Lydia Wickham... scene from "Pride & Prejudice"
1 2018-05-10T00:45:36-07:00 Maisha Samiha ac00569e4252e5c91e805fa3cfdf8db32cf05c75 29761 1 Video clipped together from various adaptations of "Pride & Prejudice. Posted by zippyC3 on YouTube, 1 May 2008. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6GSNCPGjmc plain 2018-05-10T00:45:36-07:00 YouTube 2008-05-02T04:01:35.000Z x6GSNCPGjmc zippyC3 Maisha Samiha ac00569e4252e5c91e805fa3cfdf8db32cf05c75This page is referenced by:
-
1
media/CT AND TESS BOOK COVERS(1).jpg
2018-05-10T00:42:35-07:00
Sisters from Other Misters
22
meta
2018-05-11T20:34:01-07:00
Needless to say, that regardless of the difference in the time periods that the two novels, Charlotte Temple and House of Mirth, were written in, both the protagonists, Charlotte and Lily, face similar societal issues with regards to the views directed at them.
Charlotte Temple was written in 1791, in which the protagonist, Charlotte, is a very young, middle-class girl, who ends up being seduced by a much older man named Montraville, who falls for her beauty. This leads to the eventual ending of her life. According to the narrative of the novel, Charlotte's story is supposed to be a lesson for young female readers to teach them how not to lead their lives. This is similar to Lydia in Pride and Prejudice, when she elopes with Wickham. However, Lydia receives less criticism from the society because Wickham is a rich, reputable man.“But when beauty of person, elegance of manner, and an easy method of paying compliments, are united to the scarlet coat, smart cockade, and military sash, ah! well-a-day for the poor girl who gazes on him: she is in imminent danger” (Rowson, p. 22)
Similarly, Lily Bart, the protagonist in House of Mirth, is a much more grown woman compared to Charlotte, who is single, and in the look out for her potential husband. This novel of manners indicates the true reality of society in Lily's time period, as it elaborately describes how Lily's appearance was her only way to find a source of wealth. Lily's mother, alongside the many voices in society, made her believe that she needed to be rich and of the upper class to be viewed with utmost respect. To do this, she needed to use her beauty to attract rich men, or rather, wealth.
It seems that regardless of how loyal women are to their families, society finds a way to belittle them. Charlotte went against every moral and principal that her parents had taught her when she eloped with Montraville. Hence, in the eyes of society, she became a strong symbol of disgrace and shame, and was belittled by society for her bad decisions, as is emphasized by the narrator:"When once a woman has stifled the sense of shame in her own bosom, [...] she has lost sight of the basis on which reputation, honour, every thing that should be dear to the female heart, rests, she grows hardened in guilt, and will spare no pains to bring down innocence and beauty" (Rowson, p. 25)
On the other hand, Lily did exactly as her mother had taught her. She objectified herself, as did society, and used herself as a tool of beauty that is solely meant to attract men. Yet society reduced her value to her appearance only.
-
1
media/eb34e3b4913c633ced6326a9a57f1d66.jpg
media/CT AND TESS BOOK COVERS(1).jpg
2018-05-11T20:35:51-07:00
Sisters from Other Misters
21
plain
2019-05-14T10:08:27-07:00
Regardless of the difference in the time periods between the two novels Charlotte Temple and House of Mirth, both the protagonists, Charlotte and Lily, face similar societal issues with regards to the views directed at them.
Charlotte Temple, written in 1791, presents the story of Charlotte, a very young, middle-class girl, who is seduced by a much older man named Montraville, who falls for her beauty. This act and her kidnapping to America leads to the premature end of her life. According to the narrative of the novel, Charlotte's story is supposed to be a lesson for young female readers to teach them how *not* to lead their lives. This is similar to Lydia in Pride and Prejudice, when she runs away with Wickham. However, Lydia is spared criticism from the society because her father, uncle, and Darcy race ensure her marriage.“But when beauty of person, elegance of manner, and an easy method of paying compliments, are united to the scarlet coat, smart cockade, and military sash, ah! well-a-day for the poor girl who gazes on him: she is in imminent danger” (Rowson, p. 22)
Similarly, Lily Bart, the protagonist in House of Mirth, is a much more mature woman than Charlotte, and is on the look out for a potential husband. This novel of manners indicates the true reality of society in Lily's time period, as it elaborately describes how Lily's appearance was her only way to find a source of wealth through marriage. Lily's mother, along with the many voices in society, make her believe that she needs to be rich and of the upper class to be viewed with respect. To accomplish this feat, she needs to use her beauty to attract rich men, or rather, wealth.
It seems that regardless of how loyal women are to their families, society finds a way to belittle them. Charlotte loves her family and is deeply troubled by her actions and their reflection on her family, yet her elopement with Montraville casts her as a strong symbol of disgrace and shame in the eyes of society. As the narrator emphasizes:"When once a woman has stifled the sense of shame in her own bosom, [...] she has lost sight of the basis on which reputation, honour, every thing that should be dear to the female heart, rests, she grows hardened in guilt, and will spare no pains to bring down innocence and beauty" (Rowson, p. 25)
On the other hand, Lily does exactly as her mother taught her. She objectifies herself and uses herself as a tool of beauty that is solely meant to attract men. In doing this, she reinforces society's view of her value as based on her appearance only.
