Gender Roles and Women's Agency

Women in the book are often constrained by societal expectations, yet characters like Amy, Nellie, and Lettice display wilfulness and independence, challenging passive roles.

Mrs. Warden is portrayed as a 'doll' with no will of her own, while Amy is described as willful and impetuous, yet her agency is limited by her father's control and the era's expectations.

Mrs. Varley and Mary Burton take active roles in nursing and decision-making, yet Mary's agency is limited to accepting Frank's proposal, and her devotion is framed as self-sacrifice.

Lettice's aunts and Lilla McCormack discuss the limited options for women, particularly the pressure to marry well.

Lettice's independent action contrasts with the passive roles of her aunts, who rely on male relatives to resolve the crisis, reflecting the limited agency of women.