![]() ![]() ![]() Women are at the focus of the novel the few male characters who exist serve as either comic relief or as a plot device for one of the women’s stories. I also enjoyed the feminist theme of Cranford. ![]() The fact that Cranford, with its gossip and social cliques, is quite reminiscent of the town in which I grew up further aided my sense of immersion. This sense of vagueness about the narrator allowed me to more easily imagine that I was the narrator, and as a result, I became more immersed in the story. The only details about the narrator that we are given upfront are that she is a close friend of the main character, Miss Matty, and that she frequently visits but does not live in Cranford. Unlike most novels that are narrated by either the main character or an omniscient third person, Cranford is written from the perspective of a woman, whose identity remains unknown until practically the end of the book. One aspect of the book that brings the characters to life is the narration style. Moreover (and perhaps most importantly to a reader), it is an entertaining book, filled with memorable characters, who by the end of the novel, feel as real as either you or me. It speaks to the strength of women at a time when it was all too common for women to be regarded as the inferior, “fairer” sex. It is a tale of friendship, optimism in the face of hardship, and the tangible rewards of kindness. I thought it would be a satirical look at classism and social etiquette, and to a degree it is. Cranford is not what I expected it to be. ![]()
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