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The Woman in White · Theme

Gender and Power

How The Woman in White develops Gender and Power.

Women in the story—Laura, Marian, and Anne—are subjected to the control and exploitation of men like Sir Percival Glyde and Count Fosco, who use legal, medical, and social systems to confine, silence, and dispossess them.

Where it surfaces

  • The Story Continued by Vincent Gilmore of Chancery Lane, Solicitor

    Laura's lack of agency in the marriage settlement highlights the power imbalance between men and women in Victorian legal and social structures.

  • The Story Continued by Marian Halcombe, in Extracts from Her Diary 1

    Marian's diary highlights Laura's powerlessness within her marriage, as Sir Percival's authority and Count Fosco's manipulations erode her autonomy.

  • I

    Laura's passive resignation to male authority (her father's dying wish, Sir Percival's wishes, her uncle's opinion) highlights women's lack of power in Victorian society.

  • The Second Epoch

    Marian's diary highlights the power imbalance in Laura's marriage and the vulnerability of women to male conspiracy.

  • The Story Continued by Marian Halcombe

    Marian's narrative highlights the power imbalance in marriage, as Laura becomes a victim of Sir Percival's control, while Marian herself struggles to assert agency in a male-dominated world.

  • II

    Madame Fosco's transformation from a pretentious woman to a silent, submissive wife illustrates the power dynamics in marriage.

  • Chapter III

    Laura's financial signature is required by her husband, reflecting her limited legal power. Marian's defiance in eavesdropping and her sharp retorts to Sir Percival and Count Fosco challenge gender norms.

  • Chapter IV

    Sir Percival asserts dominance over Laura, demanding her signature without explanation, while Marian's defiance is constrained by her gender and love for Laura.

  • V

    Laura's powerlessness in her marriage is highlighted; Sir Percival controls her emotionally and financially, and she cannot openly grieve or resist.

  • Chapter VII

    Marian and Madame Fosco challenge male authority; Laura's physical and psychological subjugation by Sir Percival highlights gendered power imbalances.

  • Chapter II

    Sir Percival exerts control over Laura's movements and decisions, overriding her objections; Laura's lack of agency despite her fears.