Victorian LAdies and Gentlemen

Charlotte Bronte

Letter to Emily Bronte

I read this letter and found it amazing how things have changed for this profession. Obviously by the letters information she was not treated well at all by the Lady of the house. She was there to maintain order with the children, but the children did not have to follow any kind of order. As for correcting them, I soon quickly found that was entirely out of the question: they are to do as they like. (pg. 560) In addition to her duties with the children she was given additional tasks such as: sewing and needlework. In this day and age people who need someone to govern their children, or take care of them, go out of their way to make sure that they are highly qualified, and able to handle them in any matter appropriate. The governess is given the right to punish and correct the children when in her care, and most likely her only duty would be just the children. It amazed me to find that they wanted someone who was mannered and properly brought up to take care of their children, but treated them as if they were second class citizens, not from the economic background they required. Being a teacher of small children I sometimes see myself slipping into the “governing” role, and know the importance of guidance. In the Victorian age, these poor women were not seen as an asset to the children’s upbringing, but in my opinion, mainly as someone to keep the children away from the parents when they were not wanted around.