Challenging Or Conforming to the Norms of Victorian Society: Queen Victoria's Stance on Women's Social Status

Article

Leviathan: Interdisciplinary Journal in English No. 3, 18-29 Challenging or © The Journal Editors 2018 Reprints and permissions: https://tidsskrift.dk/lev Conforming to the DOI: 10.7146/lev.v0i3.107777 Recommendation: Conrad Joseph Molden Norms of Victorian ([email protected]) History, Society and Culture 2: Society: Queen British and Irish History Victoria’s Stance on

Women’s Social Status

Emilie Arildsen

ABSTRACT

Queen Victoria represents a personality split between the values of the submissive contemporary woman and the values of a powerful monarch. She was head of her country, but a married woman too, and this combination entailed situations that were difficult to navigate while retaining the values of the ideal Victorian woman and simultaneously meeting her duties as queen. I claim that by combining her two roles and becoming the mother of the Empire, Queen Victoria ultimately bettered women’s social status by influencing the mindset of her contemporary women. Her influence is apparent in writings of both feminists such as Millicent Garrett Fawcett and conservative Sarah Stickney Ellis as well as in the lives of her own daughters.

Keywords: Queen Victoria; gender roles; Victorian society; women’s social status; feminism; female monarch

Corresponding author: Emilie Arildsen ([email protected]) Department of English, Aarhus University

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ntroduction I greatest pleasure greatest ind: how did she, as a female monarch, navigate a society so e[s] a great interest in the whole affair’, continuing with inquiring old ascended the throne as Queen of the United Kingdom; a position - year - Coburg Coburg and Gotha with whom she had nine children, while she ruled over an Queen Victoria’s Queen Victoria’s - implies, the Victorian Era was highly characterised by its reigning monarch, Queen ltaneously ltaneously mirrored and broke the norms of her contemporary society, while arguing

and and no fatigue, however great, will be burdensom 1837,Victoria 103). (Queen nation I have seen almost all my other Ministers, and do regular, hard, but to but hard, regular, do and Ministers, other my all almost seen have I the me to is them. It with

However, However, due to the fact that the United Kingdom is a constitutional mo have have had an impact on the oversociety, which she ruled. as Indeed, she is a setrepresenting of

the monarch is restricted to certain royal prerogatives. In principle, the monarch can exercise them at at them exercise can monarch the principle, prerogatives. In royal certain to restricted is monarch the established. By By showing such an immense interest in her occupation, her status as a political queen is first

her coronation in June 1837, she wrote a letter to King Leopold, in which she depicts she which in Leopold, to King letter a wrote she 1837, June in coronation her queen: a and and unfortunate’ and that she ‘tak about the political affairs of Portugal, Naples, and France (Queen Victoria 1836, 64). Shortly after correspondence correspondence between herself and her uncle, King Leopold of Belgian, several political matters were discussed. In September 1836, she expressed to him that ‘the state of Spain is most alarming Already Already as a young woman, Princess Victoria displayed an interest in

Victoria Victoria simu the social of women. ultimately bettered status herself that she she she perhaps the incentive behind the women’s suffrage movement? Or could her preservation of the role herand conservative values of it?wifely have the progress subsided will Queen examine how I values divided between the socially acceptable status of a devoted wife and that of a victorious woman victorious a of that and wife devoted a of status acceptable socially the between divided values of position a what wonder but help cannot one power, of successful successful reign of 64 years and a time period named after her, it seems likely that Queen Victoria must heavily heavily dominated by men that it usually allowed no place for women to participate? With a ever growing empire making countless advantages in both scientific, industrial, and societal matters. matters. and societal advantages industrial, countless in both empire making scientific, growing ever One question, however, comes to m she retained she untilretained her death in her 1901. role Encompassing as a woman, sh Prince Albert of Saxe As the name Victoria. In 1837, the 18

19

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20

with the

may 1839, 205). 1839, may

th

politician could approach a

(John 2003, 25).

of May 1839, the leader of the

th he] was calm but very decided, and I [she] overnment decisions and see all government

e’ e’ (John 2003, 25). However, she did come very close to 7). When meeting opposition to it, the Queen had no difficulty century century it has been the convention that they are only used through

er er or the cabinet. Following this, Queen Victoria’s power was th called called Bedchamber Crisis. The 7 - thus a woman of power. of thus a woman actions were adjacent to being unconstitutionally by dismissing a coming Prime coming a dismissing by unconstitutionally being to adjacent were actions

ority ority in the House of Commons and thereby be weak, he wished for the dismissal

papers. minister. her by prime if requested dissolutiona to of parliament right refuse The … ask to form whom government. she could toa right decide The in their actions ministers and warn to right encourage The The The right to be informed of all significant g despite her being a female monarch. According to John, the right to be informed was one she she one was informed be to right John,the to According monarch. female being a herdespite more, this episode also gave her reason to exercise the right to warn ministers, one she

