Lorna Doone

As may be expected for a story set in the 17th century, there are many overtly sexist statements made both in the narration and by various characters. Instances of this include the assertions that women are inherently mysterious, emotionally fickle, untrustworthy, and incapable of understanding reason or firm honesty. John describes his boyhood views, which are typical of his age, sex, and era:

[B]ut of course I was only a boy as yet, and therefore inclined to despise young girls, as being unable to do anything, and only meant to listen to orders […] as creatures of a lower order, only good enough to run errands for us, and to nurse boy-babies (60).

While many of the worst statements are made by characters like Jeremy Stickles and ostensibly refuted by John Ridd’s own opinions, even the book’s hero demonstrates misogyny, especially of the chivalric variety. John believes that women are “weaker” than men and require defending even when they do not want it. This belief appears in his insistence on punching Marwood de Whichehalse for comforting Annie, despite her protests. Similarly, John believes that it is the duty of men to consider the women who depend on him before undertaking any action. This shows more care for the way that his actions may affect those who depend on him, but also reflects his belief that women are incapable of managing their own lives.

Further, John expresses the opinions that women are meant to keep out of men’s business and to approach the men in their lives “softly.” He also believes that women are liars, incapable of getting along for long periods of time, fundamentally require overt expressions of romantic love, at least until they have a few children, and are susceptible to irrational flattery by their suitors as a general rule.

John’s dehumanizing conception of women is also shown by his noted reaction to the Doones releasing his horses from his stable to shelter their own and the notable lack of reaction to their intentions of raping his mother and sisters. Later in the book, John is also hesitant to consider the Doones villains for raping the women they kidnap and wonders whether they truly need to be held accountable for their crimes. All these points demonstrate that, while John may have been considered to be relatively sympathetic to the plight of women when compared to others, his viewpoint is still inherently misogynistic.

Despite the John’s misogynistic view of women, or perhaps because of it, John Ridd also repeatedly puts three women on a pedestal—his mother, his sister, Annie, and Lorna Doone. His mother is called “the kindest and best-hearted of all women,” and Annie is repeatedly described as devoid of any kind of sin (345). Lorna is subject to further idealism, being a “delicate, innocent darling”, and “the loveliest, and most harmless, in the world of maidens” (256, 330). John even considers the fact that a man’s first love is often viewed through an idealistic lens, but refuses to accept that such is the case of his view of Lorna:

For (if you come to think of it) a man’s young love is very pleasant, very sweet, and tickling; and takes him through the core of heart; without his knowing how or why. […] So his love is a crystal Goddess, set upon an obelisk; and whoever will not bow the knee (yet without glancing at her), the lover makes it a sacred rite either to kick or to stick him. I am not speaking of me and Lorna, but of common people (284).

The novel discusses human nature on multiple occasions and in both positive and negative lights. John considers that human beings are fundamentally predisposed to fight with one another and opposed to all change. A lawyer in London informs John that “not men nor women neither are better than they need be,” but John believes that, at least those in the countryside, do their best to be morally good (166). He also believes that dressing well helps a man to try to live up to his appearance by his actions. John also suggests that humans fundamentally want to complain and may be unsatisfied if they do not have cause to do so. Interestingly, John also makes some other keen observations about humanity, namely that when someone says that there is nothing to forgive, it usually means “that they can forgive nothing” and that people tend to ask for advice only when they want a favor (232). Additionally, he suggests that people are more disposed to like people for whom they have done a favor than people who have done favors for them. This notion bears out in the book through the behavior of the Queen. Ultimately, John states that he believes that all human behaviors are motivated by one of two things: desire and fear.

There are also some contradictions apparent in John’s views and expectations of humanity. Despite his belief that people are likely to do a good turn when possible, he also states that “all men are wicked, more or less, to some extent: and no man may say otherwise” (429). He also considers his horse’s abandonment of him to reflect “the manner of mankind” (481). Additionally, John insists on honest behavior, even when the Londoners would allow for him to profit by cheating the system in the conventional manner, yet he also believes that a man who is of higher social class and more wealth must expect and “allow himself to be cheated” (539).

John is also reportedly against the unlawful practice of robbery, but he considers “it to be every man’s own business to defend himself and his goods; unless he belonged to our parish, and then we must look after him” (23). This viewpoint also does not stop him from considering Carver Doone to be a murderer and his father, a victim of robbery, an innocent victim. While John has respect for the aristocracy to the point where the highborn are above reproach, he also considers them to be fundamentally greedy. He also acknowledges the idea of men being committed to the concept of justice, but also allowing the villainy of the Doones to continue. Further, John insists that he is “slow” and “simple,” but also admits to pretending to be less intelligent than he is on purpose, which is in contempt of his purported sense of honesty, which he considers to be a natural state, at least for God-fearing, country folk.