Accomplished Women

“You all paint tables and embroider cushions. I never heard of a young lady but that people tell me she’s accomplished.” – Mr. Bingley, Pride and Prejudice, 2005

                 

• A thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing, and the modern languages.
• She must improve her mind by extensive reading.
• She has to have something in her air and manner of walking.
• (Don’t forget the tables and cushions!)

These really are a faithful list of the qualities well-bred young women were expected to possess during Jane Austen’s time. Girls were either educated at home by their parents or a governess or sent away to school (think Jane Eyre, yikes!) They were taught to read, a little history and geography, an instrument such as the piano or harp, drawing, needlework, dancing, elegant handwriting, and languages (predominantly French, maybe Italian).

Some families, like Jane’s, encouraged their children to write stories and spend time enjoying the outdoors. But while to us these accomplishments seem of very little value, during the Regency, indeed even up until WWI (Downton anyone?), very little else was required of a young lady of good family. Her only options in life were as follows:

A) Marry as well as you can
B) Become a governess or schoolteacher(paid about 10 pounds per year)
C) Become a companion or lady’s maid
D) Become a writer, very scandalous!

Men didn’t have it much better either. If you were born a gentleman you could go into law, medicine, or the military. Of course there were farmers, tradesmen, shopkeepers, etc. But those professions were considered beneath the gentry.

A married woman was responsible for running her house, raising her children, and taking part in society. A gentlemen was responsible for managing his estate, manly activities (hunting, fishing, etc.) and being a benevolent landlord.

How do you stack up against a Regency lady? Unfortunately you have to register with the site to see your results but you can see what the criteria are and figure it out yourself. Be sure to tell us below. 
Once again, if you could go back, would you?

Happy Reading!

Nerd confession: I’m 7/10 because once I read Pride and Prejudice around age 10 I wanted to be the kind of girl who did all those things. I would be full 10 out of 10 if I just had a horse, better posture, and if dancing today was more like dancing back then.