A Structuralist Approach to Women’s Position in George Moore’s "Esther Waters"

Abstract

Structuralism defines the relationship between the part and the whole. This study aims to analyse George Moore’s "Esther Waters" (1894) in terms of structuralist approach. The surface structure of the novel focuses on Esther raising her son alone. In terms of syntagmatic relation, Esther has an extramarital sexual intercourse with William, raises her son alone, but finally marries William. In terms of paradigmatic relation, there is homology of relationship between Esher and William who are orphans and start work at early ages. Education and motherhood become explicit signs in the deep structure: While the signifier is education, the signified is profession; and while the signifier is motherhood, the signified is self-sacrifice. As for the deep structure, its harmony operates on binary opposition between ‘being as a subject’ and ‘being as an object’. As a ‘being as a subject’, Esther makes a choice by having an extramarital sexual intercourse, takes its action by giving birth to her son, and takes its responsibility by struggling for her son. Its melody operates on the fixed cycle of getting married. The novel ends but its melody continues because women will continue to be deprived of education and professions that will provide financial freedom. As for the deep meaning, there is no innate difference between men and women in terms of mental capacity, but there are prejudices imposed by the male-dominated society on women who are left with no choice but to marry and have only the role of a wife and mother in society.