John writes that learning from previous failures, Queen Victoria ‘never dismissed a Prime

– Although, Victoria’s Although, think[s] you [Lord Melbourne] would have been 9 Victoria (Queen trickery’ such pleased to submit not will to England of Queen the ; see firmness my [her] composure and great so. Consequently, Peel declined to form a government and Melbourne continued as Prime Minister. In a letter to Lord Melbourne, Victoria wrote that ‘I [s politicians. However, as Victoria was very fond of her ladies, had outgoing a Whig Prime Minister, close Lord Melbourne, and was relationship reserved towards Peel, she refused to do of some of the Queen’s Ladies of the Bedchamber, because many of them were wives of Whig Conservative Conservative Party, Robert Peel, was asked to form a new government. Since such a government would hold a min consolidated consolidated the new constitutional practic breaking it during the so Minister or dissolved a parliament at all under her own volition, and that ‘in this manner Victoria power power in the constitution’ (John 2003, 27). Hence, her strong work ethic state andaffairs influence made Victoria able to that she ‘was exceptionally well informed about state business and no real a her made itself ‘thisthatin saying with continues He 27). lightly’ John2003, her with meeting Further continued to use frequently. Because she so thoroughly emerged herself into her work, John states sending sending off dispatches without consulting the Queen, eventually resulting in his dismissal. took very seriously (John 2003, 2 asserting her right, which happened several times when foreign secretary Lord Palmerstone was On the grounds of her political interest, Queen Victoria exercised all of these prerogatives during her during prerogatives these of all exercised Victoria Queen interest, political her of grounds the On reign prerogatives that she had the right to that she exercise: had the right prerogatives the advice of the prime minst considerably smaller than that of many of her predecessors. Nevertheless, John lists the following own initiative, but since the 19

ISSUE 3 | LEVIATHAN | FALL 2018 of of

rd

ine domain. Her Her domain. ine

orms tions were those of a hold. Albert’s relation N o make me adore him. What him. adore me make o for for anyone in the world to be

ocial ocial S possible . This return depicts the royal household as one of ding to Ward had ‘Victoria insisted that the word “obey” ituation in the ituation in the a a circumstance she was not entirely comfortable with. S

, she has been established as a political queen of power, but – g g caused a series of difficulties concerning her role as both a

ional Archives 2018) that Victoria asserted as she married Albert were some, which she retained

s ary 1840, after marrying Albert, Victoria wrote a letter to King Leopold expressing Leopold King to letter a wrote Victoria Albert, marrying after 1840, ary The Nat Queen Victoria’s Queen Victoria’s , or AS happy as I am … To look in those dear eyes ... is enough t enough is ... eyes dear those in look To … am I as happy AS or , The The gender role Conforming to the view of the contemporary time, Victoria displayed a traditional approach to traditional a approach time, displayed Victoria contemporary of the view to the Conforming erwards, erwards, she wrote to Albert declaring that ‘it was rather an awful moment, to be obliged to

public life meant that she was caught in an apparent dilemma between her perceptions of womanliness of perceptions her between dilemma apparent an in caught was she that meant life public traditional norms and Victoria’s norms Queen traditional of emphasises wife. role Ward notesa ‘private domestic that mascul a with accordance in more being life public femininity; with equated was life of the household, although her profession is listed as the Queen: a position, which technically renders technically which position, a Queen: the as listed is profession her although household, the of him her subject ( census census return accounts for details such as profession and relation in the house is household in the listed the headas of the household and Victoria’s relation the as wife of the head throughout throughout her life. In the census of 1851, the household of the royal family were included too. The should not be deleted from her marriage vows’ (Ward 2006, 281), which underlines her intention to norms. to society’s conform detested detested the obligation so. accor Moreover, sovereign, sovereign, but not those of a woman’ (Ward 2006, 280). Essentially, as it did not conform to the traditional norms stating that women should be subject to men, this may be why Queen Victoria announce announce this to so many people, many of whom were quite strangers’ (Queen November Victoria, 1839, 23 248). Ward comments on this quote saying that ‘these ac Albert Albert to the Privy Council herself Aft husband. husband. However, the Queen marryin to intent marry her to announce obliged Victoria was monarch, woman. ruling a As the and monarch I I can do to make him happy will be my greatest delight’ (Queen Victoria 1840, 274). This opinion places her as a model female of the Victorian Era, where a woman’s sole joy should be that of her her her utmost joy in being married: ‘Really, I do not think it happier marriage. In Febru In marriage. on the other hand, she represented a very conservative view of the of of the role view women. she very conservative a represented hand, on the other it is interesting to examine how Queen Victoria navigated in it. Indeed, she does represent a highly conflicted personality. On the one hand With a society dictating that women had no place in the public sphere, let alone in positions of power, power, of positions in alone let sphere, public the in place no had women that dictating society a With

