Resignation, heroism, and sisterhood in Two women by Gertrudis Gómez de Avellaneda

Abstract

The novel, published in four volumes between 1842 and 1843, presents the institution of marriage as an imperfect social norm that inevitably leads to the unhappiness of spouses. This failure led most women to take refuge in resignation, as they lacked a profession or economic means to sustain themselves. Breaking away from this situation was considered a heroic attitude that very few could afford. The protagonists, Luisa and Catalina, embody two idealized images commonly seen in Romanticism: the faithful and angelic wife and the passionate and free-spirited lover. However, neither of them turns out to be as archetypal as it might seem at first; on the contrary, both play the role of “resigned heroines”, integrating two seemingly opposing concepts. The writer demonstrates the inaccuracy of this dichotomy through the evolution of her protagonists, who, instead of confronting each other, bravely sacrifice themselves to overcome the painful situation they find themselves in, showing solidarity with each other. Gómez de Avellaneda wrote the work with a clear didactic interest, advocating for the need to promote networks of sisterhood as the only way to achieve true emancipation for women.