Women

I think the women in this novel play an interesting role. It seems that there roles are appropriate for the time period, but they seem to lack any backbone at all. The way that Hippolita so easily accepts her possible fate when she finds out that Manfred is planning on divorcing her stood out to me the most. Hippolita says that she is willing to offer the divorce and live in a monastery for the rest of her life because what happens to her does not matter. It could just be the times, but it seems that if someone were to hear news of their spouse wanting to divorce them, especially for the reason that Manfred does, they would put up a bit of a fight or at least show some self respect. It really seems as though the men care very little for the women. Clearly they court them well and play the role of chivalrous men perfectly, but I think that has more to do with them just playing the role than it is for their true feelings for the women. Theodore, the most chivalrous character in the novel, definitely has strong feelings for Matilda, and was forever heartbroken after her death, but, again, I don't think he treats Matilda and Isabella the way he does out of respect for women. Theodore is simply an upstanding and respectful young man to everyone, including Manfred, which just shows that the women in this time (or maybe just this novel) are among the lowest of importance in their society .