ife the life of poverty, and humiliation, and vexation, anddiscontent (Braddon 312), Lady Audley decides to conceal her transgressive past. Everything from thatpoint on is to avoid, at all cost, the revelation of her guilt. After Robert confronts her, she is transformedfrom a frivolous childish beauty into a woman, strong to argue her own cause and plead her owndefence (Braddon 284). Lady Audley is forced to abandon the domestic ideal and becomes a realwoman in order to survive. Robert sees her transgressive nature and calls it the demonic incarnationof some evil principle (Braddon 340). Much like Braddons description of Claras surge of energy andpassion at the moment of a possible transgression, Lady Audley acquires the appearance and mannerof a person who has yielded to the dominant influence of some overpowering excitement (Braddon309). This torrent of passion is not allowed in the domestic ideal, and again, it is Robert who will stepin and correct the improper feminine behavior. He firmly believes Lady Audley to be insane, but Dr.Mosgrave warns that the lady is not mad... She is dangerous! (Braddon 372). Lady Audley isdangerous because she is not what she appears to be, because she cannot be contained within thebounds of the proper feminine (Pykett 94-5); Unlike Clara, Lady Audley cannot be contained and mustbe removed from public view. 3.5 Madame TaylorLady Audleys confinement occurs after her marriage to Sir Michael Audley is revealed to befraudulent. Each time marriage fails, she is doomed, first as a governess and now as an inmate at aninsane asylum. The final transformation is that of Lady Audley into Madame Taylor. This name doesnot have any hint of her past or even of her English roots. She will bear a false name for the rest of herlife (Braddon 423). Even she looked upon herself as a species of state prisoner... who must beprovided for in some comfortable place of confinement (Braddon 366). This confinement is a resu...