her places nevertheless in general work actions,and her the letter, in the opinion expressed Minister, of political monarch a power. as 21

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fit 22 the oria

particularly particularly

– (Queen (Queen Victoria 1852,

t help but wonder if Victoria’s if wonder but help t and if we are good women, we women, good are if we and

intensely – enabled enabled me [her] to bear my [her]

ng to situate herself as a proper wife proper a as herself situate to ng and and I grow daily to dislike them both

– alone

alm after her husband assigned to her by law, by her to assigned husband her after alm for governing governing for

is role, Ward writes that ‘maintenance of her courage made ing Leopold wrote she where ing the following: Leopold , and I do, of course,

1

is entirely ignored by the law’ and continued with remarking that

‘there ‘there is a definite element within her viewpoint which asserts her

mal gré bon gré these these masculine occupations ; but there are ties which force one to take

such such perspicacity and such al al powerful reign. and

– in them

ition’ (Queen Victoria 1861, 603). Victoria’s grief was so substantive that she Queen Queen regnant dislike

has the highest rank and dignity in the re the in dignity and highestrank the has

of a

must interest 438). Albert Albert grows daily fonder and fonder of politics and business, and is so wonderfully for both not are women We more. and more r his wife, and as the Queen is married just as any other is, her and just woman swears to obey and r his wife, is married the Queen as any as King disliked pos Bearing Bearing in mind that Queen Victoria bore nine children, her pregnancies and her role as a

of a a of

husband French: whether one likes whether one it French: or not

1 reproduction paradoxically forced her, from time to time, to acknowledge publicly that she could not could she that publicly acknowledge to time, to time from her, forced paradoxically reproduction showing showing her conflicted role. Commenting on th monarchical integrity was profoundly important to Victoria. But the very feminine function of mother mother assuredly were of great importance to her life and her public image, while simultaneously considering her politic her considering inclination towards the traditional gender roles within her married life and partially her public life was an attempt at pleasing Albert and benefit his social status as well as her own entered a state deep mourning and dressed herself in black for the rest in her life. These actions assert actions These life. her in rest the for black in herself dressed and mourning deep state a entered canno one However, public. the of outlook the in wife devoted a as her that it was their ‘pure, happy, quiet, domestic life, which much the traditional gender roles of her contemporary time while strivi while time contemporary her of roles gender traditional the wrote Victoria where 42, age at death untimely Albert’s of despite continued strive This woman. and power ove power lord and master … This is a strange anomaly’ (Queen Victoria 1856, 244). again,Once she refers to the ‘this is the more as extraordinary, a husband has in such thisparticular country rights and such great wife did not only seek to heighten her husband’s position in their personal obtaining lives, a higher status she in public argued life too. for In a memorandum him from 1856, she questioned why ‘ strong strong inclination to do this “unfeminine work” ’ (Ward 2006, 281), it nevertheless unmistakably presents Queen Victoria’s attitude towards what an ideal women should be. Furthermore, Vict Although, Although, as Ward points out, conveyed in a letter from Queen Victoria to K in a letter from Queen conveyed and her need to fulfil her queenly work’ (Ward 2006, 279). This observation is exactly what is

