Vivian’s entry:
I found this quote upon my leisure reading the other day and I was awestruck by it. I found it to be the most relatable thing. Knowing I can be successful in this field, only my gender holding me back, that I must persist in my endeavors. Speaking of my endeavors, my mother is trying to get me into relations with several suitors. I am still mad at her for trying to force me to marry Reverend Samuel. I do not know where she thought of an idea like that, but it is not a good one. If I were to marry anyone it would be Frank but since I am not to marry, the decision is no ones to make. It feels like mother has been gone all my life so she is trying to make up for lost time by controlling my life now as an adult. I try to love her wholly but there will always be a ting of resentment because she missed so much of my childhood. I learned to fend for myself and live within my own means thanks to her. I feel like this quote is a good reflection of how I feel about where I am in life. I am a successful mathematician; solving equations others have failed at. If I was able to have more independence from my mother, I believe I would permanently move to chancery lane and work with Honoria Fraser full time. It was a dream to be there the first time, I got to prove that I do not, in fact, have any interest in the arts despite other people’s attempts. Hopefully I'll get the chance to work in England once more.
Historian’s entry:
Vivian reading proverbs is slightly shocking as she does not seem like the religious kind because she is so focused on mathematics. Also, most people in the Victorian era were having a crisis in faith with much change in the Church of England (Aiken). As someone who is so radical, denying society's expectations for her future and her relations, one would assume they would not be keen on reading the bible. Though proverbs are in the old testament of the bible, they are more words of wisdom than preachings to be shared about the christian god (Britannica). As a motivational factor, Vivian has found these words from the scripture and shifted them into meaning something so personal to herself and her story. She has experienced adversity in her mother not wanting her to strive for her goals, and ,also, by being a woman in a field that was and still is predominantly men. Her grit and strength to bear through the active denial into the field of mathematics just because of her gender. She brings in new information that has not been discussed previously with discussion of a possible forced marriage and the longing to run away and work for the rest of her life because that is what would make her happiest. Though being happy is everyone's goal, at the end of the day, the Victorian era women cared more about status than happiness (Barrett). Therefore, the only way to avoid any pressures from her mother would be to run off the Chancery Lane and get a job.
Aiken, Diane. “Religion.” British Literature Wiki, sites.udel.edu/britlitwiki/religion/. Accessed 12 Oct. 2023.
Barrett, Kara. “Victorian Women and Their Working Roles - Buffalo State College.” SUNY Buffalo State University Digital Commons, May 2013, digitalcommons.buffalostate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1009&context=english_theses.
“The Proverbs.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, inc., 1 Oct. 2023, www.britannica.com/topic/The-Proverbs.