This page is the highlight of all my years of writing, my dream come true. I will never forget that cool, March morning when Mr. Jermyn came to visit. This was nothing out of the ordinary, he would always bring proofs and we would read the slips of the stories he illustrated and decide what was best for his illustration. However, this time was different. This time it was a copy of The Woodcut, damp from the press. I studied the illustration carefully, four people on a lawn tennis court. On the other side was a poem, the verses were signed “G. Lorimer.” To see my very own words in print, that feeling is simply indescribable. I’ve been holding onto this page ever since. Working in the photography business with Fanny, Lucy, and Phyllis has been rewarding but this, this has always been my passion. I have countless manuscripts sitting in a drawer upstairs collecting dust that prove it. Yes, I could’ve pursued my writing career further but the photography business, that is what my sisters needed. It was simply something I had to do for the people I love. Without my father, we were entirely dependent on one another to support ourselves and make a living. With this realization came a halt in my efforts to become a writer. However, I do still write occasionally. When stress from financial and business problems accumulates, it serves as my creative outlet, a way to express all of my thoughts and worries. I love to sit by the window, looking out over Baker Street, observing the routine chaos of the people below and jotting down my ideas. Writing has been and always will be a huge part of who I am.
Editorial commentary: During the early and mid-Victorian era, it was common for women to write anonymously under pseudonyms to prevent their gender from hindering their success. It is significant to note that Gertrude's initial is signed on her work rather than her full name. The fact that Gertrude’s work was published in a newspaper is not only a major accomplishment for her but an indication of the great strides women made during this time period. This era was defined by great social and political reform for women’s rights. Women like Gertrude, hardworking and driven, could be labeled a “New Woman,” a figure that opposed the conventional social norms and standards for women. This title, especially popular in literature, challenged injustices and established new possibilities for what it meant to be a woman. For instance, women were typically married in their early to mid-twenties. However, Gertrude seemed to have her focus on other things. Typically, in Victorian society, men would work to provide for their families while women focused on domestic duties such as cooking, cleaning, and raising children. However, Gertrude desired a different type of future for herself, defying these gender roles. Instead of relying on a husband or family members to support her, she was determined to make it on her own. Starting a female-run business in this social climate was risky but the Lorimers’ hard work and dedication made it a possibility. Furthermore, Gertrude’s sacrifice of her efforts to become a writer in order to support her sisters exhibits her selfless and nurturing characteristics. These types of qualities are characteristic of an “Angel in the House” figure, the ideal Victorian woman portrayed in different forms of literature. The combination of these distinct traits represents the opposing sides of “The Woman Question,” a prevalent debate during this time period. Gertrude Lorimer’s immense drive as well as her caring attributes, exhibit the multifaceted nature of the Victorian “New Woman.”
Citations:
Levy, Amy. The Romance of a Shop, 1888. COVE, 2020.
Nicole, P. (2016, December 31). Lawn tennis being played in the Victorian age by Pat Nicolle. Retrieved from https://fineartamerica.com/featured/lawn-tennis-being-played-in-the-vic…