‘It biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder’: female rivalry in Caroline Lee Hentz’s novellas

Abstract

ABSTRACT Nineteenth-century literature often depicts women as rivals, a phenomenon Virginia Woolf attributes in ‘A Room of One's Own' to the male-dominated nature of literature up until the twentieth century. This led to women being defined in relation to men. Feminist critics often reject female competitiveness as it challenges the collective effort to contest patriarchal control, focusing instead on female friendship. However, there is a lack of critical exploration into rivalry among female characters in nineteenth-century literature by nineteenth-century female novelists, particularly regarding overt spite or ill will. This article addresses this gap by examining poisonous relationships among female friends and siblings in novellas by Caroline Lee Hentz. Drawing from Freud's theories on female sexuality, critiques by feminist scholars like Janice Raymond, and Sianne Ngai’s studies on negative affects, the study uncovers the origins and often-tragic outcomes of toxic relationships among women. It contextualizes these themes using biblical imagery from Psalm 140:1-3, which depicts metaphorical venom resonating with jealousy and treachery in nineteenth-century literature. Additionally, this analysis highlights societal barriers in the judgmental Victorian society that hindered the establishment of genuine relationships among women.