The Influence Of Victorian Society On Relationships And...

The Influence of Victorian Society on Relationships and Marriage Marriage was of utmost importance during the 1830’s to the 1900’s. The â€Å"ideal† relationship had been searched for by both men and women using the standards that the commonwealth had created. When reading Oscar Wilde’s â€Å"The Importance of Being Earnest† and associating it to society’s expectations for both genders throughout the Victorian era, people are depicted as being very effected and influenced by the set rules and boundaries. Using the theme of relationships within his play, Wilde examines the connection between the Victorian era and its impact on the decisions that men and women would make when choosing the right person to be wed to. Women during the Victorian era were married by their early to mid twenties for the sole purpose of having children. Their jobs consisted of taking care of their families, practicing how to be the perfect housewife, and performing eve ryday chores such as washing, cleaning, cooking and weaving. If she had married into a wealthy family,her responsibilities would change and the family would hire maids and nannies to take care of those time consuming tasks. At this point in society, women were not allowed to go to school and learn different trades because that privilege was only granted to the men. A professional author by the name of Mrs. Sarah Stickney Ellis had once stated, â€Å"A woman’s highest duty is so often to suffer and be still†. Men and women at this time did not haveShow MoreRelatedThe Influence Of Society On Victorian Relationships1411 Words   |  6 PagesTalia Bardash English Thesis Paper The Influence of Society on Victorian Relationships Afraid of rejection in the Victorian Era, men and women sought after relationships that agreed with the expectations set by society. 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She has unique qualities and all these qualities make her a very strong