Female Subjectivity in A Lost Lady 
RELATIONSHIPS WITH MALE CHARACTERS
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LIMITS PLACED ON FEMALE SUBJECTIVITY
SETTING
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MRS FORRESTER PUSHES AGAINST USUAL GENDERED IDEALS
USE OF FEMININE BEAUTY
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It is said throughout the novel that Mrs Forrester is an extremely attractive lady
"attractive in dishabille and she knew it"
From the opening of the play her subjectivity is demonstrated through the use of her beauty
We are reminded that she would run to the door to greet her husbands guests
“she had been known to rush to the door in her dressing gown, brush in hand”
Yet her beauty is not used for her own good but to the advantage of her husband
Male Expectations
The novel is written from the perspective of a conservative male
So it is no wonder to a reader why Mrs Forrester's domesticated lifestyle is romanticised in the opening
The men in this novel hold women like Mrs Forrester to a standard as shown by when Niel attempts to deter her from spending time with Ivy Peters
Cather depicts a bold female protagonist in Mrs Forrester and in doing so the reader sees her break out of the societal mould of subjectivity
"I can't be bothered about their talk. They have always talked about me and they always will"
Mrs Forrester has no interest in upholding her reputation in order that society won't talk about her
One could argue it is simply internalised misogyny that makes this seem like a 'limit' to her subjectivity
She uses her beauty for the male attention she receives from these guests, not for the good of her husband
Mrs Forrester continually flirts with the younger male characters in the novel
Mr Forrester
She does appear value her husband
'to me it was as if one of the mountains had fallen down"
She shows her concern in asking Niel to look out for him after his fall
Yet his death doesn't seem to largely effect her
critiques would argue this is due to the fact that he was 25 years her elder and therefore not satisfying her the way a wife would desire
Theres a certain sense of freedom after his death, as highlighted through Marians actions in flirting with new men and taking on new lovers
Niel
"For one knew that she was bewitching. It was instantaneous and pierced the thickest hide"
Niel recognises the power Mrs Forrester holds and yet this is subjected to her domesticated role
Niel is a traditional, conservative male he is not attracted to the idea of a woman taking on the role of a man
He is not a man who will ever be "dillusioned about the West"
Sweet Water was a small and traditional town and along side this came the small town mentality
The Forrester's home is depicted as a domestic haven where travellers would come to rest and spend time with Cpt Forrester on their journey
The house being romanticised to the degree it is was primarily down to Ms Forrester and her role as lady of the household
Immediately, in the opening of the novel, the readers are reminded that Marian is tied to and bound by her domestic role as wife
We read that she was ' always there" waiting for the next guests to run and greet them at the door l
Sexuality
Mrs Forrester is not an overly sexualised character in fact this is barely mentioned
Cather's avoidance of sex “might be explained by the fact that too explicit a depiction of Marian’s sexuality would affect the primary effect of delightful domesticity too radically” (Peter Messent)
The lack of mention upholds her innocent character as the devoted and domesticated house wife