Feminism on the Farm

Lyndall returns from boarding school as a feminist. She pities Em because she has chosen to marry Gregory. She seems to have much to say to Waldo, following him around the farm, telling to him about school and complaining about how difficult society has made it for women.

Depicting this novel as a feminist work is rather difficult for me, since all the feminist beliefs are displayed so late in the novel. Lyndall becomes educated, but returns to the farm pregnant, but she doesn't want to get married because she believes she will lose her freedom. She leaves the farm again, comes back sick and Gregory (dressed as a woman) takes care of her until she dies.

While the idea's of education and freedom for a woman are central to the feminist movement, by giving the character so many hardships after these decisions, it is difficult to say the Schreiner is a proponent of these beliefs. The novel nominally explores a woman's position in marriage and in the world as a whole, but only at the very end.

I understand that this is Schreiner's first novel, but it lacks balance. The most important themes are lightly touched, while she spends a great deal of the book on a person with no redeeming qualities. The most admirable aspect of this novel, with respect to feminism, is that Lyndall, who at first appears to have the fewest choices, is the most determined.