Ideological Ambivalence of Male towards Female in Howells'sA Hazard of New Fortunes

Abstract

Howells'sA Hazard of New Fortunes, focuses on the relationship between male and female characters and ambivalent attitude of the males towards females in the American society. On the one hand, females' power and talent have been presented through their artistic abilities but on the other hand they have been presented as being incapable of making decisions about their career and are bound to think for the welfare of their children and husband at the expense of their desire. All themarried women have been depicted as more or less supportive and submissive to their husbands, and they are shown as being incapable of making any personal decisions sidelining their husbands. Even Alma who is portrayed as modern and unmarried girl, receives a big blow when on the one hand everybody accepts her as a talented girl but on the other even her near and dear ones advocate that her talent will be materialized only at the expense of marrying a boy.