Little Lord Fauntleroy

Without making too many broad generalizations, I believe that Frances Hodgson Burnett’s gender shapes and influences Cedric in Little Lord Fauntleroy on a completely different level. Unfortunately, I think that it detracts somewhat to the paramount impact Cedric Errol had in shaping American society. Because Burnett is a woman, her fantasies about a young, sweet-natured boy who cares for his mother stupendously reflects her own personal desire for how boys and men should treat women. Cedric is repeatedly described as beautiful and charming with long descriptions of his “soft, fine gold-colored hair” and his “big brown eyes and long eyelashes.” (445) These physical descriptions seem to mirror the same standards of beauty that were applied for little girls at the time. It would seem as though Burnett was trying to have parents adopt the same ideals of beauty for their young boys as for their young girls.

I also think the scene where Cedric beats the other boy at the race is very insightful into the author’s own gender. Burnett creates peace and compassion through Cedric’s soothing words when he wins against Billy. Generally speaking, boys do not try and console their losing opponent in such a situation and most men would not encourage such a gesture. It is usually a girl or a woman who feels sympathy for her losing friend and wants to make the other person feel better.

This story is the first that we have read this year in which the boy’s characteristics and personality traits mimic those of the perfect little girls we have read about, i.e. Ellen Montgomery. I feel as though this is an attempt on Burnett’s part to create a guide for how the “good little boy” should act. Cedric is obviously very different from Ragged Dick and Tom Sawyer who prided themselves on being dirty and rugged.