The poem, “The Angel in the House”, depicts what the perfect Victorian wife was expected to. She is mild, gentle, self-sacrificing, and pure. She is submissive to her husband and when her husband is angry she “leans and weeps against his breast, and seems to think the sin was hers.” In The Warden, there are two characters, Mrs. Grantly and Eleanor Harding, who represent different aspects of the perfect Victorian wife. Eleanor Harding is a very passionate and dramatic young lady. The way she acts around her father and in her encounter with Mr. Bold shows readers that. In chapter VI she says “"Oh, papa, do tell me," she exclaimed, throwing her arms round him, and looking into his face; "what is it he is going to do? What is it all about? Is
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Grantly is also a representation of a Victorian wife but it seems like she is because of her social duties. As the wife of an archdeacon and an example to other young ladies, she must be a submissive and gentle wife for the public eye. It would be improper if the archdeacon’s wife wasn’t. However, as we see in chapter VIII, she is not always submissive to her husband ideas. In this chapter, she argues with her husband about the welfare of her father and sister and of the legalities concerning Mr. Bold. By her husband reaction to her statements, readers can assume that Mrs. Grantly speaking openly about her disagreements with her husband wasn’t out of the ordinary. It is written, “Strangers at Plumstead Episcopi, when they saw the imperious brow with which he commanded silence from the large circle of visitors, children, and servants who came together in the morning to hear him read the word of God, and watched how meekly that wife seated herself behind her basket of keys with a little girl on each side, as she caught that commanding glance; strangers, I say, seeing this, could little guess that some fifteen minutes since she had stoutly held her ground against him, hardly allowing him to open his mouth in his own defence. But such is the tact and talent of women!” In this passage you can see that in public Mrs. Grantly is the sweet, meek wife but in private she was very independent with her opinions and shared them with her husband. Though both sisters represent the perfect wife, they do so in differently. Eleanor is the perfect Victorian wife because it is in her nature to be caring and loyal, as we see with her father, and submissive, as we see with Mr. Bold. We do not get a very clear idea of what kind of wife she would be because we do not get to read about her married life. Mrs. Grantly is the perfect Victorian wife because it is her duty to society and a part of her role as the wife of the
Grantly is also a representation of a Victorian wife but it seems like she is because of her social duties. As the wife of an archdeacon and an example to other young ladies, she must be a submissive and gentle wife for the public eye. It would be improper if the archdeacon’s wife wasn’t. However, as we see in chapter VIII, she is not always submissive to her husband ideas. In this chapter, she argues with her husband about the welfare of her father and sister and of the legalities concerning Mr. Bold. By her husband reaction to her statements, readers can assume that Mrs. Grantly speaking openly about her disagreements with her husband wasn’t out of the ordinary. It is written, “Strangers at Plumstead Episcopi, when they saw the imperious brow with which he commanded silence from the large circle of visitors, children, and servants who came together in the morning to hear him read the word of God, and watched how meekly that wife seated herself behind her basket of keys with a little girl on each side, as she caught that commanding glance; strangers, I say, seeing this, could little guess that some fifteen minutes since she had stoutly held her ground against him, hardly allowing him to open his mouth in his own defence. But such is the tact and talent of women!” In this passage you can see that in public Mrs. Grantly is the sweet, meek wife but in private she was very independent with her opinions and shared them with her husband. Though both sisters represent the perfect wife, they do so in differently. Eleanor is the perfect Victorian wife because it is in her nature to be caring and loyal, as we see with her father, and submissive, as we see with Mr. Bold. We do not get a very clear idea of what kind of wife she would be because we do not get to read about her married life. Mrs. Grantly is the perfect Victorian wife because it is her duty to society and a part of her role as the wife of the