Social Reform Themes · English Literature

The 'Governess Novel' often addressed social reform by highlighting:

  1. The urgent need for better salaries and working conditions for doctors
  2. The precarious position of educated but impoverished middle-class women
  3. The widespread corruption within the Anglican Church hierarchy
  4. The critical lack of adequate maps and infrastructure for rural travel
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Correct answer: The precarious position of educated but impoverished middle-class women

Characters like Jane Eyre or the protagonist in 'Agnes Grey' occupy an ambiguous social space between the servants and the family. These novels critiqued the lack of professional opportunities for women and the indignities of domestic service for the 'genteel' poor.

Difficulty: Medium Question 6 of 20

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