It begins with a friendly drink but ends up with alcohol destroying the family. The image of a woman and her child leaving a ruined home reinforced the idea that alcohol destroyed homes. Women were particularly interested in the Temperance Movement because they felt that the destruction of their families was being caused by their husband's alcoholism. If women could remove alcohol from society, they felt that their husbands would become decent and hard-working members of society.
Question #12
Women played an important role in the Abolitionist Movement and this picture, taken from the weekly Abolitionist newspaper The Liberator, is an attempt to draw sympathy from women for the fate of women slaves. It depicts a woman slave on her knees, chained, but pleading, almost as if she is praying for release from her misery. The text reads, "Am I not a woman and a sister?" ("The Liberator") This plea makes a the viewer, particularly women, reflect on the fact that another woman is in slavery. Because of its subject matter, a woman in slavery, it is targeted primarily at women.
Question #13
This concentration on taking care of the home and children expanded to include assuming a role in charity and benefit organizations. The purpose behind the concept of "True Womanhood" was an attempt to empower women through their traditional roles. However, Southworth's character of Capitola is a version of "True Womanhood" turned on its head. Capitola was a tom-boyish character who had a series of adventures because she did not follow the guidelines of "True Womanhood." But her abilities and cleverness allow her to gain a power over her obstacles which represents the intention of "True Womanhood;" to empower women. Capitola is a non-traditional woman character who displays the intent behind the concept, but does not do so in the traditional way. But in the end, she accepts the traditional role expected of her through the concept of "True Womanhood," and reinforces the traditional role of women in society.
