The Fallen Woman in the Nineteenth-Century English Novel

The novel offers a sympathetic exploration of fallen women in Victorian England, highlighting their role as reflections of societal changes. By analyzing works from authors like Dickens, Gaskell, and Hardy, it reveals how these characters challenge the prevailing social norms and the rigid dichotomy of women during the nineteenth century. The book argues that the portrayal of fallen women marks the beginning of a tradition of empathetic characterizations that confront and critique contemporary attitudes toward gender and morality.