Answer:In the nineteenth century, women's experiences of life differed significantly from men's experiences due to the prevailing societal norms and gender roles.
Women in the nineteenth century were expected to conform to strict gender roles that limited their opportunities for education, career advancement, and personal freedom. They were often expected to marry and devote their lives to domestic duties and child-rearing. In contrast, men were allowed more freedom to pursue their ambitions and careers, and were often seen as the primary breadwinners for their families.
Authors such as George Eliot and Leo Tolstoy depicted these gender roles and societal norms in their works, but approached them from different perspectives. Eliot's works often focused on the challenges faced by women in their pursuit of personal and intellectual fulfillment, and the societal expectations that limited their opportunities. Her characters, such as Dorothea Brooke in "Middlemarch," struggled to break free from these limitations and find meaning and purpose in their lives.
On the other hand, Tolstoy's works often depicted the struggles of men in the face of societal pressures and expectations. His characters, such as Pierre Bezukhov in "War and Peace," grappled with their own personal demons and societal expectations of masculinity, often leading to feelings of disillusionment and alienation.
Overall, while both Eliot and Tolstoy depicted the societal pressures and expectations faced by both men and women in the nineteenth century, their works focused on the unique experiences and challenges faced by each gender, reflecting the gender roles and expectations of their time.
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