The Immoral Woman

The Immoral Woman
By Brittany Martin

In Dante Gabriel Rossetti’s Jenny, the two female characters, Jenny and cousin Nell can be seen as opposites in Victorian moral standards. While Jenny represents lust and impurity, Nell stands for innocence and truth. Throughout the poem the speaker finds himself in a moral dilemma as he is conflicted between his emotions towards the women, and the disagreeing standards of Victorian society.
Throughout the poem there are many textual clues suggesting Jenny’s immoral lifestyle. Jenny’s love for “guinea” and later reference to the “Phapian Venus” (Rossetti 362) suggests she is in the profession of prostitution. The speaker sees Jenny as a woman of great beauty, with eyes “as blue skies” and “hair is countless gold incomparable” (Rossetti 10-11) but Victorian society simply sees her as an object having “used [her] at his will”, easily “thrusts [her] aside” (Rossetti 87). Through Victorian society would condemn Jenny immoral behaviour, the speaker seems to offer Jenny rare kindness by letting her “rest upon [his] knee” (Rossetti 66). Victorian society would see Jenny as a degraded figure, but the speaker remains sympathetic towards her. The speaker fights against society’s criticism of Jenny and the idea a woman of immoral standards deserves no compassion or love. He states that: “I should be ashamed to say:--Poor beauty, so well worth a kiss!” (Rossetti 54-55). He acknowledges he should, under Victorian standards, feel remorse and shame for his relationship with a prostitute, yet feels the disapproval of society inconsequential. He wishes to protect her from the evil actions of man and save her from her life of adulteration.
Though the two female characters are described as “of the same lump” they are not seen as the same; “for dishonour and honour made, Two sister vessels” (Rossetti 203-205). Nell stands in moral opposition of Jenny as the narrator contrasts them as “So pure,---so fall’n!” and cringes at the thought of them as a “common kindred link” (Rossetti 207-208). The speaker talks of Nell with pride. He sees her as “unconquered” (Rossetti 195) and somewhat pure. Nell has yet to be completely influenced by Victorian society’s moral values. Nell is the pure, moral woman whereas Jenny is the corrupt, immoral woman. Though Nell is seen as the proper female, the speaker is still drawn to Jenny. His compassion for her and perhaps the sense of power over her makes it difficult for him to leave. There is almost a victim and savior relationship between Jenny and the speaker. Jenny is simply an “empty cloud” (155), a “desecrated mind” (164), a mere victim. He, being male, is more prepared to deal with conflicts of morality and battle against the evil temptations. This can allow him to save her.
Though it seems the speaker truly cares for Jenny, he doesn’t actually take action to save her from her immoral life, as this might jeopardize his standing within society. Victorian ideals eventually win over as he is “Ashamed of [his] own shame” (Rossetti 381). Jenny is condemned for being impure, yet his desires for her reaps him no consequence. He’s immoral actions are simply “A dark path [he] can strive to clear” (Rossetti 388), whereas it seems impossible for Jenny to change her status.
Through the two female characters, Rossetti is able to show us the status of women in Victorian culture and the discrepancy between men and women in the Victorian period. Rossetti also offers a view on moral values of people of the Victorian period.