During the Victorian era patriarchy reigned. Every gender had a role and function in society, differences that had to be respected in order to create the perfect society. This was called the “ideology of the separate spheres”, which meant that men were seen as controlling, powerful and virtuous whose place was out of the house, in their workplace, in politics – in the public sphere. Women, on the other hand, belonged to the private sphere, at home with the children and with no economic or personal right.
Women were expected to get married and stay at home doing housework and taking care of the children and the husband’s needs. They could not get a proper education. Also, they were expected to behave properly: to be a good and virtuous wife …show more content…
When M. Paul Emanuel approaches her, he takes her in front of a series of pictures which he considers more suitable for Lucy. He orders Lucy to stay in that place and keeps an eye on her to make sure she obeys. “Be quiet, and sit down there – there!” “But mademoiselle, sit down, and do not move- do you hear? Until someone comes to find you, or until I give you permission…” (225) This is a clear example of the patriarchal society during the Victorian period. Women had to be perfect and obey men. Nudity was not considered appropriate and Lucy thinks of the female body as something outrageous, offensive. We can also see how men controlled women and thought that, by virtue of being men, they were allowed to educate them. M. Paul places Lucy in front of some pictures and orders her to stay in that place while he contemplates the Cleopatra. M. Paul considers Lucy intellectually inferior to him and he need to “educate …show more content…
Although men were the privileged gender they also had restrictions and had rules to follow to become respected and successful. They had to be true gentlemen, which is not only a social class, but a way of thinking and behaving. John Henry Newman, a famous cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church, delivered a series of lectures entitled The Idea of a University where he exposed his ideas about education. One of that lectures was called "A Definition of a Gentleman", and it explains how a men should be during the Victorian era.
“It is almost a definition of a gentleman to say he is one who never inflicts pain [...] like an easy chair or a good fire,[...] his great concern being to make every one at their ease and at home.” (Newman, 1852)
Newman’s definition of a gentleman also involved the idea of a man protecting those who surround him, a man with solutions in times of troubles, someone who avoids bad influences around him and his family because his biggest concern in to bring safety. A true gentleman is prudent, just, brave and righteous and he will never involve himself in a dispute. He does not gossip and is conscious of his own weaknesses and strengths. He is open-minded, decisive and he is never mean. This detailed description represented the ideal male whose wealth and influence were symbols of superiority and respectability. Though this seems a big and long list of skill and objectives to
Women were expected to get married and stay at home doing housework and taking care of the children and the husband’s needs. They could not get a proper education. Also, they were expected to behave properly: to be a good and virtuous wife …show more content…
When M. Paul Emanuel approaches her, he takes her in front of a series of pictures which he considers more suitable for Lucy. He orders Lucy to stay in that place and keeps an eye on her to make sure she obeys. “Be quiet, and sit down there – there!” “But mademoiselle, sit down, and do not move- do you hear? Until someone comes to find you, or until I give you permission…” (225) This is a clear example of the patriarchal society during the Victorian period. Women had to be perfect and obey men. Nudity was not considered appropriate and Lucy thinks of the female body as something outrageous, offensive. We can also see how men controlled women and thought that, by virtue of being men, they were allowed to educate them. M. Paul places Lucy in front of some pictures and orders her to stay in that place while he contemplates the Cleopatra. M. Paul considers Lucy intellectually inferior to him and he need to “educate …show more content…
Although men were the privileged gender they also had restrictions and had rules to follow to become respected and successful. They had to be true gentlemen, which is not only a social class, but a way of thinking and behaving. John Henry Newman, a famous cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church, delivered a series of lectures entitled The Idea of a University where he exposed his ideas about education. One of that lectures was called "A Definition of a Gentleman", and it explains how a men should be during the Victorian era.
“It is almost a definition of a gentleman to say he is one who never inflicts pain [...] like an easy chair or a good fire,[...] his great concern being to make every one at their ease and at home.” (Newman, 1852)
Newman’s definition of a gentleman also involved the idea of a man protecting those who surround him, a man with solutions in times of troubles, someone who avoids bad influences around him and his family because his biggest concern in to bring safety. A true gentleman is prudent, just, brave and righteous and he will never involve himself in a dispute. He does not gossip and is conscious of his own weaknesses and strengths. He is open-minded, decisive and he is never mean. This detailed description represented the ideal male whose wealth and influence were symbols of superiority and respectability. Though this seems a big and long list of skill and objectives to