Genre
Essay
Setting and Context
19th Century English Society
Narrator and Point of View
John Stuart Mill is the narrator. Through these essays the narrator upholds gender equality.
Tone and Mood
Crtical, feministic, instructive, argumentative
Protagonist and Antagonist
J. S. Mill is the protagonist of gender equality and upliftment of women. Antagonist N/A
Major Conflict
As the title says, the writer brings forth his arguments against the subjection of women in 19th century English society.
Climax
Gender equality leads to social progress and it helps to bring total happiness in a society.
Foreshadowing
Rigidity in the divorce act would lead women to indulge in adultery.
Understatement
In the beginning of Chapter II, Mill understates the value of women's choice and wish in a marriage alliance.
Allusions
Mill makes an allusion to Uncle Tom of "Uncle Tom's Cabin" (1852), in Chapter II.
Imagery
Mill uses the imagery of Uncle Tom in his cabin to highlight that slaves have more freedom than married women.
Paradox
Women can't be free from the bondage of marriage without adultery.
Parallelism
In Chapter II, Mill uses a parallel between women and slaves in order to emphasize worse condition of women than slaves in 19th century society.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
Mill uses the word Church to refer the priests of the church in second chapter. It is a use of synecdoche. In the line: "he was her sole tribunal and law", tribunal and law are the metonym of husband's ultimate authority over his wife.
Personification
The Church is personified having the ability to hear and to grant permission.
