In most literary forms there seems to be a representation of a double standard. Even in our societies, double standards not only exist but are prevalent. In literature, although double standards are sometimes not always obvious to the reader, yet in the texts we have read the double standards are not only obvious, but are written in a way as if the author wants the reader to notice. It's pretty clear that, when it comes to adultery, female characters suffer much more from the consequences than males. Within each culture's literature, however, some may feel that adultery is more acceptable based on that culture's views. Overall it is through how the authors choose to represent the apparent double standard, how their cultural morals regarding punishment for infidelity are reflected in the text, and how they choose to have their characters' morals reflect the act of adultery itself. that we are able to see how these books manage to find themselves in the category of “great books about bad girls.” Writers throughout time have all sought ways to highlight the flaws of their society. They use their work as a way to present to the reader that the culture they live in is not as great as they think. The double standard is an example of faulty human logic that decides to hold women and men to different standards when it comes to their way of life. The most obvious double standard in the text was the punishment for each sex in cases of adultery. One of the best examples is Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. The simple fact that Stiva is not punished for cheating on his wife Dolly is one thing, but following her as wrong for wanting to end the marriage shows how f...... middle of paper.... .. standard that we as a society can move on from that period of time. Now, nowadays, there is no such strong double standard because we are quite aware of it when it is present. Yet at the time these novels were published it was considered normal and ok by society. In the end, though, all the great pieces of literature we read really give us what the course promised and that was "great books about bad women", although perhaps it should be said "bad women and bad men". Works Cited Balzac, Honoré De. Cousin Bette. Np: Penguin, 1998. Print.Laclos, Choderlos De and Douglas Parmée. Dangerous Liaisons. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1995. Print. Thackeray, William Makepeace and Nicholas Dames. Vanity Fair. New York: Barnes & Noble Classics, 2003. Print.Tolstoy, Leo and David Magarshack. Anna Carenina. New York: Signet Classic, 1961. Print.