Phyllis Lorimer's commentary:
Today, I visited Sidney Darrell's house to pose as a model for his portrait. After talking for a bit, Sidney requested that I join him on a distant journey, hoping to escape the constant company of my sisters and his wife. I've been dealing with a persistent illness, and I'm concerned that this may be my final opportunity to live life as I truly desire. I've been contemplating sharing my condition with my older sisters, but it appears they are preoccupied with the shop and disinterested in me. This has left me feeling isolated and lonely, with Sidney Darrell as the only person who appears genuinely concerned about my well-being. Recently, I stumbled upon a beach photograph in a magazine, serving as a poignant reminder of my extended absence from the seaside. I recall Sidney Darrell mentioning the possibility of visiting a beach house he owns as a means to escape from our current situation. My concern is that my sisters would be upset if I disappeared with Sidney without informing them, but I doubt they would understand my emotions even if I were to be honest and explain that I'm leaving with my lover. I'll be leaving for Sidney Darrell's house tomorrow morning at the earliest hour to avoid being caught by my sisters. I'm uncertain if this is a wise decision, but I believe that with Sidney, I'll find safety. Given the tumultuous events within my family, he appears to be my sole source of solace and comfort.
Editorial commentary:
As it is expected, the marriage system in the Victorian era was significantly different from the modern system. The injustice was prevalent in marriages during this era because women were often seen as being owned or controlled by men. (Shanley 22). The number of marriage laws and divorce laws that were created by and made for men challenged womens rights and feminism since it did not do any favors for women. Also Women from the upper class tend to have more restricted social and sexual freedoms compared to their lower-class counterparts due to the constraints imposed by their elevated social standing.Marriage in that period served not only as a romantic commitment but also as a contractual arrangement between families, often with advantages primarily favoring men (Shanley 23). Within the institution of marriage, women were traditionally held to high expectations, where their roles were primarily centered around being exemplary mothers and wives while maintaining obedience to their husbands and fathers. Ever since they were in early age, they were told to “love their husbands all above others, obey their husbands in all things not sinful, keep themselves clean and neat but not extravagant in dress and keep the house tidy and prepare meals on time.”(Phegley 6) Due to limited educational and employment opportunities for women during that time, their economic prospects were steadily diminishing. Eventually, the emerging women's rights movement began emphasizing the importance of education for women (Willis 6), aiming to attain a more equal social standing with men.
Sources:
Phegley, Jennifer. Courtship and Marriage in Victorian England. Praeger, 2012.
Shanley, Mary Lyndon. Feminism, Marriage, and the Law in Victorian England. Princeton University Press, 1993
“Triassic Cliffs.” London Picture Archive, www.londonpicturearchive.org.uk/view-item?key=SXsiUCI6eyJ2YWx1ZSI6IlRya…. Accessed 5 Nov. 2023.
Willis, Chris, and Angelique Richardson. The New Woman in Fiction and in Fact: Fin-de-Siècle Feminisms. Palgrave in Association with Institute for English Studies, School of Advanced Study, University of London, 2001.