Mrs. Warren’s Commentary
This quote remind me of my beloved daughter Vivie. I stumbled upon it while doing business, and I just couldn’t help but think about Vivie’s future. What is she going to do with her life? I have always and will always want the best for my Vivie. I believe Vivie can find happiness through a man. Why do her studies interest her in the way a man should? Would her studies be a real interest of happiness for her? A man with monetary status is what she needs in order to support herself and live a better life than I did. I know from the highest standards what she deserves in this life, and a man with money is one of those things. A man that is always kind and intentional to her and her life. I just love my daughter so dearly, and I wish I could be there for her, but she just does not understand the purpose of how I have structure her life for her. Why does she run from me? I wish she just understood. I was always pursued by men; I received letters and denied their love and money. I don’t know what is worst for Vivie; not being married to money or working her life away. The perfect lady finds a husband with money to support her and show her all the things this quote describes. She needs to not be a fool and instead find herself a wealthy, affectionate man. I hope she can understand me one day.
Editorial Commentary
Mrs. Warren believes that her daughter should follow the traditional “old woman” lifestyle. During this time period, there was much controversy over how woman should act. The Old Woman’s view was that young women should be married to someone that can support her and give her a good life. The New Woman’s view was that young woman should have the opportunity to become educated, get a job, and fight for a change for women. Mothers had a difficult time during this progressive era (Fisher, 2018). From the page in Mrs. Warren’s commonplace book, it seems as if she wants her daughter to be married to a man with money instead of focusing on her education and work. Mrs. Warren’s statements are parallel to what a traditional mother would want. In a review of motherhood during the Victorian era, Jerilyn Fisher states, “reifying motherhood assumes that “good” women are predisposed by instinct to doing whatever they must to assure their children’s health and spiritual well-being” (Fisher, 2018). This perfectly describes how Mrs.Warren felt about her daughter, Vivie. She describes how she always wants what’s best for Vivie, and Mrs. Warren doesn’t understand why Vivie would not want to get married and live a stable life style. This era was difficult for the “Old Woman” and the “New Woman” due to the difference in opinions. There were many conflicts present within households about what their daughters should be doing (Fisher, 2018). Overall, Vivie followed the New Woman lifestyle since she wanted to become educated, and Mrs. Warren followed the Old Woman lifestyle since she was so opinionated on Vivie’s marriage status.
Fisher, J. (2018). “A Fate Worse than Death”: Four Filicidal Mothers in Short Fiction from the Late Victorian/Progressive Era. The International Journal of Literary Humanities, 16(4), 17-28. https://doi.org/10.18848/2327-7912/CGP/v16i04/17-28
Freeling, A. (1839). The Young Bride's Book; being hints for regulating the conduct of married women. With a few medical axioms.