts, neither 19th-century heroine is willing to sacrifice self-respect in order to gain financial security or love. Their daring solitary walks presage an independence of mind and a willingness to walk through the world alone rather than marry without mutual respect (Elizabeth refuses two such offers) or stay in a relationship that threatens one’s sense of self and soul (as does Rochester’s request that Jane stay with him as his mistress after his living wife is revealed, an offer from which Jane literally walks many miles away). By contrast, the scenes in which Bella Swan and Anastasia Steele literally fall at the heroes’ feet and rely on the heroes’ strength to stand foreshadow each heroine’s willingness to stay in a relationship with a man whose dominance overwhelms her sense of self, and without whom she seems lost.