Author: malariewilliams

Overtime scholars have willfully studied the works of many artists and writers of the Victorian Era, in which they were known for their skillful portrayals of life around them. Artists and writers like Dante Gabriel Rossetti and William Hogarth presented society with the ideal man or woman through their own perspectives. Common themes revolved around societal issues in need of progress, one of those being prostitution. What are deemed as surprising are the many male artists and writers who acted as mere narrators for women through their works. Countless infamous paintings, passages, and poems depict various females dwelling in shame and misfortune. These works portray women being turned away from their homes, floating to shore after commits of suicide, posing in flashy clothing that suggests promiscuity, etc.  Most of these portrayals are construed through male perceptions of women during the Victorian Period.

During the mid-1800s Dante Gabriel Rossetti wrote a long, detailed poem, “Jenny”, in which a male companion articulates his sympathy for a “fallen” woman of damnation. However, in his attempt to sympathize with the young prostitute through words of sheer comfort, he acknowledges the many faults that have led to her disgrace, painting her as nothing more than an utter distress.

In the early 1700s William Hogarth constructed two artworks, titled ‘Before’ and ‘After’ in which a man and a woman are obliviously having a love affair far off into the woods. As the male inconsiderably courts the female in the ‘Before’ painting her legs lay sprawled along the ground in the ‘After’ painting, exposing her undergarments with the indication that she has given up her most prized possession. Much like Rossetti’s “Jenny”, Hogarth has presented society with yet another male depiction of women.

Unfortunately, there are many additional images that have not only represented women as weak-minded creatures, but also as unequal to men in general. These historical pictures and writings are simple truths and evidence that women have always been represented as negative beings. In works like those of Hogarth’s and Rossetti’s the men are usually the victims, the witnesses, the saviours, or simply the ignored. Sadly enough, years after the Victorian era women are still represented the same way and that is a ruin.

Demi-Monde, or half-world, was a term used throughout the Victorian ages when referring to women, who no longer abided by the rules as respectable people. People of the half-world were known to wear bright clothing, flamboyant make-up and hairdos, and all things considered disrespectful amongst the common people. Most individuals of the Victorian era were forced to turn to the disgraces of the Demi-Monde, mainly those of the lower class, due to their lack of opportunities. Unfortunately, those apart from the Demi-Monde thought differently of these creatures of the underworld. Women like Elizabeth Lynn Linton, an infamous female journalist and critic, thought women of the half-world to be mere followers of others who opposed of societal rules. In one of her most well-known works “The Girl of the Period” (1868) she stated, “It is this envy of the pleasures, and indifference to the sins, of these women in the Demi-Monde which is doing such infinite mischief to the modern girl.” In some cases her writings were indeed factual, based on the limitations of women throughout her time; however, what Linton hadn’t considered was the overall origin behind the Demi-Monde.

Whether a woman of nobility or of the lowest prominence, they were of no importance behind the authoritative figures of men. Women lacked a mind of their own; they held no say in any matter. They lacked the social freedom to be human. Women were simple props for men. If they were incapable of being married off to wealthy partners, more than likely they turned to prostitution as a solution for money which was infamous during the Victorian era because of the lack of job offerings. Fortunately, prostitutions were much more liberal than women of other classes which was indeed something to be envious of. The attraction did not lie in the clothing itself or the pleasures of sins; the liberation amongst these individuals was much longed for. The common women admired these talked-about creatures for their carelessness towards society’s formation of the “respectable” human-being. This admiration was the infinite mischief to the modern girl. Man had constructed the master plan of shielding one another from the so-called sins of the world that in doing so they provoked this need for deliverance.

No one ever intends to ruin their own reputation, at least not purposely. There is always an underlying scheme of things that lead to its ruin. In this modern era the Demi-Monde still exists, although not in the same sense necessarily.  Women of the lower class continuously lack the opportunities and the motivation to come out of it; however, these very women gain a certain prosperity that others of higher classes desire subconsciously. Fortunately, women have become more liberated in rights; however, many may argue that this liberation is in fact the cause of increase in all other sinful or uncommon actions. In the end, the world has altered accordingly. For all that women have gained so much has been lost along the way. As the world continues to strip them of the same titles that are given to men, women will continuously be bound to the Demi-Monde for many eras to come.

http://victorianerawomen.blogspot.com

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Viewpoints differ accordingly in relation to specific historical moments such as the Victorian Era, where as most historians define it as a time of great achievements through art and literature, others perceive it as an era of poverty, limited opportunities, and all other social burdens. While art movements were expanding and scientific theories were being put to the test,  poverty and  death rates were  steadily increasing. Due to the population explosion and immigration (both foreign and domestic), employment had become unbearably difficult to find, as well as food and clean water. (Barbera Daniels, 2003).  Women turned to prostitution to provide for themselves and others, while children forced themselves into labor amongst all other hardships. The upper class turned a blind eye to starvation and sicknesses amongst the lower class society.

Although, centuries later, laws have been created to better suit individuals of the lower societies, poverty and unemployment remains high. In this age, the outcomes aren’t as severe as they were during the Victorian Era; however, history continues to repeat itself. The ruin of it all is the simple fact that a lower class continues to exist. As wealth and power progressively increases amongst the upper class society, the lower class remains powerless and limited in opportunity. Like the Victorian Era, we are divided amongst each other. As many would say, “The rich are getting richer, while others will continue to struggle financially as well as economically.”