Volu m e II - Purdue University Calumet

men feel more interested in masculine women. Laura succumbs to melancholy and allows her negative
experience to deprive her of the few positive qualities she previously possessed. She becomes“[f]orlorn and
disowned, sorely tried and sadly changed; her beauty faded, her mind clouded; robbed of her station in the
world, of her place among the living creatures.” (422) Since Laura has lost her coveted social position and
her beauty, it is possible that Walter will become less attracted to her and more attracted to Marian. This
suggests Collins’ belief that the new feminine ideal that Marian exemplifies is superior to the insipid angel in
the house. Laura’s helplessness and lack of purpose in life is another negative characteristic of the traditional
Victorian woman.
To demonstrate the ridiculous helplessness of the angel in the house, Collins characterizes Laura as
pathetically useless. She complains that, “[y] ou work and get money, Walter; and Marian helps you. Why is
there nothing I can do? You will end in liking Marian better than you like me—you will, because I am so
helpless!” (489) Laura realizes that her ineptitude is unattractive, and she fears that Walter will prefer
Marian to her. Walter’s response to Laura’s childish complaint further emphasizes her helplessness, for
Her drawings, as she finished them, or tried to finish them, were placed in my hands;
Marian took them from me and hid them carefully; and I set aside a little weekly tribute
from my earnings, to be offered to her as the price paid by strangers for the poor, fain,
valueless sketches, of which I was the only purchaser. (490)
Laura fails to complete the drawings she starts, and the drawings she does finish are completely worthless.
Walter and Marian’s reinforcement of Laura’s worthlessness and ineptitude suggests that people who
encourage women to comply with the traditional feminine ideal create foolish and incompetent women.
Consequently, after the Inquest near the end of the novel Walter tells Marian the important details instead
of Laura. When he receives a letter from Marian and Laura asking about the results of the Inquest, Walter
says, “[t] he necessity of sparing Laura any sudden knowledge of the truth was the first consideration which
the letter suggested to me” (533). Walter’s main concern is to protect Laura from negative events that
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