Marriage, Sex and Love in Traditional and Conservative Edwardian England. Lady Mary is Embracing the Modern World

Seminar paper from the year 2015 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Other, grade: 1,7, University of Bonn, language: English, abstract: This paper will focus on women question depicted in ‘Downtown Abbey’.The present paper therefore briefly outlines the main characteristics of Edwardian women, which are relevant for the present study and subsequently set these findings in a relation with ‘Downton Abbey’. Particularly, it will delve into the social and historical background of upper class Edwardian women and compares and contrasts it with the character depiction of Lady Mary. Since not all characteristics can be analysed in detail the focus of this paper will be laid on the questions of marriage, sex and love. The main aim of the paper is thus to point out that Lady Mary finds herself in a most inner conflict between her sense of duty and obligation and striving for autonomy and modernity. In particular, this paper will illustrate that Lady Mary displays an authentic image of an Edwardian woman but if it comes to marriage, sex and love she is even ahead of her time. Through the series she more and more overcomes her inner conflict and develops to a self-determined, modern women who acts out of conviction not out of a feeling of obligation or duty. This development is clearly to be recognized through the love attachments of Lady Mary. Accordingly, the present paper will pass through the main relationships of Lady Mary and will analyse how they impact her feminist progression. The selection was thereby reduced to six relationships since this is a limited term paper which nonetheless should provide a thorough analysis and interpretation. Within this selection only relationships which had a great influence on her development and which from Mary’s point of view were considered to end in a potential marriage were included. While going through her love attachments the term paper on hand will analyse how she develops from a traditional and conservative women to a modern woman who is slowly embracing the modern world.