Changing Role of Women in the Late

¶ … Changing Role of Women in the Late 1800s

In "A Hazard of New Fortunes," William Dean Howells explores a number of themes through the interaction of the major characters in the novel. Much of his focus revolves around the women in the book and the interaction of these women with each other and with men. Howells writes about issues contemporary to the time of the book's publication in 1890. Not coincidentally the 1880s marked the beginning of a significant upsurge in the women's movement. "A Hazard of New Fortunes" presents women who abide by the old values in contrast to women who have begun to adopt the values that eventually lead to full suffrage for women, more education opportunities for women, and more career choices for women. Women would become increasingly vocal about their opinions and begin to organize themselves for a direct assault on the institutions that were so male-dominated. No longer would a woman's role necessarily be restricted to duties at home. Aside from the obvious significance of the right to vote and all of its' political importance, women influenced social and economic institutions as well as political institutions.

Given the tumultuous environment of the era women reacted in diverse ways. In the young, self-confident Alma Leighton, Howells shows us the woman of the future. On the other hand, Howells portrays a no less self-confident, but very traditional Mrs. March. The manner in which Howells presents these two women and their methods of dealing with situations gives us an idea of what Howells thinks about the changes occurring at the time in the world around him. His favorable portrayal of Mrs. March clearly indicates his preference for her and what see represents. His less favorable portrayal of Alma Leighton reveals his understanding of the "modern woman," but also his dislike of the disintegration of a more traditional relationship between women and men.

Mrs. March has qualities that require celebration. She supports Mr. March in his decision to make a mid-life career change from the insurance business into the literary field that suits his interests and capabilities best. Even though the career change means potentially less income and requires a move from Boston to New York City. She has established early in their marriage what her role should be. Her role was to do the tasks that she knew her husband would not perform adequately.

"Mrs. March was one of those wives who exact a more rigid adherence to their ideals from their husbands than from themselves. Early in their married life she had taken charge of him in all matters which she considered practical. She did not include the business of bread-winning in these; that was an affair that might safely be left to his absent-minded, dreamy inefficiency, and she did not interfere with him there. But in such things as rehanging the pictures, deciding on a summer boarding-place, taking a seaside cottage, repapering rooms, choosing seats at the theatre, seeing what the children ate when she was not at table, shutting the cat out at night, keeping run of calls and invitations, and seeing if the furnace was dampered, he had failed her so often that she felt she could not leave him the slightest discretion in regard to a flat." (Howells Part First, Chapter XI)

Notice the numerous responsibilities undertaken by Mrs. March in contrast to her husband whose sole purpose is to be the breadwinner. Howells does show the importance of Mrs. March to her family and her husband. Howells clearly feels that many women are already in charge. Their traditional role gives them tremendous control over everything, but even to some degree their husbands' job. However Mrs. March is not one-dimensional. She holds traditional values, but she is willing to leave the children at home in Boston while she and her husband house-hunt in New York City. Going out to eat occasionally represents a departure from strictly traditional values.

Compare this to our introduction to Alma Leighton.

"She was the pervading light, if not force, of the house. She was a good cook, and she managed the kitchen with the help of an Irish girl, while her mother looked after the rest of the housekeeping. But she was not systematic; she had inspiration but not discipline, and her mother mourned more over the days when Alma left the whole dinner to the Irish girl than she rejoiced in those when one of Alma's great thoughts took form in a chicken-pie of incomparable savor or in a matchless pudding." (Howells Part Second, Chapter I)

Mrs. Marsh prides herself on doing all of the practical tasks. Alma is unstructured and undisciplined, causing her mother heartache.

Alma's conversation with her mother, after Alma ends any chance of an intimate relationship with Beaton, indicates Alma's independence from convention.

[Mrs. Leighton] "And you certainly can't say, my dear, that he hasn't been very kind -- every useful to you, in that matter."

[Alma] "And so I ought to have said yes out of gratitude? Thank you, mamma! I didn't know you held me so cheap."

"You know whether I hold you cheap or not, Alma. I don't want you to cheapen yourself. I don't want you to trifle with any one. I want you to be honest with yourself."

"Well, come now, mamma! Suppose you begin. I've been perfectly honest with myself, and I've been honest with Mr. Beaton. I don't care for him, and I've told him I didn't; so he may be supposed to know it. If he comes here after this, he'll come as a plain, unostentatious friend of the family, and it's for you to say whether he shall come in that capacity or not. I hope you won't trifle with him, and let him get the notion that he's coming on any other basis." (Howells Part Fifth, Chapter I)

Alma matches her mother point for point. Alma is not going to relent to anyone, even her mother. This dialogue paints a picture of the challenges of dealing with the modern woman. In Howells' view traditional relationships, such as a mother-daughter relationship, have degenerated to the point that the daughter will not consider her mother's advice. Alma thrives on conflict, while Mrs. March seeks compromise and resolution.

Mrs. March's reaction to her husband's friend, Lindau, displays another aspect of Mrs. March's adherence to tradition and her dislike for those who question tradition.

"She [Mrs. March] did not like his [Lindau's] drinking so much of March's [Mr. March's] beer, either; it was no harm, but it was somehow unworthy, out of character with a hero of the war. But what she really could not reconcile herself to was the violence of Lindau's sentiments concerning the whole political and social fabric. She did not feel sure that he should be allowed to say such things before the children, who had been nurtured in the faith of Bunker Hill and Appomattox, as the beginning and the end of all possible progress in human rights."