A Study on the Victorian Model of Marriage Free Essays

The Victorian Era was a period in history from about 1837 to 1901, during the reign of Queen Victoria. It was a time of great growth and strides for England.   The country was gaining profits from overseas and industrial improvements were making it easier and more profitable for businesses and for the home front. We will write a custom essay sample on A Study on the Victorian Model of Marriage or any similar topic only for you Order Now The social class between families and income levels became more prominent and defined during this era. However, even with all of the improvements and advancements in industrial and social status, the Victorian marriage still remained somewhat antiquated, especially when compared to the modern marriage model of today’s world. Before a couple decide to get married, they must first meet and obtain a certain level of relationship status to be able to proceed to marriage.   In the 21st century, people meet, date, fall in love and get married.   How they meet varies as well. They could meet at a dance club, Church, work, or even off of a dating site on the Internet.   In contrast, the Victorian era looked at meeting a potential spouse a lot differently.   â€Å"Courtship was considered more a career move than a romantic interlude for young men, as all of a woman’s property reverted to him upon marriage† (Courting the Victorian Woman, 1). A lot more thought and decision making went into meeting that special someone.   The young ladies of the wealthier class who were going to be ‘coming out’ into the available market would spend months in preparation ahead of time.   New outfits had to be purchased, and they would need to make enough prominent acquaintances to receive the invitations to the best events where they could meet the most eligible bachelors. â€Å"To get ready for courtship and marriage a girl was groomed like a racehorse.   In addition to being able to sing, play an instrument and speak a little French or Italian, the qualities a young Victorian gentlewoman needed, were to be innocent, virtuous, biddable, dutiful and be ignorant of intellectual opinion† (A Woman’s Place in Victorian Society, 4). While searching for a mate, the women are on display, showing off their best attributes, qualities and skills that would proclaim her the best wife for a bachelor.   Once married, the women then take on an entirely different role in society. â€Å"A woman’s prime use was to bear a large family and maintain a smooth family atmosphere where a man need not bother himself about domestic matters.   He assumed his house would run smoothly so he could get on with making money† (A Woman’s Place in Victorian Society, 4). Victorian women were not supposed to have outside employment.   Society believed that a woman’s sole job was to take care of home, hearth, children, and to do whatever necessary to help her husband succeed in his business. â€Å"The job of a woman was to organize parties and dinners to bring prestige to her husband, making it possible for them to meet new people and establish economically important relationships. Her real job was devoting time to the children and maintaining the house† (Marriage in the Victorian Era, 2). The modern day woman, in comparison, is usually a working wife and mother.   She is expected to keep the home, hearth and children together while also earning income, which sometimes may even be the larger income of the household.   Today’s society almost demands a double income to survive, even comfortably.    Although there are still a few women who are stay at home moms, the majority of modern day women have at least a part time job to help supplement the income.   While men of the Victorian era expect their wives to stay home and not have a job outside the home, many modern day men actually want and expect their spouse to help financially.   Women today have a lot more say in decisions and matters of the home than they did in the Victorian era. How to cite A Study on the Victorian Model of Marriage, Papers