Recasting Dorothy Wordsworth : a woman writer’s undiscovered literary voice

Abstract EN

Women writers are often neglected in the literary canon.

More often than not, critically acclaimed Romantic writers were male.

The most famous Romantic poet, known for his poetic genius is William Wordsworth.

Not much scholarly attention has been given to his sister, Dorothy Wordsworth, who wrote extensively but not publicly.

This paper sheds light on Dorothy Wordsworth’s journals as worthy of further literary recognition.

Many literary critics and scholars have underestimated the value of her writing as not poetic enough, but in her rigorous documentation of everyday life, readers are able to gain insight into the harsh effects of patriarchy on women writers.

Unlike her brother, Dorothy’s sense of self was not egotistical and instead hesitant and unsure.

This paper uncovers Dorothy’s divided sense of self as evident in her writings and claims that her literary genius has gone unnoticed and could be considered as experimental and life writing.