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after after all, the United

– hompson states that ‘a ociety elf elf to one. Furthermore, the S and and queenship could happily co er er ’ (Ward 2006, 280). Views such as 2 H

on

Impact Madagascar’s Madagascar’s queen, Ranavalona. The Britons could

al beings, were associated with animalistic nature, which was which nature, animalistic with associated were beings, al

nfluence nfluence on the women of her time, as they did not herassociate with

n Victoria’s and perhaps and to perhaps herself as well. DorothyMoreover, T

mporary time. – ed type of femininity’ (Ulrich 2005, 28). Thereof it can be argued that her

by by Davidoff and Hall, the view of the Victorian society was that ‘women when Quee

her queenly work’ (Ward 2006, 280). To someone with a very strong work ethic, these ethic, work strong very a with someone To 280). 2006, (Ward work’ queenly her Generally, theGenerally, public had a positive opinion of Victoria as the sovereign Nevertheless Nevertheless motherhood proved to be the tool with which she could unite her two roles;

King George George King III

2 themselves themselves had a woman to preparing the ascend throne, it was not 2013, (Chernock an 430). option United Kingdom’s imperialist conflicts with easily have expressed their dislike of her reign by relating it to Ranavalona’s gender, but as they Kingdom Kingdom has a history of placing females on the throne. This positivity was very visible during the for for women, it is relevant to examine how her situation and opinions may have been an influence on her of conte the women Having Having considered Queen Victoria’s place in the political and sphere her place in the societal norms

masculine masculine power. Thus, the combination of motherhood and queenhood became a very powerful had must have influence that Victoria immense subjects. an on her position, asserts which action was exclusively a male pre serve’ (Elliot 1991, 372). Consequently, by appearing less political political less appearing by Consequently, 372). 1991, (Elliot serve’ pre male a exclusively was action she would have had a greater i appealing to appealing the public female on the throne must always have appeared less “political” in an age in which public political her her culture’s most sacr strive to situate herself a wife and a mother functioned a softening of her position that made it more subjects subjects as the devoted wife and mother, allaying their anxieties about female rule by personifying also also fulfil dynastic expectations by producing an heir; motherhood exist’ (Ward 2006, 278), while Ulrich states that following her actions ‘she presented herself to her aligning with sentimental values, she became the mother of the Empire. Ward notes that as ‘she could could ‘she as that notes Ward Empire. the of mother the became she values, sentimental with aligning those must have placed Victoria under a great pressure to prove herself as a rational being, which to theof her have work contributed ethic. seriousness may nerves” nerves” and “lowness” after the birth of her second child … was viewed by Albert and his advisor, Baron Stockmar, as having been inherited from her grandfather pregnant and thus incontrovertibly sexu incontrovertibly thus and pregnant incompatible with the serious work of the world’ (Ward 2006, 280). Likewise, ‘her state of “bad contemporary contemporary view of pregnancy were rather problematic for a female Victoria’s sovereign; Secrets According to was was both a sovereign and a mother but could never fully devote hers of some fulfil she conflict; a caused eventually it thereby and sovereign a as role her limit to her forced pregnancies 23

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24 some of

htening htening her , Keir Hardie , Keir feminist exemplar’ - sacrifice sacrifice in ways deeply - wherein wherein ‘he stresses that a

cted cted the tendencies of women in the end of 19th century and Labour Leader

3

f the National Union of Women’s Suffrage History History of Madagascar criticised Queen Victoria ‘feeling that ordinary womenordinary that ‘feeling Victoria Queen criticised

eing eing aired in our public newspapers, seem to take into

to occupy the position she has held over us for so many years, years, somany us for over held has she positionthe occupy to

res wrote the book

country 1988, 110).(Stevens country consideration consideration the fact that our Queen is a woman … one would naturally think that the most appropriate form which could be given to what is, virtually, national testimony to woman of...one fitness the would be a public recognition of the fitness of her sex to share in the government of the We are entering upon the sixtieth year of our Queen Victoria's reign, and all sorts projects of are on foot for its fit and proper celebration. Curiously enough, none of these schemes which are at present b ed ed [the Queen]’ (Ulrich 2005, 118). She carried on with pointing out that ‘if it were true the media and prominent figures chose to juxtapose these two women by arguing that ‘the

ol when she wrote the following in January in January wrote she ol when 1897: the following

As Queen Victoria did not express any clear feminist opinions or act explicitly provocative, it Some claim it is the founder of the Labour Party and the newspaper Party the the newspaper and of Labour it Some is claim the founder

