Contradictory Voices: Subversive and Conservative Narratives in The Real Charlotte

Since the advent of structuralism in the late 1960s and early 1970s, discourse has come to take various meanings including that it is ""beyond language in use relative to social, political and cultural formations"" (Jaworski & Coupland 3). Somerville and Ross perform significant discursive practices focusing on the transformation of social landscapes in their novel The Real Charlotte. In the nineteenth century, Ireland was experiencing new beliefs and values due to newly formed national and social climates after a long history of colonization. People in the Lismoyle community as well as the main character Charlotte Mullen react differently to the traditional ideas and new ideologies. Charlotte is a subversive figure challenging the traditional gender norms. She, with intelligence, ability and knowledge, is a master of schemes. She also can adapt to, cope with, and take advantage of the shifting social environment. With these talents and capabilities, Charlotte succeeds in seizing the land; however, the narratives about her personality and appearance present her as an ugly and evil woman. In particular, her trait as Irish is emphasized with contempt. Narratives concerning other female characters’ personalities and characteristics are contradictory as well. While Mrs. Lambert keeps gender decorum as a wife, her personality and looks are ridiculed. Francie Fitzpatrick, as a vivacious young woman, enjoys a free spirit; however, her being disrespectful is also overly stressed. Narratives revolving around female characters endorse Somerville and Ross’s contradictory attitudes toward the traditional and at the same time changing social order and gender code. By portraying Charlotte as an able woman and showing contempt toward Mrs. Lambert and Francie, the authors seem to support subverting of gender norms; On the other hand, they as members of the Ascendancy express their aversion toward people like Charlotte who challenges tradition and contributes to the reestablishment of social order.