Controversial Muses and/or Artists: Christina Rossetti’s "Monna Innominata"

This thesis aims to examine the figure of Christina Rossetti, one of the most important English women poets of the Victorian Age, and author of significant collections of poetry. This study analyses how Christina Rossetti, through her poetry, becomes a pioneering female poet during a historical era marked by significant contradictions, particularly regarding women and the social expectations imposed upon them. This thesis specifically focuses on a close analysis of the “Monna Innominata”, a collection of fourteen sonnets written by Christina Rossetti and first published in 1881. The speaker’s voice throughout these sonnets plays a significant role as it effectively directs attention on the female protagonist, highlighting Christina Rossetti’s proficiency in accomplishing this. Hence, the objective of this dissertation is to demonstrate how, within these series of sonnets, the portrayal of the female character evolves from being a mere object of desire to being an active participant who asserts her equal participation in the depicted relationship throughout the sequence. Starting, in the first chapter, with an overview of the poet Christina Rossetti’s historical context, precisely the nineteenth-century Britain, this dissertation underscores the significant challenges that characterised this era, with a particular focus on the social issues related to the status of women. This context highlights the constraints that women were subjected to. Then, this analysis focuses on how their subordinate position in society had negative effects, particularly on their freedom, which led to a growing perception of their inferiority compared to their male contemporaries. This thesis further demonstrates how this perception of inferiority was also evident in the artistic and literary fields, as female poets of that period received little recognition and attention. The following chapter continues the discussion on the role of women in Victorian literature by focusing on the poetess Christina Rossetti. This section provides an account of her private life and artistic career, detailing her experiences as a Victorian woman and poet. It highlights her attempts to gain recognition for her poetry and the scholarly work behind her literary contributions. Furthermore, this chapter demonstrates how Christina Rossetti, in her distinctive manner, sought to navigate a mostly male-dominated literary sphere. The concluding chapter of this dissertation delves into the intricate examination of the issue concerning the role of women. This part specifically centres on the sequence "Monna Innominata". Through the analysis of this sequence and its significant preface, this third chapter emphasises the distinctive qualities and artistic talent of Christina Rossetti in her research of the portrayal and perception of the woman, as muse or artist. Ultimately, the primary objective of this thesis is not to assert itself as a feminist manifesto, but rather to examine a significant historical period for women poets within a specific context. This will be achieved by analysing the poetic works of Victorian female poet Christina Rossetti and exploring an early manifestation of women’s emancipation in the world of Victorian literature.