3 that home duties and political duties were incompatible, the Royal Children would have had a sadly (Ulrich (Ulrich 2005, 117). She stated that ‘politics and political responsibilities of the weightiest kind have not unsex a a tool is Millicent Garrett Fawcett, the president o Societies. In contrast with Bell, Garrett Fawcett used Queen Victoria ‘as a proto and and exercise the right of citizenship. Another prominent suffrage figure that used Queen Victoria as Bell believes that Queen Victoria’s situation should be contributory in giving women the right to vote to right the women giving in contributory be should situation Victoria’s Queen that believes Bell as a to a as the should be’ (Stevens 1988, 110). Nevertheless she used her critique of Queen Victoria’s persona dealt with many social issues. In general, she general, In issues. social many with dealt were given … impossible double messages regarding how they should conduct their lives and how the activists she a toolbecame with could which their they cause. advance One such suffragist is the columnist Bell. Lily She wrote under pseudonym of uncertain origin is uncertain how much she could have influenced the women’s suffrage movement. Yet, to 432). 432). Consequently by assigning such a high status to Queen Victoria and thereby heig her increased. influence on the public must have popularity, Ellis being one of those figu 2013, (Chernock leadership’ female under thrive to order in … queen of kind particular a needs nation at at an earlier stage of cultural development: coarseness of manners, heathenism, physicality, and a pronounced lack of sensibility or feeling for others’ (Chernock 2013, 430). The missionary William civilized queen was a woman who displayed sympathy, morality, and self aligned with Christian ethics’ while ‘savage queens, by contrast, refle Instead

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century century ‘that able able to carry

th The The Women of are

ving career does not reduce d to be vital to producing men with men producing to vital be to d minded minded women who - er husband, Stickney Ellis likewise made made likewise Ellis Stickney husband, er remarkable remarkable for any particular intellectual ere of woman’s happiest and most beneficial beneficial most and happiest woman’s of ere she wrote the following: the wrote she

,

51). - which which it is sometimes difficult to dissever worldly wisdom atience atience and perseverance, the public offices of benevolence, The Women of England The Women ernock ernock 2013, 432). Correspondingly, having written several books

rett Fawcett sought to establish that the Queen’s situation had an impact on on impact an situation had to that the Queen’s establish sought Fawcett rett a a more controversial outlook, almost identical to that expressed by Millicent

of female character is a combination of private and public virtue (Ellis 1839, (Ellis and 40). combination virtue public is a private character of of female [Stickney [Stickney Ellis has] admiration of those noble forward, with exemplary p perfection the that world, the to prove thus who and duties, home their sacrificing without in those intricate affairs in (Ellis duty religious 1839, 50 form There There are many humble minded women, not actions, individual of wrong and right the of sense a clear so possess yet who endowments, as to be of essential service in aiding the judgement of their husbands, brothers, or sons, , when she writes that ‘it was imperative that reigning queens demonstrate a “high standard One of the women whom Victoria may have influenced is the author Sarah Stickney Ellis, wife Ellis, Stickney Sarah author the is influenced have may Victoria whom women the of One

Garrett Garrett Fawcett, by claiming that some women were successful in managing to combine the public Here Here she expressed

influence influence is a domestic one’ (Ellis 1839, 40). However in the same paragraph, she continued with this: Although Although she validated and brought value to the domestic role of women when sph ‘the that speaking writing of by it limited their still she capacity, moral sentiments to a great extent. In extent. great sentiments to a In moral moral courage and strength’ (Morgan 2004, 186). Stickney Ellis’s opinions were matching these relationships relationships acted as conduits through which women exerted an active influence on the public life hel was home the in influence moral strong ‘a while nation’ the of with her general view. According to Morgan, it was common sentiments in the 19 although women’s primary role was within the family as wives, mothers and daughters, these of moral excellence” ’ (Ch revolving around women’s place and behaviour in society, this comment is very much in alignment a a comment on the juxtaposition between the queens Ranavalona and Victoria in England of the aforementioned William Ellis. Probably inspired by h by inspired Probably Ellis. William aforementioned the of 2005, 120). Thereby, Gar Thereby, 2005, 120). of women. status the social Victoria's Victoria's natural feminine characteristics that made her such an effective British sovereign’ (Ulrich neglected childhood’ (Ulrich 2005, 118). Hence, she argued that ha femininity; indeed by comparing Victoria to her male predecessors, she claimed that ‘it is precisely 25

