Summary and Analysis of "Wives and Daughters"

By Students' Academy

A Few Words
About the Author
Introduction
Plot Overview
Characters
Detailed Description of Characters
Complete Summary
Literary Elements
Symbols and Motifs
Critical Analysis
Critical Essay
Criticism and Admiration
Realism and Social Commentary
Questions and Answers

The novel explores the complexities of family relationships, romantic entanglements, and societal expectations in the mid-19th century. Molly is a kind and intelligent young woman who navigates the challenges of growing up without a mother and the pressures of society's expectations for her future. Her father marries again, and Molly gains a stepmother, Hyacinth Kirkpatrick, who is an ambitious and self-absorbed woman.

As Molly grows older, she becomes friends with Cynthia, the daughter of the local squire. Cynthia is beautiful, charming, and well-educated but has a reputation for being flirtatious and elusive. The two girls become close friends, and Molly becomes increasingly involved in Cynthia's life, including her romantic relationships with several eligible bachelors in the town.

The novel also explores the lives of other characters in the town, including the Hamleys, a wealthy family with two sons, one of whom is in love with Cynthia, and the Cumnors, a landed family with their own share of secrets and complications. The novel touches on themes such as class, marriage, and the role of women in society.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Raja Sharma
• Release date: Apr 5, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215161111

Students' Academy

Easy study guides for the students of English literature.

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Summary and Analysis of Wives and Daughters

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Table of Content

A Few Words

About the Author

Introduction

Plot Overview

Characters

Detailed Description of Characters

Complete Summary

Literary Elements

Symbols and Motifs

Critical Analysis

Critical Essay

Criticism and Admiration

Realism and Social Commentary

Questions and Answers

Chapter 1

A Few Words

To inform the reader, I would like to clarify that this book is not the original Wives and Daughters text. Rather, it is a guidebook intended to assist students studying English literature.

If your goal is to read the original Wives and Daughters text, then this guidebook is not what you are looking for.

Typically, guidebooks or book notes are created to help students better understand the original text and to highlight aspects that may be missed by a casual reader.

However, in recent years, it has become common for many students to rely solely on these types of guidebooks instead of reading the original text.

This is not a healthy habit, as while these notes may help them pass their exams, they miss out on many important aspects of the story that could benefit them later in life.

After reading this short guidebook, I strongly recommend that students read the original text again, even if they have already read it. They will likely discover new meanings to the story that were not apparent before.

All the best

Chapter 2

About the Author

Elizabeth Gaskell (1810-1865) was an English novelist and short story writer, born Elizabeth Cleghorn Stevenson, in Chelsea, London, England. She was the daughter of a Unitarian minister and grew up in a religious and intellectual household.

In 1832, she married William Gaskell, a