Final answer:
Key discussions about women's roles from specified texts depict the gender norms of past societies, focusing on domestic and feminine activities that women 'used to do.' Aunt Lydia's attitude likely links to her enforcement of these norms within her fictional context.
Step-by-step explanation:
The queries posed regard the characterization and roles of women as depicted in various literary texts, focusing notably on the societal expectations and attitudes towards 'things' women did in the past, as expressed by a character named Aunt Lydia. Aunt Lydia's attitude reflects societal norms and possibly conveys a critical or nostalgic view of traditional female roles.
Women in the past were often expected to engage in domestic tasks and activities such as needlework, housekeeping, and embodying 'womanly virtues.' The expression 'things' here could embody a range of activities from mundane chores to the undertaking of certain social responsibilities or behaviors deemed appropriate for women. Aunt Lydia's perspective on these 'things' can be inferred mainly from her tone and the context within which she discusses these activities.
For instance, women would do needlework, take care of domestic upkeep, and be expected to demonstrate qualities such as obedience and decorum. These societal norms were not only restrictive but also a reflection of the limited roles available to women, as they were confined to the private sphere of the home. The mention of Aunt Lydia likely refers to her character from Margaret Atwood's 'The Handmaid's Tale,' where she represents the oppressive force teaching women to accept their roles within a dystopian society.