The Victorian Governess Novel Wadsö-Lecaros, Cecilia 2001 Document Version: Publisher's PDF, also known as Version of record Link to publication Citation for published version (APA): Wadsö-Lecaros, C. (2001). The Victorian Governess Novel. (Lund Studies in English; Vol. 100). Lund University Press. 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LUND UNIVERSITY PO Box 117 221 00 Lund +46 46-222 00 00 The Victorian Governess Novel Cecilia Wadsö Lecaros LUND STUDIES IN ENGLISH 100 Editors: Marianne Thormählen and Beatrice Warren Lund University Press LUND STUDIES IN ENGLISH 100 Editors: Marianne Thormählen and Beatrice Warren LUND STUDIES IN ENGLISH 100 Editors: Marianne Thormählen and Beatrice Warren The Victorian Govemess N ovel Cecilia W adsö Lecaros Lund University Press LUND UNIVERSITY Lund University Press Box 141 S-221 00 Lund Sweden Art nr 20583 ISBN 91-7966-577-2 ISSN 0076-1451 © 2001 Cecilia Wadsö Lecaros Graphic design: Cecilia Wadsö Lecaros & Marcus Lecaros Printed by Kfs AB, Lund 1. Victorian govemess - Govemesses in fiction - Govemess novel 2. Female education - Education in literature - 19th century 3. Didactic fiction - Conduct literature - 19th century 4. English fiction - 19th century - History and criticism - Women authors 5. English fiction - 19th century - Genre 6. Women and work- 19th century 7. Marginalisation of women - 19th century [N]ow, that my work is done, and I can calmly look back upon the early years ofthat probation, and recall the heart-sinking with which I contemplated my future life - the fears I entertained that I should not succeed in my new calling, that I should not give satisfaction to my employers, that my health would fail, and I should be reduced to poverty - I feel the deepest sympathy for those who are setting out on a similar path, and an eamest hope that my experience may be useful to them. E.W. Ellen Manners; ar, the Recollections oja Governess (1875) In memory oj my grandfather Ludvig Pruth (1899-1998) tvh6.first inlrodiicediiie to English nineteenih-century fiction Contents Acknowledgements 1x Textual note x List of illustrations xi Chapter 1 lntroduction: The Victorian governess novel 13 The govemess in Victorian England 14 Material 21 Previous research 25 The geme of govemess novels 29 An illustrated version ofthe govemess 44 Outline ofthe present study 45 Chapter 2 Going a-governessing 4 7 Reversed fortunes 49 The educational background of the govemess 62 Procuring a situation 76 Leaving home and arriving at the employer's 81 The social identity of employers 94 Chapter 3 Terms of employment 98 Assignments 100 A room ofher own? 109 The paltry remuneration of govemesses 120 Chapter 4 Order, method, and punctuality 135 A sound education or the accomplishments? 137 Pedagogy in the Victorian schoolroom 150 From the nursery into the schoolroom I 56 The secret springs on which education should move 166 Parental devotion: anxiety or interference? 175 The matter of discipline 182 Chapter 5 In a mother's place 193 Maternity 193 Woman's mission 195 Versions of motherhood 200 Female rivalry 208 No mistress in the house 216 Religion: Educate not only rational but accountable beings 221 The responsibility of religious instruction 227 Illness and death 231 Chapter 6 Only the governess 238 The race of govemesses 240 Socialising with the employer 249 W orking abroad 261 Marry the govemess? 267 Suggestions for improvement 272 Conclusion 276 Epilogue 279 Works cited 281 Index 299 Acknowledgments I have received support from many quarters <luring my work on govemess novels. Hjalmar Gullberg och Greta Thotts stipendiefond gave me a generous grant <luring my last year of research. I have also been granted travelling allowances from Syskonen Anna Cecilia och Otto Sigfrid Granmarks stipendie/ond, Stiftelsen Fil dr Uno Otterstedts fond, Knut och Alice Wallenbergs stiftelse, and Kungliga Humanistiska Vetenskapssamfimdet. I am thankful for this financial supp01i. Pmi of the research for this study was canied out at the British Library, the Special Collections at the London University Library, and at the Cambridge University Library. I am grateful for the help I have received on my visits to these institutions, as well as for the assistance provided by the Lund University Library. I am especially grateful for the supp01i that I have received from my supervisors who believed in my project and guided me towards its completion. Professor Emeritus Sven Bäckman encouraged my interest in Victorian studies and