Manliness and the Male Novelist in Victorian Literature

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Exploring the complexities of Victorian masculinity, Dowling investigates the paradox between the era's ideals of disciplined manhood and the prevalence of male deviance in literature. He introduces the concept of 'hegemonic deviance,' suggesting that dominant masculine ideals define themselves by negation. Through analysis of works by Dickens and Thackeray, Dowling reveals how male authors confront fears of effeminacy and construct identities against images of unmanliness. Ultimately, he argues that masculinity is a nuanced social construct shaped by cultural anxieties rather than an inherent trait.