I think it's something cultural about mid-twentieth century Britain (and possibly Britain at other times, although the spinsters in Cranford didn't seem to suffer from quiet desperation). The idea that a woman's life gains meaning when she gets a man and until then she's just stuck in a holding pattern seems to be so strong that Pym's heroines just can't break free even though there's no real barrier (either in terms of money or depression or whatever) stopping them from making a life that is at least a little more satisfying.
But again, Miss Read was writing at about the same time and her spinster heroines are generally active happy people who enjoy their lives, so however strong this cultural imperative, clearly not everyone buckled under its weight.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2018-06-06 01:53 pm (UTC)But again, Miss Read was writing at about the same time and her spinster heroines are generally active happy people who enjoy their lives, so however strong this cultural imperative, clearly not everyone buckled under its weight.