The Victim of Prejudice by Mary Hays

Victim of Prejudice, on its own? (eg. I enjoyed reading...)

I enjoyed reading this book for several reasons. For one, I was surprised it was so old, written several hundred years ago. The language is dated but the themes remain relevant, especially as they pertain to gender and sex roles. Right from the beginning of the book, Hays lets her readers know that this is going to be a scathing critique of patriarchy. Protagonist Mary speaks with a proud tone, noting that her benefactor helped her to overcome the titular gender and class-related prejudices that besieged both men and women. Whereas women were supposed to be demure and weak, Mary notes that she was "indebted for a robust constitution, a cultivated understanding, and a vigorous intellect," (p. 5). She does not flaunt her strengths for egotistic purposes but rather, to show how difficult it can be to achieve status in a society that is inherently prejudicial. She also does not apologize for being strong, as a woman of that era might have been expected to do. Mary realizes that it is not simply gender that creates artificial social hierarchies but also class, and I appreciate the way this novel frankly and honestly addresses the intersections between class, gender, and social power. I am most surprised this novel is not more widely known, as it addresses sensitive issues in a time period where such things were not widely discussed.

Answer 2: I enjoyed Hays' Victim of Prejudice because it offers readers a strong message of self-empowerment and exposes the problems with the oppression of women. The ongoing episode with Sir Osborne proved disturbing, and while I did not enjoy this part of the book, I did enjoy reading Mary's reaction to her situation. She refused to bow down to the cultural pressures that would have made her an oppressed prisoner, basically a slave to Sir Osborne. The entire society and the way it is structured seems rigged against her, but Mary persists in her beliefs. She seemed to understand early in life that sexism is unjust and that women need to be strong and stand up for themselves.

Q2. What do you think of Hays' characterization of Mr. Raymond?

Answer 1: The Mr. Raymond character is interesting because he is a benevolent father figure who plays into the stereotypical role of men as protectors of women, but he is also someone who taught Mary to resist stereotypes about women. Mr. Raymond is also revealed to be someone who is realistic, in that he understands that he plays a role in educating and empowering young Mary but that he also does not want to give her any false ideas or delusions about her potential given the prejudices of the society. She is not only a female, but she is also of low birth, so that makes Mary have very little social power. Mr. Raymond knows that Mary cannot marry William and that she also cannot do whatever she wants because of her gender. I appreciate that Hays presents Mr. Raymond in a realistic way. He is angelic at times, but he is also realistic and provides Mary with good advice. For example, he states, "Amidst the vicissitudes and the calamities of life, a firm and independent mind is an invaluable treasure," (p. 38).

Answer 2: Mr. Raymond is described as being "at once my parent, protector, titular deity," (p. 6). Therefore the characterization of Mr. Raymond is somewhat ironic. Mary "bounded into his arms at every short absence," (p. 6). The early descriptions of Mr. Raymond juxtapose Mary's pre-pubescent innocent sense of self with the woman she became especially after she has been raped. With women's chastity so important in this society, being raped completely tarnishes the individual's reputation. All that occurred after Mr. Raymond died, showing that Mary actually did need him for protection in the sexist society in which she lives. The characterization of Mr. Raymond as Mary's benefactor is tragic because it shows that women, even when they are strong and have allies, are never really safe and will never truly have power in a patriarchal society.

Q3: What characteristics of a tragedy do you see in The Victim of Prejudice? To what degree does this novel work for you as a tragedy?

Answer 1: This novel epitomizes a tragedy, because the protagonist goes through many trials, tribulations, and personal travails and does not necessarily achieve all of her goals. She also develops the persona of a classical Greek tragic hero in that she develops a strong sense of personal pride, which borders on hubris. That pride is what makes Mary strong and remarkable woman, worthy of deep respect. Mr. Raymond certainly helps reinforce Mary's self-confidence and hopes that she can channel her energy in to the social and political channels most appropriate for her. However, Mr. Raymond also understands that Mary is of a low social status. As a female too, Mary stands little chance of changing the world. Mary is too young and naive for most of the novel to understand that she is not invincible; it takes the great tragedy of Sir Osborne's abuse of power and overt evil nature to show that all the positive resolve that Mary exhibits is no match for entrenched patriarchy.

Answer 2: The characteristics of a tragedy include developing a sense of pathos, allowing the reader to relate to what the protagonist has been going through and understanding that she is a victim of forces beyond Mary's control. The tragic elements include the prejudicial society that Hays draws attention to. This society is tragic because it prevents people from appreciating each other for who they are, focusing instead on superficial issues like class and gender. Mary would have likely fallen in love with William had there not been in place the tragic barriers to their love. Similarly, the society is tragic because it allows women to be systematically victimized. Rape is not even considered a crime in this context, which creates a conundrum for Mary. She knows that men abuse their power and use their power to continue to subjugate women like her, who are bereft of a voice. Yet Mary persists in retaining her dignity, and that is why the novel is a tragedy: it is a tragedy because it teaches the reader how a hero remains strong and true to their principles in spite of major obstacles.

Works Cited

Hays, Mary. The Victim of Prejudice. Broadview Press, 1998.