Male & Female relationship in the Victorian Era : men & guilt

The focus of my thesis is the investigation of male and female relationship in the Victorian era, more precisely the analysis of the nature of sin in connection with male characters. My investigation is based on three novels of this period written by three English writers of the same family, the BrontE sisters. The novels are, in the order of appearance, Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall. I also use sources concerned with the matrimonial law of the period and the Bible to identify the types of sin. My main intention is to provide an understanding of the essence of sin and that sin is always the same in all places and time. What changes are the approach and the judgement of sin by different places, time, societies and individuals. The latter is called guilt. My analysis enables us to see the different points of view regarding the male characters' guilt. My conclusion is that although there are extenuating circumstances one has to be responsible for their deeds bearing the consequences in mind.