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The Cloven Foot · Theme
Gender and Moral Agency
How The Cloven Foot develops Gender and Moral Agency.
Female characters like Laura and La Chicot navigate limited options; Laura's purity is tested by her husband's deceit, while La Chicot's beauty and ambition lead her into a life of dissipation and moral compromise.
Where it surfaces
- XIV: “You Have but to Say the Word”
La Chicot asserts her independence and pride, yet is trapped by her marriage and societal expectations of women.
- XVI: Shall It Be “Yes” or “No”?
La Chicot grapples with her agency as a woman, weighing the societal expectations of an 'honest woman' against the temptation of financial independence and luxury offered by Lemuel.
- XIX: “To a Deep Lawny Dell They Came”
Laura's agency in forgiving John and agreeing to the secret marriage reflects her moral strength within societal constraints.