British Culture - User contributions [en]

Angel in the House

2010-11-03T10:38:23Z

MarL:

Term coined by [[Coventry Patmore]], who wrote a narrative poem with this title for his first wife Emily in 1854 and expanded it until 1862. He believed her to be the perfect woman.

According to the myth of the "Angel in the House" women should devote themselves entirely and unconditionally to the well-being of the family. These women embodied the Victorian female (middle-class) ideal. In the Victorian era, separate spheres of men and women were supported.

Selflessness and submissiveness were the personal characteristics of every "Angel in the House". She was the one who turned the home into heaven; she was the backbone to her husband and her children.

The French politician and anti-feminist '''Pierre-Joseph Proudhon''' divided women into two groups in the mid-century: on the one hand, there were the harlots, and on the other hand, there were the housewives. Proudhan envisioned a society which was centered on small family-owned and operated workshops headed by the man. In such a society emancipation of women would be a disaster. Therefore, he tried everything to inhibit the emancipation movement. The politician said that wives were just a supplement to their husbands, who simply add beauty to the strength of men. In his opinion, women are on a level with children and therefore deficient and stupid human beings (Duby/Perrot 78ff., 568ff.). They were mainly there for bringing children up and for hard work, like ironing; an iron weighed 5 up to 6 kilograms in that time. Proudhan, among other politicians and philosophers, declared female inferiority as immutable.

Nevertheless, housework was considered as work without any economic value. According to Jane Lewis, housework carried out by women "was excluded from the category of ‘work’ in 1881 in Great Britain" (Duby/Perrot 477). Women who worked at home were classified as ‘unemployed’, which had the consequence that the working rate of women dropped by half.

From the beginning to the end of the 19th century, women were most likely depicted on pictures and photographs with a sewing machine. Women should identify with this kind of work and accept their traditional role. In an advertisement from 1896 for the firm Singer, the sewing machine was described as "Mother’s Machine" and as "most welcome wedding gift", which "greatly aids domestic bliss" (Duby/Perrot 345 ff.).

However, the ideal of the "Angel in the House" earned a lot of criticism by feminists in the 19th and 20th centuries, because women were depicted as being weak, mindless and unconfident. One of the most famous feminist critics was Virginia Woolf. The author wrote ironically: "She [the Angel in the House] was intensely sympathetic. She was immensely charming. She was utterly unselfish. She excelled in the difficult arts of family life. She sacrificed daily. If there was a chicken, she took the leg; if there was a draught she sat in it ... Above all, she was pure" (Rainbolt/Fleetwood 301).

----

'''Sources:'''

Duby, George / Perrot, Michelle, eds. ''Geschichte der Frauen: Band 4: 19. Jahrhundert''. Frankfurt, New York: Campus, 1994.

Marsh, Jan. "Gender Ideology and Separate Spheres". <http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:Q3uDI2KyMUYJ:www.fathom.com/course/10701039/session1.html+pierre+joseph+proudhon+women&cd=14&hl=de&ct=clnk&gl=de>

Rainbolt, Martha / Fleetwood, Janet, eds. "On the Contrary: Essays by Men and Women". Albany: State University of New York Press, 1984.

Schildt, Gerhard. ''Frauenarbeit im 19. Jahrhundert''. Pfaffenweiler: Centaurus, 1993.

Vyas, Shvetal. “Angel in the House v/s The Femme Fatale: The Varied Roles of Women in Victorian Literature”. 27 Jan. 2010
<http://www.suite101.com/content/angel-in-the-house-vs-the-femme-fatale-a194297>

<http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:i_bXOQl6e7AJ:www.pinn.net/~sunshine/whm2003/hericourt2.html+proudhon+housewives&cd=1&hl=de&ct=clnk&gl=de>

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

2010-11-03T10:12:57Z

MarL:

Novel by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (better known under his pseudonym [[Lewis Carroll]]) first published in 1865.

The protagonist of the novel (and its sequel)is Alice, a girl who falls down a rabbit hole and experiences a marvellous world underneath the trivial one. She gets involved in plenty of adventures and meets several fantastical creatures, the most famous of which is the grinning ‘Cheshire Cat’.

The tale was published in 1865 with illustrations by Sir [[John Tenniel]]. The commercial success of the novel was stupendous. It was admired by children, adolescents and adults alike. Among its readers were also Queen Victoria and Oscar Wilde (Wrede).

