As I was cleaning up the house today I found an old newspaper hidden in the cupboard. Phyllis would normally be the one to tend to the house necessities but she has been feeling very ill recently. I do not know how I am going to help her as she continues to deteriorate. As I pulled out this newspaper I saw an advertisement for Parr’s Life Pills. I normally do not believe in such a thing as they seem quite absurd, but I will do anything to help Phyllis regain her strength. The doctor cannot tell us what is wrong with her and at this point, I feel like I am drowning in responsibility.
It seems a little absurd that only one dose will help poor Phyllis get better but it is worth a shot. Even if they do not help Phyllis I feel that it is important to keep in the house in case of an emergency. Maybe if our father had these pills he wouldn’t have died so soon. We miss him every single day and I do not want the same fortune for Phyllis. It would calm my mind if I would have met Mr. Abbaham Benton so that I could ask about his experience and recovery. I am willing to try anything to help Phyllis regain her health and strength and these pills seem to have many others with an incurable illness. I guess we will just have to wait and hope for the best. I will write back later with an update on the pills.
Editor Commentary: Gertrude Lorimer seems to be a loving woman who puts much effort into taking care of those that she loves. Through the piece of evidence, it becomes obvious how similar Gertrude is to the Old Woman. While other scholars have made remarks about Gertrude being a perfect example of the New Woman, her commentary on Parr’s Life Pills show differently. The New Woman was characterized as one who did not exactly fit into traditional societal roles and focused more on the happiness of herself rather than the household and matrimonial duties. The Old Woman was characterized as more strong-willed and firm standing in the ideas of serving the house and husband. Sarah Grand explains more of the difference between the two in her article “The New Woman and the Old”.
Despite speaking on the matter, it is obvious that Gertrude is overwhelmed by her numerous responsibilities. She is scared and worried that Phyllis will not heal, but she can only hope for the best. With her dad dying recently, Gertrude has taken over the role of the leader in the home. Gertrude’s commitment to healing her sister and taking care of the house in her place highlights the ways in which she embodies the Old Woman’s traditional and nurturing values. Even though Gertrude was not actively looking for medicine to help Phyllis, the newfound “Parr’s Life Pills” give her a sense of hope that she has not felt in many months.
Citation: The Era. “Advertisements & Notices.” British Library, 13 Feb. 1842, go.gale.com/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=Newspapers&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&hitCount=637&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm¤tPosition=3&docId=GALE%7CBA3202399686&docType=Advertisement&sort=Pub+Date+Forward+Chron&contentSegment=ZBLC-MOD1&prodId=BNCN&pageNum=1&contentSet=GALE%7CBA3202399686&searchId=R7&userGroupName=gauniv&inPS=true.