Re: Victorian Households
Charles Dickens (cdickens@RMPLC.CO.UK)
Mon, 17 Nov 1997 16:13:47 -0100
My dear Misses Hopkins, Kent and Hopgood,
The Victorian household was almost as varied as today's. In many,
violence was eschewed. But for all that, violence was more common. Voices
raised against it were fewer, justifications were more ready to hand. Many
looked to the Bible for moral guidance, where they found advice such as
this, in the Book of Proverbs: "He that spareth his rod hateth his son; but
he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes."
Doubtless there are reasons to be proud that violence in the family is
denounced so, in Western societies in the late twentieth century, but this
is unusual, against the broad canvas of history. Pip is only rueful about
his sister's way of showing her ill-temper, never bitter. Such behaviour
was too common for bitterness.
Common but not usual; accepted but not universally applauded: does that
answer your question? I hope so.
Faithfully yours,
Charles Dickens
________________________________________________________________________________
>Dear Sir,
>
>In Great Expectations you often write of the abuse of Pip and Mr Gargery by
>Mrs Gargery. Was this a regular occurrence in Victorian households?
>
>Yours faithfully,
>
>Lucy Hopkins
>Alexandra Kent
>Amanda Hopgood
>
>
======================
Charles Dickens
charles_dickens@rmplc.co.uk
Author