Contemporary references are included in the novel as well , for instance the ‘Queen of Hearts’ could actually be a parody of Queen Victoria, who was known for her stout stature and bad temper. The ‘Queen of Hearts’ is a ruthless ruler in the magical world whose solution to every problem is the beheading of people. She is an aggressive woman who tries to dominate and overpower everything around her. Subjects are frightened of her.

''Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland'' is considered to be one of the best examples of literary nonsense. Today tourists can see small figures of Alice and other characters which Carroll had invented in the dining room of Christ Church, where the author also worked as a mathematician. This is an act of homage to this man and his great novel.

----

'''Sources:'''

Carroll, Lewis (1986) ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland''. Ditzingen: Reclam.

Schwab, Gabriele (1996) "Chapter 2: Nonsense and Metacommunication: Alice in Wonderland" ''The mirror and the killer-queen: otherness in literary language''. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press, 49-102.

Wrede, Jan (2010) "Wie gelangte Alice ins Wunderland?"
<http://www.wasistwas.de/geschichte/alle-artikel/artikel/link//4e4bc02ace/article/wie-gelangte-alice-ins-wunderland/-7c05c71e06.html>

Angel in the House

2010-10-23T13:57:48Z

MarL:

The term “Angel in the House” comes from '''Coventry Patmore''', who wrote a narrative poem with this title for his first wife, Emily in 1854 and expanded it until 1862. He believed her to be the perfect woman.

According to the myth of the “Angel in the House” women should devote themselves entirely and unconditionally to the well-being of the family. These women embodied the Victorian female ideal. In the Victorian era, separated spheres of men and women were supported.

Selflessness and submissiveness were the personal characteristics of every “Angel in the House”. She was the one who turned the home into heaven; she was the backbone to her husband and her children.

'''Pierre-Joseph Proudhon''' divided women into two groups: on the one hand, there were the prostitutes, and on the other hand, there were the housewives. The French politician said that the latter were just a supplement to their husbands, who simply add beauty to the strength of men. In his opinion, women are on a level with children and therefore thick human beings. They were mainly there for bringing children up and for hard work, like ironing; an iron weighed 5 up to 6 kilograms in that time.

Nevertheless, housework was considered as work without any economic value. According to Jane Lewis, housework carried out by women '''was excluded from the category of ‘work’ in 1881 in Great Britain'''. Women who worked at home were classified as ‘unemployed’, which had the consequence that the working rate of women dropped by half.

From the beginning to the end of the 19th century, women were most likely depicted on pictures and photographs with a sewing machine. Women should identify with this kind of work and accept their traditional role. In an advertisement from 1896 for the firm ‘Singer’, the sewing machine was described as “Mother’s Machine” and as “most welcome wedding gift”, which “greatly aids domestic bliss”.

However, the ideal of the “Angel in the House” earned a lot of '''criticism by feminists''' in the 19th and 20th century, because women were depicted as being weak, mindless and unconfident. One of the most famous feminist critics was Virginia Woolf. The author wrote ironically: “''She [the Angel in the House] was intensely sympathetic. She was immensely charming. She was utterly unselfish. She excelled in the difficult arts of family life. She sacrificed daily. If there was a chicken, she took the leg; if there was a draught she sat in it ... Above all, she was pure''.”

----

'''Sources:'''

Schildt, Gerhard. ''Frauenarbeit im 19. Jahrhundert''. Pfaffenweiler: Centaurus, 1993.

Duby, George / Perrot, Michelle, eds. ''Geschichte der Frauen: Band 4: 19. Jahrhundert''. Frankfurt, New York: Campus, 1994.

Vyas, Shvetal. “Angel in the House v/s The Femme Fatale: The Varied Roles of Women in Victorian Literature”. 27 Jan. 2010
<http://www.suite101.com/content/angel-in-the-house-vs-the-femme-fatale-a194297>

Angel in the House

2010-10-23T13:56:50Z

MarL: Created page with 'The term “Angel in the House” comes from '''Coventry Patmore''', who wrote a narrative poem with this title for his first wife, Emily in 1854 and expanded it until 1862. He b…'

The term “Angel in the House” comes from '''Coventry Patmore''', who wrote a narrative poem with this title for his first wife, Emily in 1854 and expanded it until 1862. He believed her to be the perfect woman.

