In my opinion the play Hobsons Choice shows that women are as good as men but because of the sexist views of men in the 19th century disabled them from accomplishing their dreams.

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Women of the 19th century did not have the same rights as men. The patriarchal societies in that century meant that women had to face unequal rights. The women portrayed in ‘Hobson’s Choice’ paint a totally different picture. The women are more in control of their situations. They are called ‘bumptious’ by their male counterparts meaning self-assertive. Women were expected to housewife and to raise children. If women stepped out of line they would punished, even physically sometimes.

The ‘Hobson’s Choice’ play is set in Salford in Manchester in a 19th century Victorian era. Mr Hobson a middle class man runs a shoe shop. He is shown as a pompous man that drinks away most of the profit at the local pub.  His eldest daughter Maggie however is known to be very pushy as seen in act one where she forces Mr Albert Prosser; a man who has been courting her sister, to buy some shoes

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‘This is a shop you know. We’re not here to let people go without buying’   Act one

It is very unlikely that Mr Prosser did not know that it was a shop rather Maggie is showing irony by reminding him that the shop is there to sell things not to be walked in and out. Also she shows that she has more control over the situation because she pushes Mr Albert back into a seat

‘(pushing him): Sit down, Mr Prosser. You can’t go through the streets in odd boots.’ Act one

Women did not push around men in ...

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