Character Commentary -
Ah Yes! The handy bookselling carts! These carts would be around the cities always having a wide range of books, articles, and journals from famous thinkers and philosophers. These carts had all the information an aspiring young individual would need to help in their work. I remember, Vivie always wanted to visit there in hopes of purchasing new books to improve her knowledge in her subjects, and I always agreed to her requests, granting her anything she desired. Well, the thing is, back in the day, education was always seen as a commodity rather than a necessity only available to those wealthy enough to afford it. I never had the time nor the opportunity to learn such skills, yet I was determined to pass on any academic materials I could find onto Vivie. I may have ventured upon an immoral profession as society deemed it, but I refuse to fall for such taunts for Vivie. Though society may label me however it pleases, I'm certain that Vivie should be unaffected by their opinions. She should be independent and capable of standing on her own two feet and making decisions for herself, I will not give up on education no matter the cost. I am aware that having an adequate education is vital to one's well-being, playing an integral part in escaping a destitute lifestyle. However, not all hope is lost, the world is starting to change, the new generation of women are grasping onto the need for education and recognizing its value in the real world.
Editorial Commentary -
Upon looking at Mrs. Warren's second item which displays a Cart with text written as "Books on Every Subject" which probably resembles a portable library from the modern era. These carts would have been used by people of all ages to rent out or purchase books based on their interests. Reading Mrs. Warren's commentary about the picture, I can see her passionate defense regarding the significance of education in the late 18th century and the value it might bring to individuals and especially women. It seems that during Mrs. Warren’s youth, opportunities for women's education were exceptionally rare, and society preferred for them to partake in traditional domestic roles rather than modern educated ones we often see today. Today, education is seen as a fundamental right of all genders and ages and is seen as a beacon of growth and prosperity. It is seen as a way to enhance one's skills, knowledge, and the understanding of the outside world. Similarly, Mrs. Warren refuted such norms and focused on creating a positively reinforced environment for her daughter Vivie, promoting her education and independent rights. Furthermore, in Perelli-Harris's article about higher education for women it is mentioned that “these changes for women and the way in which they can influence women’s lives and general social attitudes, has the potential to improve national policies in various fields such as employment.” Consequently, women’s education not only benefits their own lives, but also creates a positive impact globally. Overall, Mrs. Warren’s consistent challenge of societal norms displayed her unequivocal passion in supporting her daughter’s right to get a good education.
Sources:
“Cart Selling Books.” London Picture Archive, 1909. https://www.londonpicturearchive.org.uk/view-item?i=335283&WINID=1697080963068. Accessed October 5, 2023.
Perelli-Harris, Brienna. “Do Marriage and Cohabitation Provide Benefits to Health in Mid-Life? The Role of Childhood Selection Mechanisms and Partnership Characteristics Across Countries.” Hoherz, Srefanie. Addo, Fenaba. Lappegard, Trude. Evans, Ann. Sassles, Sharon. Popul Res Policy Rev. 2018; 37(5): 703–728. 23 April, 2018. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6267248/. Accessed October 7, 2023.