The Victorian Heroine

Amy Caesar

In the Victorian era, women were constrained by gender roles made by a male-dominated culture. Victorian literature reflects the ideals of Victorian society; therefore, we, the readers, are given an image of the culture’s idea of the perfect young lady in the portrayal of female protagonists in the literature of the time. In the Victorian era, young ladies were expected to act with propriety and decorum, in submission to fathers’, husbands’, and ministers’ decrees on their actions; however, while the appearance of complete submission was insisted on at all times, it is reflected in the literature that Victorian society was aware of, and seemed to admire, women’s internal rebellion. Female protagonists in Victorian literature have no outlet for heroic action: they are admirable for the manner in which they stifle their opinions, and are entrancing because their frustrations often leak out in indecorous or unacceptable ways.

In the novel The Moonstone, Rachel Verinder fits this image of the ideal Victorian young lady: instead of attempting to solve the problem of the moonstone – as a modern day heroine would – she suffers from the constraints placed on her by society. Although Rachel feels the limitations of ‘propriety’, she does act, albeit privately, in a manner unsuitable to the Victorian idea of a young lady of the nobility.

Rachel’s submission to society’s strictures is illustrated in her attitude during the investigation into the mystery of the Moonstone. Her attitude seems childish, mysterious and conflicts with the readers desire to believe she is honest: she refuses to speak of the Moonstone, even to her mother (80); she is disobliging to Superintendent Seegrave’s investigation (85); and angry at Franklin Blake for summoning the police at all (86). All is made clear when the reader learns that she observed Franklin Blake taking the Moonstone from her sitting room.

While, like any woman, Rachel is most likely longing for an opportunity to express her fury at Franklin’s actions, Victorian society banned such a tête-à-tête without a chaperon. Because she loves him, Rachel refuses to accuse him publicly of the crime she saw him commit; because she saw him take the diamond, she cannot support the investigation without revealing what she has seen. Although her behaviour seems to contradict the ideals of Victorian society, Rachel’s actions are illuminated as the reader gains more information, and her inner struggle becomes apparent.

During his investigation Franklin, hoping to gain insight into the mystery, gives Rachel the opportunity to finally express her anger and, thereby blame Franklin for stealing the Moonstone: “I have kept your infamy a secret…and I have suffered the consequences of concealing it. Have I no claim to be spared the insult of your asking me what you have done? Is all sense of gratitude dead in you?” (339). While Victorian ideals expect Miss Verinder to be offended and shocked at the thought of a private interview with a gentleman, Rachel uses the opportunity to express her emotions and beliefs.

In conclusion, although the character of Miss Rachel Verinder seems (superficially and at the beginning of the novel) to be that of a conniving, immoral and spoilt thief, when the reader is presented with the knowledge that Rachel has, knowledge of the Victorian era and of the mystery itself, her character becomes that of an exemplar of a Victorian heroine.

Works Cited

Collins, Wilkie (1999). The Moonstone Ed. John Sutherland.

New York, NY: Oxford UP