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The Role Of Sexuality In Lady Audley's Secret '

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9. What function does sexuality play in relation to gender identity?

Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca deals with themes of class conflict, sexuality where both sexes are controlled by their gender roles as well as adultery and murder. Written following the Second World War, the novel portrays the emergence of female rebelliousness as well as their desires to take on masculine roles added to the increase of homosexuality that was being dismissed by the society. Braddon’s Lady Audley’s Secret, which is on the other hand a sensation novel (novels that focused on the world of criminality) similarly, explores themes of criminality, bigamy, adultery, sexuality and a series of transgressions that shocked the audience to illustrate the economic, social …show more content…

Robert’s misogynistic attitude is related to “castration anxiety” that is brought by men’s fear of women emasculating men in the process leading them to lose power. This is the reason Victorian men desired to endlessly maintain the patriarchal order in order to avert female autonomy. Robert’s progression from childlike homoeroticism to mature heterosexual symbolizes his subjugation of female sexuality as well as an end to his feministic qualities. His uncertainty about his sexuality provides Lady Audley the opportunity to feed others the idea that he is “monomaniac” (Braddon, 2005) motivated by his attraction to George whom he loved dearly and as a consequence fears that his “feelings toward other people are strangely embittered” (Braddon, 2005). His desire for a male companion is evident through his dismissal of his loving cousin and women as all. Lady Audley’s awareness of this, as a result, drives him to downgrade her to a submissive position in order to control the sexualized woman while compelling him to conquer his sexual indecision. Nevertheless, although he gains his heterosexual status, his homosexuality is still present through his marriage to George’s sister whom he describes as “very handsome [with] brown eyes, like George's” (Braddon, 2005). Hence choosing Clara who is “a repository for Robert's desire” he becomes a “full-fledged member of the patriarchy” (Cvetkovich, 1992, p56-64) without losing his sexual

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