Janeite
February 15, 2008
I’m wondering if I have become a Janeite. It was not long ago when my long time interest in Victorian costuming brought me in touch with an artist who makes period correct clothing and a conversation around a 1980’s BBC production of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice happened. This BBC mini-series got purchased and we watched the entire mini-series in a few days. I was entranced by the literary work in many ways. Not only did Jane’s P&P touch a part of my soul, it brought to light the place in English society women held back in the day that mirrors many of the current beliefs we have regarding marriage to this day.
In Jane’s time, women depended upon her male relatives or husband for her survival among many other social rules that were the norm. This meant that her very survival and her future quality of life depended much on whom she married. Women had few rights of inheritance during that time in history. This was also one of the primary factors of what made marriage in that time a business; it was nearly always about property rights and less about love. One of the on going themes in Jane’s stories were the choices a woman makes about love, money, property rights and marriage. Women were generally not educated beyond what we consider elementary school today and were expected to run a home, have and care for children, entertain the family home with her musical and artistic talents, obey and serve her husband. Much of women’s fashion from that time evolved around helping her to be desirable enough to attract a man of wealth, social status and reputation for her future life was at stake. Balls public and private were battlefields of the marriage game. These social and cultural rituals are what shaped our view of marriage to this very day. It also highlights the meaning of male privilege and female dependency on her male spouse.
In the current debate over same sex marriage, one must keep in mind and consider the realities of property and inheritance rights that are business of marriage, which has nothing to do with the love shared between any couple. Property rights are the same reasons some men who are sworn into some western religious service take on the oath of celibacy. The current political belief marriage being about family and limited to a "Man & Woman" completely discounts the historical context and business of marriage in the western and eastern world. The definition of man vs woman is far from black and white regardless of what some individuals might believe.
What has drawn me so much to Jane’s literary work is her insight into the human condition and her understanding of individuals as portrayed in her stories. What Jane wrote about during the early 1800’s is still basically true to this very day. It is another example of how little humanity has changed and how much we can learn about the human condition from historical art and literature. It as also got me wondering about Jane’s own life and what might have happened if she lived past her 40’s and if her sister Cassandra did not make a bond fire with the thousands of letters written by Jane.
Masterpiece Theater has been running a series of Jane Austen’s work, all 6 of her most well known works and we have been watching this series. The productions do take liberties with her literature as most screen interpretations do, regardless; Jane’s literary genus still comes shining thru. These productions take me on an emotional roller coaster ride along with being able to have a small window into what life could have been like during that time in merry old England.
My current interesting in all things Jane Austen was the furthest thing from my mind when I decided to take up my interest in period correct Victorian clothing again. I just goes to show each road we follow in life’s journey can lead to a very surprising place with a very rewarding experience along the way.
I’m wondering if I have become a Janeite. It was not long ago when my long time interest in Victorian costuming brought me in touch with an artist who makes period correct clothing and a conversation around a 1980’s BBC production of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice happened. This BBC mini-series got purchased and we watched the entire mini-series in a few days. I was entranced by the literary work in many ways. Not only did Jane’s P&P touch a part of my soul, it brought to light the place in English society women held back in the day that mirrors many of the current beliefs we have regarding marriage to this day.
In Jane’s time, women depended upon her male relatives or husband for her survival among many other social rules that were the norm. This meant that her very survival and her future quality of life depended much on whom she married. Women had few rights of inheritance during that time in history. This was also one of the primary factors of what made marriage in that time a business; it was nearly always about property rights and less about love. One of the on going themes in Jane’s stories were the choices a woman makes about love, money, property rights and marriage. Women were generally not educated beyond what we consider elementary school today and were expected to run a home, have and care for children, entertain the family home with her musical and artistic talents, obey and serve her husband. Much of women’s fashion from that time evolved around helping her to be desirable enough to attract a man of wealth, social status and reputation for her future life was at stake. Balls public and private were battlefields of the marriage game. These social and cultural rituals are what shaped our view of marriage to this very day. It also highlights the meaning of male privilege and female dependency on her male spouse.
In the current debate over same sex marriage, one must keep in mind and consider the realities of property and inheritance rights that are business of marriage, which has nothing to do with the love shared between any couple. Property rights are the same reasons some men who are sworn into some western religious service take on the oath of celibacy. The current political belief marriage being about family and limited to a "Man & Woman" completely discounts the historical context and business of marriage in the western and eastern world. The definition of man vs woman is far from black and white regardless of what some individuals might believe.
What has drawn me so much to Jane’s literary work is her insight into the human condition and her understanding of individuals as portrayed in her stories. What Jane wrote about during the early 1800’s is still basically true to this very day. It is another example of how little humanity has changed and how much we can learn about the human condition from historical art and literature. It as also got me wondering about Jane’s own life and what might have happened if she lived past her 40’s and if her sister Cassandra did not make a bond fire with the thousands of letters written by Jane.
Masterpiece Theater has been running a series of Jane Austen’s work, all 6 of her most well known works and we have been watching this series. The productions do take liberties with her literature as most screen interpretations do, regardless; Jane’s literary genus still comes shining thru. These productions take me on an emotional roller coaster ride along with being able to have a small window into what life could have been like during that time in merry old England.
My current interesting in all things Jane Austen was the furthest thing from my mind when I decided to take up my interest in period correct Victorian clothing again. I just goes to show each road we follow in life’s journey can lead to a very surprising place with a very rewarding experience along the way.
posted by Rupunzell | 8:59 AM
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