Women’s roles in the workforce were extremely limited during the 19th century and it failed to allow promotions amongst women for their work. An underlying theme of the inequalities throughout the workforce is apparent in Stephen Crane’s novel, Maggie: A Girl of the Streets. Maggie: A Girl of the Streets, is the foundation of realistic literature written during the late 19th century which features several progressive undertones for broader topics such as nature versus nurture, women’s roles, and socioeconomic status. Crane’s work continues to lead back to one important question that is relatable to countless Americans, especially during the 19th century. What life encounters lead a person to succumb to the pressures of their environment and
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Lower socioeconomic status served as a confinement for all people, but especially, women. Women of a lower socioeconomic status would receive fewer opportunities to better themselves economically and socially. These women labeled with a lower class status would be confined to a hard working life and very poor shelter opportunities in slums. Stephen Crane’s character Maggie dreams of a new and improved life, much like many Americans at the time. Maggie discovers a more mature Pete and significant, unspecified amount of years later. She is now charmed by his bravado and sees potential in a new life with Pete. A new life much better than her last of potential and social confinement at the lengths of her family. Pete is evidently not much better than the people in Maggie’s community, after all, Pete is a bartender. The circumstances Maggie falls victim too are historically accurate for 19th century America and serves as actual inspiration to Crane, promoting his work as naturalism.
Historically, it was very realistic for women to become prostitutes as well as escorts due to the legality of the acts. According to Elizabeth Garner Masarik’s Dig a podcast based on history, the term prostitution and the acts associated with it were vague and legal in the United States until about the 1920s. There are several circumstances where there were madams, brothels, and average prostitutes throughout the 19th century and these workers were extremely accessible. Masarik’s transcript of the podcast envisions the realities of prostitution in New York City during the 19th
Lower socioeconomic status served as a confinement for all people, but especially, women. Women of a lower socioeconomic status would receive fewer opportunities to better themselves economically and socially. These women labeled with a lower class status would be confined to a hard working life and very poor shelter opportunities in slums. Stephen Crane’s character Maggie dreams of a new and improved life, much like many Americans at the time. Maggie discovers a more mature Pete and significant, unspecified amount of years later. She is now charmed by his bravado and sees potential in a new life with Pete. A new life much better than her last of potential and social confinement at the lengths of her family. Pete is evidently not much better than the people in Maggie’s community, after all, Pete is a bartender. The circumstances Maggie falls victim too are historically accurate for 19th century America and serves as actual inspiration to Crane, promoting his work as naturalism.
Historically, it was very realistic for women to become prostitutes as well as escorts due to the legality of the acts. According to Elizabeth Garner Masarik’s Dig a podcast based on history, the term prostitution and the acts associated with it were vague and legal in the United States until about the 1920s. There are several circumstances where there were madams, brothels, and average prostitutes throughout the 19th century and these workers were extremely accessible. Masarik’s transcript of the podcast envisions the realities of prostitution in New York City during the 19th