What's in a Name?

The difference of authors genders in this time period is essential to further understanding the texts. Gender roles were so well differentiated in the 19th century that there SHOULD be a difference in the ways in which they write. In the Wide, Wide World, it was quite obvious that it was written by a woman because of the emotions of Ellen and the intimacy between her mom and her. This could only be articulated as well as it is by a woman who has experienced similar relationships. In the way people and places are described we see chosen descriptive words that could indicate the gender of the author.

I find it interesting that Lord Fauntleroy was described as having golden locks of hair and the "greatest charm was this cheerful, fearless, quaint little way of making friends with people" (446). I feel like discussing interpersonal relationships in such a way is a very feminine thing to describe. Everything is "quaint" and "beautiful"...words that are entirely appropriate for women to use but may not be as acceptable coming from men. It is interesting how in the readings we have had, it is women talking about the American girl and men about the American boy. I feel like in the readings about the American boy, up to this point, everything is so straightforward and laid out for us. In writings with female authors, however, there tends to be more details and more attention spent to settings and relationships. We see this displayed in The Hidden Hand when setting of Hurricane Hall was described with such careful detail as was the features of Old Hurricane which set the stage for many interactions to come. I think that the readers approach to the text is different when the gender of the author is known.