At this time, women did not have equal rights as men.  Her earlier works that she published under her real name did not sell many copies.  She did not want this novel to be looked over just because it was written by a woman; therefore, having it be attached to a man’s name, she was able to gain more readers.  At first, readers did not know how to respond to such a riveting and confusing novel, but it was not until after her death that it became a well known and loved book.