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26 does

-

ett ett Fawcett ‘the en en Victoria who women. They women. They did a - divided a personality a divided able able women to ask le expressing an early form early an expressing le she wrote following: she the

ave ave been fostered by the naturalness of female d with real value to this given role, and place her as a The of EnglandThe Women better education for women, namely because she believed that she namely because women, better for education them for faithfully performing the duties which devolve upon them

was was a tomboy who loved swimming, running, boating, and horseback 91). Thereby Sarah Stickney Ellis represented just as as just represented Ellis Stickney Sarah Thereby 91). - I do to make my parents, hope my my parents, sisters, brothers, happy? … or I do to make more my I

be either esteemed or admired be esteemed 1839,(Ellis 62). or admired either determination as modeled by their mother’ (Ulrich 2005, 80). Although one cannot - “What can“What t of philanthropic work to improve their conditions; for instance Victoria’s oldest order to order I I cannot rest without attempting to prove that the present education of the women England does of not fit lives after their of whole the throughout and school, leaving their after immediately not convert them from helpless children, into such characters as all women must be, in ’ (Ellis 1839, 90 1839, (Ellis ’ Lastly, Lastly, a pronounced testimony to Queen Victoria’s impact on women’s social status can be Society, Society, which … sought to professionalize women's work’ (Ulrich 2005, 106). Moreover, Queen 2005, 89). Princess Helena riding (Ulrich 2005, 93), while Princess Louise participated in the organization ‘Ladies’ Work of ‘conflicts bodies’ the who capacity when jurisdictionregarding of women's of ‘conflicts over has reproductive she was not allowed to travel to England to attend her father’s funeral during her pregnancy (Ulrich daughter daughter the Princess Royal was, among other things, personally investigating slums and founding whi 2005, 87), (Ulrich schools’ children's and school, cooking a libraries, huge huge amoun power power and self the Princesses call feminists, actions their nevertheless that indicate they pro are movement” movement” ’ (Ulrich 2005, 80), and Ulrich remarks that ‘their interest in empowering their fellow women legally, educationally, and financially must h found found when considering the lives of her daughters. According to Millicent Princesses Garr had shown “the greatest sympathy with what is known in England as the women's strong woman of woman opinions. own strong same same time stressing the importance of the domestic sphere. Although some of her women opinions retained, they nevertheless contribute kept of others.” of on the while should women beings into that whole human Victoria: develop she advocated Queen as to pursue the plan to which I have been accustomed, of seeking my own happiness only in happinessin only happinessown my seeking of accustomed, havebeen to which I plan the pursue to but as she subsequently wrote, the improved ‘ themselves: education should merely en making thisBy that call, argued she women have a need of perceived being as whole human beings,

Ellis was a devoted spokeswoman for for spokeswoman devoted a Ellis was moral responsibility. a In had great women combined combined the two. Taking these opinions into account, it is that likely Stickney Ellis felt inspired or at least assured in her opinions because of the Queen’s actions and opinions. Furthermore, Stickney and the private sphere. Moreover, it can be considered as a direct referral to Que

ISSUE 3 | LEVIATHAN | FALL 2018 ence, othy Thompson he power and privilege they had family. On the other hand, she had a a had she On hand, the other family.

cent Garrett Fawcett and Lily Bell, to conservative authors authors Bell, to conservative and Lily Fawcett Garrett cent Conclusion Victoria Victoria became the one to educate and set the example for

–

e e role of a sovereign and the role of a devoted wife and mother was combined in toria toria trusted her daughters ‘to help her in her correspondence and even to interface with her

status is the society. status is the society. these these women sought to better the life and the social status of women in their own manner. H Queen Victoria left behind a legacy, which has been employed as an aid to better women’s social from controversial feminists Milli controversial such as from all different, very Although daughters. aristocratic own her to lastly and Ellis, Stickney Sarah as such points to the that fact her madegender her appear less political and thereby her influence on women it increased. is must she that have Indeed, apparent had impact an on many women different ranging the position as mother of the Empire the whole nation. Consequently, her impact must have been substantial, and Dor pleasure pleasure in her position in spite of her denying it. Ultimately, she came to terms with her conflicted situation, when th successful successful and dedicated reign of more than 60 years, which asserts that she must have found some conforming conforming to the norms of her society by displaying a highly traditional approach to marriage and of the the head as Albert Prince positioning by and domesticity, In In conclusion, Queen Victoria represented a divided set of values. On the one hand, she was been given, by following the example set by their their followingmother. by by set the example been given, daughters daughters should be viewed as strong women, who sought to use t Vic Victoria’s Queen Thereof, 111). 2005, (Ulrich effect’ empowering an had have ‘must which Cabinets’ 27

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28

The The . class class - . 7 and 14. The The - The Letters Letters The The Letters Letters The

31. of April 2018. of April -

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