I chose this conduct book so my nieces can shape up and out of their outrageous dreams! Those foolish girls have no desire to find a husband but rather start their own photography business. How absurd! This book will help them find the correct way in this world and will help them learn how to represent our family name right. My sister would be so disappointed if I let these girls fall into the shabby poor world they are beginning to enter so I must drag them out. It shall begin with the education of words written by Sarah Stickney Ellis from her conduct book the Women Of England. Ellis speaks such truth! She believes a woman must perform her domestic duty with enthusiasm and ardor. Oh! How I could not agree more! My young girls do not believe that conducting a well working household holds any importance in intelligence and success, but this book will change their mind. I’m confident about it. They need my saving. Oh! I hope I can save them! I too learned myself while reading this book. Ellis writes “my admiration of those noble-minded women who can carry forward, with exemplary patience and perseverance …. without sacrificing their home duties” (39). If only my girls would do this I would allow them to continue their careers. They must not neglect their home duties or they will not be fit wives. I pray... oh I pray that this book will help them learn how to be proper women.
Editorial Commentary: When reviewing Caroline Pratt’s thoughts in her commonplace book, it is clear that Caroline held very traditional thoughts about the roles and duties of women during the Victorian Era. Due to Caroline’s nieces’ independence and refrain from desires of typical domestic life, Aunt Caroline cries “I hope I can save them!”. Aunt Caroline has a desire to help her nieces but does not share the same ‘New Woman’ ideals as some of her nieces. These ‘New Woman’ ideals consisted of self-fulfillment, equality for women, and independence. Caroline despises her nieces’ dreams, which do not purely consist of finding a proper husband and making their reputation of their family strong. Caroline “prays that the book will help them learn how to be proper women”. It is evident that Caroline’s thoughts towards the role of women stray from those of her nieces as she holds a very traditional view. Through Caroline’s worrisome tone and punctuation, the tension between the older generation and their traditional views and the younger generation’s ‘New women’ ideals is exposed.
It is important to note that during the Victorian Era (approx. 1820-1900) many older women believed that women should remain modest and pure with the desire to marry and always be at hand for their husband and their interests. Many conduct books during this time preached the social conservatism characteristic of the Victorian Era as they wrote in praise towards the domestic sphere of women and their duties, yet typically held a poor view of the young people. This was because they believed the women of England were deteriorating in their moral character as they strayed away from those traditional roles. Caroline Pratt’s affection towards the conduct book written by Sarah Stickney Ellis demonstrates not only her desire to save her nieces from what she and Ellis believe to be their deterioration into undesirable women but also shows the newfound desire of the younger generation to break away from those traditional roles.
Citation: “The Women of England.” The British Library, The British Library, 6 Feb. 2014, www.bl.uk/collection-items/the-women-of-England.