supported my choice of topic. He also gave his helpful comments on the final draft. Dr Birgitta Berglund has followed my project closely from its first stumbling ideas and early drafts. Her perceptive comments and good advice have bee11 a constant encouragement. Professor Marianne Thormählen has generously and patiently discussed my ideas with me and commented on numerous drafts and versions. By her insight and knowledge the thesis has gained precision and focus. My friends and colleagues in the literary graduate seminar at the English Department at Lund University have read and discussed various drafts. I would especially like to thank Lena Ahlin, Sara Bjärstorp, Berndt Clavier, Annelie Hulten, Dr Agneta Lindgren, Gunilla Lindgren, Petra Ragnerstam, and Dr Björn Sundmark for making the process of thesis writing such a stimulating task. I would also like to thank Dr Gunilla Florby for reading and commenting on parts ofthe manuscript, and Patricia Wetterberg for revising my English. In the context of the public examination of my thesis ( 1999), the Faculty Examiner Professor Thomas Vargish made a number ofvery helpful suggestions that have set signposts for me in my continued research on nineteenth-century literature. The VICTORIA discussion list (The Electronic Conference for Victorian Studies) has provided helpful input over the years. I would also like to thank Maria Nilson for fruitful discussions, Dr Trev Broughton for interesting e-mail correspondence concerning Victorian govemesses, and Dr Chris Willis for last­ minute help at the British Library. My personal thanks go to my family and to my husband Marcus Lecaros for their unfailing supp01i and for always having taken such an active interest in my project. Thanks, Marcus, for showing me the true value of lateral thinking. Lund, September 2001 Textual note Throughout the study, parenthetical references will be used. Unless otherwise stated, dates refer to first publication, or first known date of publication. In parenthetical references, the following abbreviations will be used: ATYR All the Year Round CEJ Chambers 's Edinburgh Journal CLM The Christian Lady 's Maga;;ine DNB Dictionary ojNational Biography ECJ Eliza Cook's Journal EJE The English Journal oj Education EWJ The English Woman 's Journal FM Fraser 's Magazine for Tmvn and Country GOP The Girl 's Own Paper GRFE The Governess. A Repertory ojFemale Education HW Household Words NR National Review OAW Once a Week OED Oxford English Dictionary QR Quarterly Review W&L Work and Leisure List of illustrations Fig 1. (p. 45) Richard Redgrave, "The Governess" (1844), The Victoria and Albert Museum. Reproduced by kind permission of The V &A Picture Library, The Victoria and Albert Museum. Fig. 2. (p. 90) Frontispiece (Bea Howe, A Galaxy ofGovernesses, 1954) Fig. 3. (p. 120) (Hall, The Governess: A Tale (1842) in Tales oja Woman's Trials edition, 1858) Fig. 4. (p. 140) "The modern governess" (Punch 1861, 40:52). Reproduced by kind permission of Punch Ltd. Fig. 5. (p. 141) "The girl of the period butterfly (Puella rapidula)" (detail) (Punch 1870, 58:107). Reproduced by kind permission of Punch Ltd. Fig. 6. (p. 158) "Evil communications, &c." (Punch 1873, 65:99). Reproduced by kind permission of Punch Ltd. Fig. 7. (p. 163) Frontispiece (Kirkham Mathews, Ellinor: The Young Governess, 1809) Fig. 8. (p. 164) Untitled. Reproduced by kind permission ofMary Evans Picture Library. Fig. 9. (p. 182) "No sinecure" (Punch 1878, 75:18). Reproduced by kind permission of Punch Ltd. Fig. 10. (p. 211) "Now go and say good-night to your governess" (Punch, 1900, 119:82). Reproduced by kind permission of Punch Ltd. Fig. 11. (p. 217) (Selous, The Young Governess: A Tale for Girls, 1871) Fig. 12. (p. 266) "Opportunism" (Punch 1896, 110:138). Reproduced by kind permission of Punch Ltd. Fig. 13. (p. 278) (Hall, The Governess: A Tale (1842) in Tales oja Woman's Trials edition, 1858) 1 Introduction: The Victorian governess novel Life as it is, has been my endeavour to portray. (Buckley, Emi(v, the Governess 1836) The main purpose of this study is to present and discuss the Victorian govemess novel as a specific genre. The govemess held a peculiar position in nineteenth­ century England, as she was a wage-eaming middle-class woman in a society in which middle-class femininity was defined by domesticity and non-participation in the public labour market. Furthermore, the govemess was paid to perform those tasks which were said to constitute a woman's mission.