Women in the Victorian Era...

I wanted to research further in to the Victorian era so that I could learn more about the Women of Britain at that time, and their status and in put, how it came about and how it changed the way women were thought of. I find it so interesting that Miss Havisham has wealth, status and power yet she herself is weak, frail and deluded. I think that this is a great way to portray Women of Britain's journey in the Victorian era. The weak and frail side of Miss H could show how women were not looked at in the same way men were seen, they weren't regarded as having power and were best left at home taking care of the domestic chores and family. However, Miss H's wealth and high status could portray women when they went to work and earned money.

 

 

"During the era symbolized by the reign of British monarch Queen Victoria, women did not have suffrage rights, the right to sue, or the right to own property." - Wikipedia. (04/02/14). Women in the Victorian Era. Available: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_in_the_Victorian_era. Last accessed 05/02/14. This quote shows how women in the Victorian Era were not allowed to be heard, but it shows that Miss Havisham clearly had a high status, power and wealth as she was rich with property and she also had people working for her. This is a clear factor that she was most definitely an upper class lady of the time. The people around Miss Havisham almost feared her.

 

What I also find really interesting is that in the Victorian era, it was the 'norm' for the women to have husbands and children of their own. Women were looked at as the mans property so to speak. They were to abide to what the male of the house wanted including sexual desires. They were to cook and clean and also give the man their wages if the women happened to work. Women were expected to have children and bring them up on their own while the men went to work . This was all normal and expected of the women in the Victorian era, yet, Miss Havisham, has all this money, wealth and power but does not have a husband and no children of her own. She doesn't lead a normal life style, she isn't the 'norm'. I feel that this is an interesting concept.

 

"A wealthy widow or spinster was a lucky exception"- Helena Wojtczak. (). WOMEN'S STATUS IN MID 19TH-CENTURY ENGLAND. Available: http://www.hastingspress.co.uk/history/19/overview.htm. Last accessed 05/02/14. This quote really caught my eye. Miss Havisham is not a widow. She never lost a husband by death, yet she mourns and hits a depression and yearns for him as if she did. She was Jilted by Compeyson on the day of their to be wedding. Heartbroken and deeply let down. Miss Havisham is looked at as would a single women in the Victorian era, a single women would attract disapproval and pity. The quote above states that a wealthy widow was lucky as they could get away with being single, as in that situation death cannot be helped. Yet Miss Havisham, although she had status and wealth, power and authority, was looked upon in a similar way as the single women of the Victorian period.