History Literature / WivesAndDaughters

* DoubleStandard: In Mr. Gibson's [[OverprotectiveDad overprotective paternal]] eyes, 16-year-old Molly is still "a baby". The very idea of his 20-year-old medical intern falling in love with her is unthinkable for him. He immediately recollects that ''his'' first love Jeanie was actually younger than Molly is now. But that doesn't prevent him from making it clear to the hopeful intern that his daughter is off limits.

* Indifferent Beauty: Cynthia is very beautiful and well aware of it. She's so lovely that she doesn't even care about her appearance.

* SheCleansUpNicely: Couldn't be a more perfect example. Roger only really begins keying into the fact that Molly is the girl for him once he sees her all dolled up during a house party at The Towers:

* AristocratsAreEvil: {{Averted}}. The Cumnors are a loving, close-knit family and are on relatively good terms with the Hollingford residents. In particular, Lord Hollingford is an {{adorkable}} [[MadScientist man of science]], and Lady Harriet is a [[SpiritedYoungLady spirited young lady]] who helps Molly on several occasions.

* DoubleStandard: In Mr. Gibson's [[OverprotectiveDad overprotective paternal]] eyes, 16-year-old Molly is still "a baby". The very idea of his 20-year-old medical intern falling in love with her is {{Squick}} for him. He immediately recollects that ''his'' first love Jeanie was actually younger than Molly is now. But that doesn't prevent him from making it clear to the hopeful intern that his daughter is off limits.

* ImpoverishedPatrician: Squire Hamley.

* MadonnaWhoreComplex: Surprisingly {{averted}} for a novel written during the Victorian era. Unlike Molly, Cynthia is no {{ingenue}} and is [[IHaveBoobsYouMustObey happy to use her sexual desirability to impress men]]. However, even Mr. Gibson appreciates that it isn't entirely justified to [[SlutShaming call her a flirt or a jilt]], since she never goes out of the way to get someone's attention. It's just that men fall for her charm. In Cynthia's own words, she is a "passive coquette."
** Also amazingly, for the time, averted by Roger and Mr. Gibson, in a conversation they share when Roger realizes his love for Molly:

** The new Mrs. Gibson fails utterly in her task of being a suitable mother-figure for Molly as she makes her transition into womanhood. Molly never learns to regard her as anything other than a ThirdWheel in the family.

** This also leads to Roger suffering a GreenEyedEpiphany, as he suddenly becomes jealous of [[RomanticFalseLead the guy escorting Molly during the house party]], although the escort couldn't care less about Molly, and is only attending her because he was asked to do so by Lady Harriet.

Written by Creator/ElizabethGaskell, author of ''Literature/NorthAndSouth'' and biographer of Creator/CharlotteBronte, ''Wives and Daughters'' was originally published in serial format in Cornhill Magazine from 1864-1866. It follows the events of Molly Gisbson's life when her widower father marries a widow with a grown daughter.

--> '''Roger''': What must she think of me? how she must despise me, choosing the false Duessa. [[note]]Duessa being the corrupt enchantress who is foil of the virtuous Una in TheFaerieQueene.[[/note]]

* AuthorExistenceFailure: Gaskell's poorly-timed demise leaves a few plot points unresolved.

Written by Creator/ElizabethGaskell, author of ''Literature/NorthAndSouth'' and biographer of Creator/CharlotteBronte. ''Wives and Daughters'' was originally published in serial format in Cornhill Magazine from 1864-1866. It follows the events of Molly Gisbson's life when her widower father marries a widow with a grown daughter.

* WickedStepmother: {{Deconstructed}}. While Hyacinth Gibson nee Clare is shallow, self-centered and incapable of putting herself in Molly's shoes, she treats Molly as well as she is capable of treating anyone. She definitely [[ParentalFavouritism does not favour her own daughter]] Cynthia over Molly, partly because she is jealous of Cynthia's beauty and cannot get her own way with Cynthia.

* MadonnaWhoreComplex: Surprisingly {{averted}} for a novel written during the Victorian era. Unlike Molly, Cynthia is no {{ingenue}} and is [[IHaveBoobsYouMustObey happy to use her sexual desirability to impress men]]. However, even Mr. Gibson appreciates that it isn't entirely justified to [[SlutShaming call her a flirt or a jilt]], since she never goes out of the way to get someone's attention. It's just that men fall for her charm. In Cynthia's own words, she is a "passive coquette".

* ShoutOut: A Miss Eyre, Molly's governess, in chapter 3. Not the actual Jane Eyre, mind you.

** Later, Mr. Gibson is doubly annoyed with Cynthia because of her callous treatment of her fiancés and for having used Molly to get herself out of trouble. He calls her a "flirt and a jilt". Immediately, he half-regrets this, knowing that this isn't entirely true either. But it begs the question, how far can Cynthia go without being considered, at least ethically, a slut?

** This also leads to Roger suffering a GreenEyedEpiphany of sorts, as he suddenly becomes jealous of the guy charged with escorting Molly during the house party, although the escort couldn't care less about Molly, and is only attending her because he was asked to do so by Lady Harriet.

** Also amazingly, for the time, averted by Roger and Dr. Gibson, in a conversation they share when Roger realizes his love for Molly:

--> '''Dr. Gibson''': Come, come! Cynthia isn't so bad as that. She's a very fascinating, faulty creature.

--> '''Roger''': What must she think of me? how she must despise me, choosing the false Duessa. [[note]]Duessa being the corrupt enchantress who is foil of the virtuous Una in TheFaerieQueen.[[/note]]

--> '''Roger''': What must she think of me? how she must despise me, choosing the false Duessa.

* DoubleStandard: In Mr. Gibson's [[OverprotectiveDad overprotective paternal]] eyes, 16-year-old Molly is still "a baby". The very idea of his 20-year-old medical intern falling in love with her is {{Squick}} for him. He immediately recollects that ''his'' first love Jeanie was actually younger than Molly is now. But that doesn't prevent him from making it clear to the hopeful intern that his daughter is off limits.
* HotDad: Despite being in his forties, Mr. Gibson is very good-looking.
* IdiotBall: Arguably, the entire plot of ''WivesAndDaughters'' is the consequence of Mr. Gibson's lapse in judgment in deciding to remarry. While some positive things come out of the remarriage, such as Molly's friendship with her step-sister Cynthia, Mrs. Gibson herself is a ThirdWheel in the close father-daughter relationship. She makes pretty much no positive contribution in either Molly's or Mr. Gibson's life.

* MadonnaWhoreComplex: Surprisingly {{averted}} for a novel written during the Victorian era. Unlike Molly, Cynthia is no {{ingenue}} and is [[IHaveBoobsYouMustObey happy to use her sexual desirability to impress men]]. However, even Mr. Gibson appreciates that it isn't entirely justified to [[SlutShaming call her a flirt or a jilt]], since she never goes out of the way to get someone's attention. It's just that [[AllMenArePerverts men fall for her charm]]. In Cynthia's own words, she is a "passive coquette".

* ParentWithNewParamour: {{Averted}}. While Mr. Gibson initially considers himself happy "for his own sake" in marrying Hyacinth Clare, he is too rational and anti-sentimental to believe himself in love. The main reason for his decision to remarry is to find a suitable mother-figure for Molly.

* {{Doorstopper}}: Aww come on, it's only '''624''' pages [[spoiler: in its unfinished form]]!

* {{Doorstopper}}: Aww come on, it's only '''624''' pages!