Changing Role of Women in Howells' A Hazard of New Fortunes
This essay examines William Dean Howells' treatment of women in his 1890 novel A Hazard of New Fortunes, focusing on the contrasting figures of the traditional Mrs. March and the independent Alma Leighton. Published during a period of rising feminist activism, the novel uses these two characters to dramatize the tension between conventional domestic ideals and emerging ideas about women's autonomy. Through close reading of key dialogues and scenes, the paper argues that Howells' sympathetic portrayal of Mrs. March and his more critical treatment of Alma Leighton reveal his ambivalence toward the social changes transforming American gender relations at the close of the nineteenth century.
- Introduction: Women and Social Change in the 1880s: Novel's context within rising women's movement
- Mrs. March: The Traditional Wife and Her Authority: Mrs. March's domestic authority and traditional values
- Alma Leighton: The Independent New Woman: Alma's independence, conflict with mother, rejection of convention
- Conflict and Communication: Two Couples Compared: Contrasting relationship dynamics in each couple
- Howells' Perspective on Tradition and Modernity: Howells' ambivalence and preference for traditional values
✍️ How to write this paper — guide, tools & examples ▾
What makes this paper effective
- The paper anchors its argument in close textual evidence, using extended quotations from the novel to support each analytical claim rather than relying on vague summary.
- It maintains a clear comparative structure throughout, returning consistently to the Mrs. March / Alma Leighton contrast to develop a coherent interpretive thread.
- The historical framing — situating the novel's themes within the women's movement of the 1880s — gives the literary analysis meaningful social context without overreaching.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates effective use of character contrast as an analytical tool. By systematically comparing how Howells depicts Mrs. March and Alma Leighton across parallel situations — domestic responsibility, romantic relationships, and communication styles — the writer shows how an author's stylistic choices (sympathetic vs. critical portrayal) encode an ideological position. This technique transforms plot observation into literary argument.
Structure breakdown
The essay opens with historical context before introducing the two central characters and Howells' apparent preference between them. It then develops each character in turn through direct quotation and analysis, moves into a comparative discussion of the two couples' communication styles, and concludes with a synthesizing claim about Howells' own ideological stance. This funnel-then-compare structure keeps the argument focused and progressive.
Introduction: Women and Social Change in the 1880s
In A Hazard of New Fortunes, William Dean Howells explores a number of themes through the interaction of the novel's major characters. Much of his focus revolves around the women in the book and their interaction with each other and with men. Howells writes about issues contemporary to the time of the book's publication in 1890. Not coincidentally, the 1880s marked the beginning of a significant upsurge in the women's movement. A Hazard of New Fortunes presents women who abide by old values in contrast to women who have begun to adopt the values that eventually led to full suffrage, expanded educational opportunities, and broader career choices for women.
Women were becoming increasingly vocal about their opinions and were beginning to organize for a direct challenge to male-dominated institutions. No longer would a woman's role necessarily be restricted to duties at home. Beyond the obvious political significance of the right to vote, women were influencing social and economic institutions as well.
Given the tumultuous environment of the era, women reacted in diverse ways. In the young, self-confident Alma Leighton, Howells shows us the woman of the future. On the other hand, Howells portrays an equally self-confident but very traditional Mrs. March. The manner in which he presents these two women and their methods of dealing with situations reveals what Howells thinks about the changes occurring in the world around him. His favorable portrayal of Mrs. March clearly indicates his preference for her and what she represents. His less favorable portrayal of Alma Leighton reveals his understanding of the "modern woman," but also his discomfort with the disintegration of more traditional relationships between women and men.
Works Cited
Howells, William Dean. A Hazard of New Fortunes. Aug. 2002. Produced by David Widger for The Project Gutenberg Etext. 23 Feb. 2002.
Already a member? Log in
Unlock the rest of this paper
135,000+ research papers · AI writing tools · Plagiarism & AI detection
7-Day Pass
Does not renew
Get 7-Day PassMonthly
Renews at $12.99/month until canceled
Start MonthlyAnnual
Renews at $99/year until canceled
Start Annual- Unlimited AI writing tools
- Plagiarism and AI text detection tool
Plan details
Unlimited AI writing tools are for individual, non-automated use and are subject to our Terms of Service and abuse-prevention measures.
TextChecker scans: 3 during the 7-Day Pass, or 5 per month with Monthly and Annual.
Prices exclude applicable tax.
Always verify citation format against your institution’s current style guide requirements.