I guess I can never completely let go of the past. The bright glow of the stone shines just as bright as the day I first received it. This was the only memory I kept of my marriage with the wretched man. I still remember the loud beating of my heart as he entered the room on our first night. His façade was still on as he smiled at me in a cat-like way. The first week was a celebration. Both of our households held events every day for the marriage of the two most well-known families in the town. My father was especially proud to marry off his eldest daughter, as it was a symbol of success for a woman. To be dedicated to her husband and to take care of the house where the main roles women had to play in Victorian society. My sisters brimmed with jealously every time I walked by as rumors spread of our happy marriage. We were pictured to be the perfect couple, me being the elegant and gentle wife and him being the successful and wealthy businessman. Everything came crashing down as his mask faded away. My bruises accumulated and grew severe as his temper became unbearable. The night I fled was the day I realized that all men were wicked. I cut off all my ties and escaped from the terrible Hell I ended up in. I could never let go of the ring he gave me though, even when I was starving and out of money. Perhaps it was a reminder of the past and an image of the happy marriage I was supposed to receive. Instead, I lost the life I once had and move from town to town to not be caught. In order to survive, I utilize men as much as I can and gave up my purity. I have no pride or hope anymore. It was taken away from me the night I escaped from his clutches.
Voice of 21th Century Scholar: The keeping of a wedding ring demonstrates the importance of marriage in the Victorian era. A woman’s life was not complete without marriage and demonstrates their worth in society. It was not an option but a necessity to be wedded as a means of survival. Lilith, who kept the ring clearly also retains the idea that marriage was an important part of life. However, the scratches that are seen on the band of the ring shows the hatred that she must have felt for the marriage. Usually, people take precious care of such a delicate item, but I can see by the dirt that it was handled roughly. However, the fact that Lilith still kept the ring symbolizes a regret or memory that she still holds of it as seen in her writing above. The intricacy of the ring can be interpreted as a marriage between two wealthy households. Diamonds were still rare back then and could only be obtained by the richest families. They often spent many weeks preparing for the wedding and takes the engagement period very seriously. After a woman is wedded, they lose almost all of their rights and property to the custody of their husband. Beatings and marital rape were nothing out of the ordinary as a wife was considered one's property. As seen in the article by Olga Zelster, Victorian society viewed marriage as a woman’s most natural position in life and men clearly felt the same. They believed that it was the duty of a woman to serve them and treat them as an extension that comes with the furniture.
Citation: “Victorian Betrothal Rings, Victorian Era Engagement Rings, Wedding Rings.” Victorian Era, victorian-era.org/victorian-betrothal-rings.html.
Zeltser, Olga. “Historical Analysis: Women as the ‘the Sex’ During the Victorian Era.” Victorian Women: The Gender of of Oppression, webpage.pace.edu/nreagin/tempmotherhood/fall2003/3/HisPage.html.