The Odd Women, by George Gissing, is a story focused on the decisions people make in life and the external factors that influence those decisions. Gissing examines the situations of five different women and uses their lives to make observations about the women themselves and the Victorian society in which they had to live. Gissing's decision to focus on the lives and decisions of five husbandless women and his portrayal of their characters in a fully developed manner indicates that he was certainly well ahead of his time when it came to female depictions of the era. The author incorporates very unusual characters such as Mary Barfoot and Rhoda Nunn, who dedicate their lives to training young women in the skills needed to support themselves. Their stated goal is to help liberate both sexes from any constraints they may encounter, including even institutions such as marriage. This is a radical departure from the subject matter and typical portrayal of characters of the time. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The following excerpt from The Odd Women is a very good example of how Gissing's female characters reflect the realities of life within structures and limitations. of Victorian society: His own future was brighter than theirs had ever been. She knew she was beautiful. Men had followed her in the street and were trying to get to know her. Some of the girls she lived with looked at her with envy and malice. But did she really have any chance of marrying a man she could respect – not to mention love? (Gissing, p.38) In this quote we see that the character Monica has mixed feelings about her future. She recognizes that she has good prospects in some respects in that she is beautiful and does not lack attention from men or potential suitors. Yet she fears that the expectations and constraints of the Victorian society in which she lives will overshadow any chance she has of true happiness. We can see that she fears that her society's preconceived notions of gender and class constructs will negatively affect her ability to live the life she wants. Despite appearing to have many options at their fingertips, Monica realizes that society has largely dictated what many of them have to do. his choices could be in the future. Indeed, even the most important choice one can make in life, choosing a husband or wife, can be dictated by societal expectations. This sentiment, as expressed here by Gissing's Monica, serves to highlight the futility that many women of the time felt in similar situations. Gissing illustrates a marked gap between what women of the time wanted or desired, on the one hand, and what society expected of them, on the other. He further suggests that the ultimate tragedy of the predicament these women find themselves in is that they are fully aware of it at the time it is happening, but are powerless to do anything about it. Gissing shows how women like Monica may have the capacity to realize that they are held hostage by the constraints of society, but they also see no real way out. This leads to a pervasive feeling of emptiness and hopelessness, as witnessed by Monica. Monica's situation reflects the fact that there were limited opportunities in certain fields for women of almost all backgrounds..