An Unprotected Female At The Pyramids, By Anthony Trollope

Anthony Trollope is one of the most celebrated English novelists of the Victorian Age. His short story An Unprotected Female at the Pyramids follows the journey of a British lady named Miss Dawkins in Egypt. Travelling alone seems to be a challenge for Miss Dawkins who wants to be an emancipated female independent of any male parental figure. During her journey in the land of Pharaohs, she is not protected by any male companion, whence comes the title of the story, although she joins other British travelers from time to time when the latter are to visit a place she wishes to see herself. She, for instance, joins the Damer family and other friends on a trip to the Pyramids. Generally, the story is full of hilarious scenes in which men find themselves in need of protection from the supposedly unprotected woman. Although Miss Dawkins might be of a good nature, her outward appearance and behavior are ones of an uncouth woman from the lower class. This generates humor in the story mainly when she interacts with the Damers and their friends. By the very end of the narrative, the readers learn that the unprotected female joins another family from Ireland with whom she manages to travel to Constantinople.