Anti-theatrical prejudice embedded in patriarchy

What were the roots of the strong anti-theatrical prejudice extant in pre-Civil War America? why was even theater attendance considered improper for women?

Theaters negative reputation during the Victorian era stemmed from its association with sex and sexual display throughout history. Prior to the Victorian age, sex was viewed as both an appropriate display and topic of discussion outside the sanctity of marriage. However, the Victorians, obsessed with puritan ideals, accepted the preconceived stereotypes of actors and particularly actresses to condemn the group. In the following essay I will identify some of the historical contexts that contributed to the Victorians disapproval of actresses and explain why even theater attendance was considered improper for women of the era.

Theaters developed during the era of Shakespeare have historically been associated with prostitution, as brothels were next door to the theater. Consequently, the theater became known as a place where sex prevails behind the curtain and where the prostitution market prospers. Also, during the times of ancient Rome women performers made twice as much prostituting then non-performing women. The affiliation between prostitution and theater, thus, convinced Victorians that the terms "prostitute" and "actress" were synonymous.

Actresses were also compared to prostitutes, because they wore unconventional clothes and make-up, that were viewed as promiscuous for the Victorian Era. The same comparison was made between the two groups in regards to the gestures they utilized, which were not considered respectable. Though I believe that some Victorians truly believed that the connection between actresses and prostitutes existed, I think that this rhetorical argument was used as a device to constrain women from gaining social power. We have to remember that individuals in power tend to oppress those that are underprivileged. They hope to keep their power by keeping individuals in an ignorant state. Thus, the men in power (the privileged class) attempted to persuade women that they should not attend theatrical events.

"Women are fragile creatures. They may be susceptible to improper influence if women view a show with actresses," a Victorian might say. Most Victorian men would agree, "women ought to be at home caring to their domestic duties as a good woman should." These are both arguments embedded in the Victorian culture. Perhaps the privileged class was frightened that if women were exposed to the sexual and intellectual nature of these actresses, they would be on the road to gaining cultural freedom. Consequently, economic freedom may emerge later on for women, which would prohibit the ruling class from exerting their power and influence over females.

A Fine-Tuned Persona = Success

Why were first person narratives by female authors considered inappropriate? How did Mowatt get around this difficulty in her autobiography? What sort of successful strategies of self-creation did she employ?

During the Victorian Age women were viewed as porcelain dolls; fragile and delicate creatures who were incapable of engaging in intellectual discussion. Anna Cora Mowatt; however, was unique in that she used her rhetorical skills to subliminally convince her audience that she (a woman) was deserving of her own autobiography as both an intellect and a virtuous Victorian woman. In the following essay I will delve into the reasons why first person narratives by Victorian female authors were considered inappropriate, how Mowatt overcame these prejudices, and the strategies that she utilized in order to develop an accepted persona.

When an individual writes an autobiography, him or her tends to write in first person. Using the word "I" conveys the idea that the individual has knowledge of importance; consequently, Victorian women had difficulties persuading others to take them seriously. What superior knowledge could a woman possess? The only information that women were expected to understand/employ was knowledge of domestic matters (i.e. morality, virtue, being a good wife). Anna Cora Mowatt, who was a "spin doctor" of her time, used rhetorical strategies that aided in her effectiveness as a writer, actress, and public reader. I believe the successful impact of these strategies, signifies the importance of rhetorical studies in our education system.

First, Mowatt overcame the difficulties of writing as a woman in the Victorian Ages by giving solid, believable, and acceptable reasons for writing. More specifically, she developed a persona that was direct, sincere, and humble. When a woman is living in patriarchal times, she has to learn to be creative when attempting to convince her audience. Mowatt found a medium between self-denial and self-expression so that she could get her point across in a sympathetic (but not egotistical) manner. For example, Mowatt asked the readers at the end of her autobiography whether she had bad grammar and whether she was too egotistical. Perhaps leaving the reader with a feeling of humbleness, convinced her audience that she was deserving of this opportunity, as she preserved her feminine persona.

Likewise, Mowatt did not associate herself with the feminist movement taking place at the time to avoid discredit. In my opinion, her dismissal of the women's movement played the biggest role in her success. Because Victorians were prude and patriarchal, women had to assume a subordinate role to be taken seriously, particularly because men were their only chance to be heard. Associating herself with the new group of feminists would have killed her career. Nevertheless, Mowatt did not abandon all that she stood for, she merely maintained a feminine nature while stressing the importance of intellectual/professional accomplishments and the social/moral respectability of actresses. Thus, the writer picked her battles, giving in on some to achieve success as a Victorian woman living in oppressive times.