According to the myth of the “Angel in the House” women should devote themselves entirely and unconditionally to the well-being of the family. These women embodied the Victorian female ideal. In the Victorian era, separated spheres of men and women were supported.

Selflessness and submissiveness were the personal characteristics of every “Angel in the House”. She was the one who turned the home into heaven; she was the backbone to her husband and her children.

'''Pierre-Joseph Proudhon''' divided women into two groups: on the one hand, there were the prostitutes, and on the other hand, there were the housewives. The French politician said that the latter were just a supplement to their husbands, who simply add beauty to the strength of men. In his opinion, women are on a level with children and therefore thick human beings. They were mainly there for bringing children up and for hard work, like ironing; an iron weighed 5 up to 6 kilograms in that time.

Nevertheless, housework was considered as work without any economic value. According to Jane Lewis, housework carried out by women '''was excluded from the category of ‘work’ in 1881 in Great Britain'''. Women who worked at home were classified as ‘unemployed’, which had the consequence that the working rate of women dropped by half.

From the beginning to the end of the 19th century, women were most likely depicted on pictures and photographs with a sewing machine. Women should identify with this kind of work and accept their traditional role. In an advertisement from 1896 for the firm ‘Singer’, the sewing machine was described as “Mother’s Machine” and as “most welcome wedding gift”, which “greatly aids domestic bliss”.

However, the ideal of the “Angel in the House” earned a lot of '''criticism by feminists''' in the 19th and 20th century, because women were depicted as being weak, mindless and unconfident. One of the most famous feminist critics was Virginia Woolf. The author wrote ironically: “''She [the Angel in the House] was intensely sympathetic. She was immensely charming. She was utterly unselfish. She excelled in the difficult arts of family life. She sacrificed daily. If there was a chicken, she took the leg; if there was a draught she sat in it ... Above all, she was pure''.”

----

'''Sources:'''Schildt, Gerhard. ''Frauenarbeit im 19. Jahrhundert''. Pfaffenweiler: Centaurus, 1993.

Duby, George / Perrot, Michelle, eds. ''Geschichte der Frauen: Band 4: 19. Jahrhundert''. Frankfurt, New York: Campus, 1994.

Vyas, Shvetal. “Angel in the House v/s The Femme Fatale: The Varied Roles of Women in Victorian Literature”. 27 Jan. 2010
<http://www.suite101.com/content/angel-in-the-house-vs-the-femme-fatale-a194297>

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

2010-10-21T10:27:43Z

MarL: Created page with 'The novel “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and its sequel “Through the Looking-Glass” were written by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (better known under his pseudonym Lewis…'

The novel “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and its sequel “Through the Looking-Glass” were written by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (better known under his pseudonym Lewis Carroll), who was an English author in the Victorian era.

The protagonist of the novel is Alice, a girl who falls down a rabbit hole and experiences a marvellous world underneath the trivial one. She gets involved in plenty of adventures and meets several fantastical creatures, the most famous of which is the grinning ‘Cheshire Cat’.

The tale was published in 1865 with illustrations by Sir John Tenniel. The commercial success of the novel was stupendous. It was admired by children, adolescents and adults alike. Among its readers were also Queen Victoria and Oscar Wilde.

Contemporary references are included as well in the novel, for instance the ‘Queen of Hearts’ could actually be a parody of Queen Victoria, who was known for her stout stature and bad temper. The ‘Queen of Hearts’ is a ruthless ruler in the magical world whose solution to every problem is the beheading of people. She is an aggressive woman who tries to dominate and overpower everything around her. Subjects are frightened of her.

The tale “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” is considered to be one of the best examples of the literary nonsense genre. Carroll used nonsense and absurdity to comment on reality of the time.

Today tourists can see small figures of Alice and other characters which Carroll had invented in the dining room of Christ Church, where the author also worked as a mathematician. This is an act of homage to this man and his great novel.

----

Sources:

Schwab, Gabriele (1996) "Chapter 2: Nonsense and Metacommunication: Alice in Wonderland" The mirror and the killer-queen: otherness in literary language. Indiana University Press, Bloomington, Indiana, pp. 49-102

Carroll, Lewis (1986) "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland". Reclam, Ditzingen