Author: Alex (Page 3 of 21)

Quotation: “Undoubtedly, my Lord; and we have no objection to the document being exhibited for the court to draw its own conclusion from, but we deny that it is entitled to speak in its own explanation. A document is a thing which speaks by its written characters. It cannot take to itself a tongue, and speak by word of mouth also; and, in support of this, I may call your Lordship’s attention to the general principles of law governing the interpretation of written documents.”

“I maintain that the document remains the document; and that for all
purposes, including the giving of evidence concerning its execution, Miss
Smithers still remains Miss Smithers.” -Chapter 20

Comment: These two quotes during the trial made me think of our discussion last week about Augusta’s objectification. The first quote, taken from the Attorney-General, describes how Augusta should not be considered a witness because she is already serving as a “document”. This sentiment is something that has been built up throughout the novel from multiple characters such as Eustace and Mr. Short. The first quote could also be a form of satire from Haggard, based upon the traditional phrase that “women (and children) should be seen and not heard”. Haggard is also making a point on how the law is interpreted, most often very literally. Augusta’s purpose, in the eyes of the attorney-general, is to be a document with no voice, despite the fact that she is very clearly a human. Mr. Short’s quote finally seems to defend the humanity of Augusta. He doesn’t say that she is a book (like Eustace) and does not continue to claim that she is solely a document. These points of objectification earlier in the novel were seen as something beneficial for the characters at Augusta’s expense. However, now Mr. Short is attempted to restore her humanity and reconcile for her objectification, which allows Augusta to ultimately give her story to the court, which assists in winning the case.

Question: While Haggard includes a lot of satire within Mr. Meeson’s Will, I can’t help but wonder what the inspiration for the plot was. Was there a case that he believed was taken too literally before the time in which he wrote the novel?

Quotation: ” ‘My dear, do let me see,’ said Lady Holmhurst, as soon as the servant had left the room. With a sign Augusta uncovered her shoulders, and her friend ran around the table to look at them. There, on her neck, was the will. The cuttle ink had proved an excellent medium, and the tattooing was as fresh as the day on which it had been done, an would, no doubt, remain so till the last hour of her life. ‘Well,’ said Lady Holmhurst, ‘I hope the young man will be duly grateful. I should have to be very much in love,’ and she looked meaningly at Augusta, ‘before I would spoil myself in that fashion for any man.’ (Haggard, chp. 14, pg. 95)

Comment: This passage and reaction from Lady Holmhurst made me think of the different forms of change regarding the view of women. On one hand, we see that Augusta has some semblance of authority and fame via her books. That causes those around her to view her highly and, even if it isn’t close to the standards we hold today, men around her have some respect for her as a woman of business. However, when we see Lady Holmhurst’s reaction, she views the tattooed will as a mark that ‘spoils’ Augusta’s worth. Rather than holding Augusta up as a multifaceted person, Holmhurst instead focuses solely on the physical value of her friend. Of course, even with the growing rights of women, their value during this time stemmed mostly from their value to men specifically, and I feel like Lady Holmhurst’s reaction is an example of how this mindset was still prevalent despite women’s autonomy.

Question: While we know that there were feminist movements, were there any women or groups of women that fought against feminist ideals? If so, did they push for women to return to more “traditional” roles?

Quotation: “The plan may be a very good one, to prevent the prostitute being waylaid as she left the hospital by some of her old associates, but it did not seem to occur to the would-be benefactors of the girl that the arrival of a parishioner in charge of a policeman creates a great sensation in a little country community. They did not seem to have contemplated the possibility of the fact that the villagers become curious to learn what Mary Smith has been doing at —; I ventured to suggest to the authorities that the village gossips would probably over their tea hint at her gay doings, and that the young men would not long be idle in ferreting out her antecedents; and the quiet village, notwithstanding all the care of the rector or aid of his good wife, would be made very disagreeable for the fair penitent who had once quitted her home on an evil errand, and it too often happens she will quit it again, no more to return to her native place.”

Comment: This quotation highlights the views of Victorian society, especially through the lens of mostly middle and lower classes. As seen in Ruth, gossip plays a key role in how Ruth and Leonard are treated within society, despite Ruth’s best efforts to keep her past hidden. Within his piece, Acton discusses the benefits and disadvantages of the Contagious Diseases Act and the asylum-based treatment offered to fallen women. While Acton acknowledges the benefits of providing protection to returning women, he highlights one of the most prominent problems of the system. Acton and Gaskell both seem to hold the opinion that gossip and societal views shape the success of “redeeming a fallen woman”.While a fallen woman could make the choice to “return” to society, the pieces written by Acton and Gaskell show that society itself may not let them. 

Question: Regarding the Contagious Diseases Act, did works and critiques like Acton’s cause any backlash against it? Was there a push for reforming the CDA? From a modern standpoint, it’s painfully obvious that the regulations outlined in the CDA have little to no regard for women’s bodily autonomy, but I don’t think that many people within Victorian society would necessarily call for reform over that aspect alone.

Quotation: “‘Cannot bear it! Cannot bear it!’ he repeated. ‘You must bear it madam. Do y ou suppose your child is to be exempt from the penalties of his birth? Do you suppose that he alone is to be saved from the upbraiding scoff? Do you suppose that he is ever to rank with other boys, who are not stained and marked with sin from their birth? Every creature in Eccleston may know what he is; do you think they will spare him their scorn? ‘Cannot bear it,’ indeed! Before you went into your sin, you should have thought whether you could bear the consequences or not–have had some idea how far your offspring would be degraded and scouted, till the best thing that could happen to him would be for him to be lost to all sense of shame, dead to all knowledge of guilt, for his mother’s sake” (Gaskell, Chapter 26)

Comment: I was interested in this quote because of the emphasis it places on Ruth’s son, Leonard. Throughout multiple points in the novel, Ruth has been forced to deal with her reputation as a “fallen woman”, which could really only be mitigated by Ruth becoming Mrs. Denbigh. Now, we’re seeing that the consequences of Ruth’s actions shift from Ruth herself to Leonard. Based on the quotation above, it seems that being an illegitimate child held a lot of negative connotations. Leonard is called “stained” and it’s implied in the quotation that Ruth’s “sin” can be rubbed off on other children who are close to Leonard. 

Question: I’m wondering where this belief and animosity towards illegitimate children themselves came from. Was it based on religious beliefs or was there a turning point in Victorian society in which this belief came from?