The Representation of Femininity in Downton Abbey

Abstract

"Downton Abbey is a British period drama television series and it first aired on September 2010. It was created by Julian Fellowes and co-produced by Carnival Films and Masterpiece. The plot summary of the first season of Downton Abbey cited from the official website of the film is as follows: It's 1912, and life in the Edwardian country house of Downton Abbey is idyllic and bustling for the Crawley family, aided by their cadre of servants. Robert, Earl of Grantham, his American heiress wife Cora, and their three daughters, along with Robert’s mother Violet, have lived largely uncomplicated lives. Although this summary does not mention the three daughters by name they have an essential role both in the series and my thesis. The three girls are: Mary, Edith and Sybil Crawley. Furthermore, Mrs. Crawley (Isobel); Sarah O’Brian and Anna Smith – the lady’s maid and a housemaid in the manor house – are crucial to my analysis of the representation of femininity, since the way female characters appear in the series make it popular for woman spectators."