Review of Claudia Nelson’s “Sex and the Single Boy: Ideals of Manliness and Sexuality in Victorian Literature for Boys” (1989)

Baker M Bani-Khair,Abdullah Badarneh,Majed Al-Qura'N,Fatimah Sarahneh

doi:10.7575/aiac.alls.v.10n.1p.1

Baker M Bani-Khair, Abdullah Badarneh + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.7575/aiac.alls.v.10n.1p.1

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Abstract

This article traces the idea of manliness, masculinity and sexuality, and its connection with children’s literature in the Victorian age. As such, it sheds light on the stereotypes that accompanied the prevalent conceptions about masculinity and manliness in the Victorian age. Additionally, it explains how sexuality was considered to be an issue that had strict ideals, stereotypes, rules, and restrictions because it was governed by the social, religious and structural pedagogy of the society. According to the Victorian ideals, “manliness” was regarded as a moral and religious virtue that can control sexual desires, and lessen the level of danger and threat to the moral structure of the society. Within the framework of manliness and masculinity, the article stresses the point that children’s literature was certainly the pivotal focus that reflects these stereotypes or the Victorian ideals since it was part of the educational, ethical, religious and social life, especially for children’s education and upbringing.

Highlights

This article traces the idea of manliness, masculinity and sexuality, and its connection with children’s literature in the Victorian age
It sheds light on the stereotypes that accompanied the prevalent conceptions about masculinity and manliness in the Victorian age
As we see in the previous quotation, there are many terms that one needs to understand in relation to the Victorian history and ideals because each one of them gives a complete notion not just about ‘manliness’ and about the Victorian age in general

Summary

INTRODUCTION

This article traces the idea of manliness, masculinity and sexuality, and its connection with children’s literature in the Victorian age. As we see in the previous quotation, there are many terms that one needs to understand in relation to the Victorian history and ideals because each one of them gives a complete notion not just about ‘manliness’ and about the Victorian age in general Another important part of Nelson’s approach in understanding and analyzing the Victorian ideals about ‘manliness’, and ‘masculinity’ relies heavily on her historical explanation of the development of children’s literature during the 18th century by focusing on the shifts and transformations that children’s literature underwent during that era. Nelson traces these developments through giving powerful examples on this phenomenon from children’s texts that were written during that extended period of time. Tosh adds that manliness was an inseparable part of the popular culture which means that it interwined with the whole social system of Victorian life, he said that, “ But manliness was more than a subject of learned disputation, more even than an educational tool; it was a guide to life, deeply rooted in popular culture, and often resistant to the redefinitions proposed by didactic writers.” (459) Across different time periods, these gender stereotypes were viewed and analyzed by many Victorian writers, changing the prevalent perspectives about “masculinity”

APPROACH AND STYLE

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

CONCLUSION