Abstract
Abstract
Gaskell’s final, unfinished novel has interested critics for the way its two sibling pairs struggle for scarce resources. Yet the novel attempts to replace competition with common interest, privileging mutual over individual benefit in a model of sibling relations that pools resources, giving emotional connection both an economic counterpart and a grounding in alternative evolutionary strains. By juxtaposing sibling relations with visions of marital unity and discord, Gaskell shows how extralegal economic practices can promote well-being and intimacy within both family ties. The marriage plot of Gaskell’s novel is as much a story of how to be a good brother, sister, or friend as the story of a developing heterosexual romance. Wives and Daughters shows how changing economic relationships can advance the needs of both.
Publisher
Oxford University PressOxford
Reference391 articles.
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