COVE

Lucy’s Commentary:

    Oh, I love this page so much! It was passed down to me from my late mother, I loved her so dearly, she was gone too soon. This page gives me all the advice I could ever need on how to raise my two boys and how to treat my guest. Like I said before, I lost my mother at a very young age so I don’t have her to lean on now that I myself am a mother. I try my best but raising two boys can be quite difficult. My sister Gertrude tries to help as much as possible but she is not the best at handling kids, she  is not the most affectionate person. Then there is Fanny, she is amazing with children. She has an amazing connection with kids that I wish to have with my own children. But for now I am reading this page on how to be a better mother to my children and mistress of the house. The page even includes a list of ways to clean the house so that Frank is happy when he gets home. I wish he would spend more time with the children so I could focus on my photography studio more. I put so much time into the studio, and I am having to put it on hold while I look after the kids for now. Oh how I wish someone would have warned me about the sacrifices it takes to be a good mother.

Editor’s Commentary:

    During the Victorian Era, motherhood was seen as the expected outcome for a woman. This page from, “Book of Household Management” was one of many pages that were made for women, to teach them what was expected of them in a home. This page specifically gives advice on how to raise children and manage a home. All of these things would have been seen as very important tasks for the mistress of the house to carry out. Lucy talks about how she doesn’t know how to do many things so this book is very useful when it comes to raising her children. Also Lucy talks about the burden that having children can put on a person, which gives us insight that she does not fully believe that a women’s role is to raise children and manage a home. Lucy likes her children but she also enjoys the freedom in having her photography studio. Lucy is also married to a man named Frank, who she wishes would help her with the children more rather than leaving her to do all of the work. These things help to show us that Lucy is a progressive woman but not on the extreme side. Lucy is a woman who has a high value on motherhood but not one that totally overrides her desire for her own enjoyment and freedom.

Citation:“Beeton's Book of Household Management.” The British Library, The British Library, 6 Feb. 2014, www.bl.uk/collection-items/beetons-book-of-household-management.