January 1, 1970

Women were expected to be the ‘Angel in the House’ as described in Coventry Patmore’s 1852-62 poem about his courtship and marriage to an idealized woman. Within marriage, women were expected to be domesticated, virtuous, servile and submissive.

‘Man must be pleased; but him to please

Is woman’s pleasure; down the gulf

Of his condoled necessities

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She casts her best, she flings herself.’

(Patmore, ‘The Angel in the House’)

See a copy of the manuscript of the poem from 1858 here.

Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre is a compelling story of a Victorian governess’ struggle between the social expectations placed upon her as a lower-class woman and her desire to marry for love rather than class or religion.

For more information on women’s roles in the nineteenth century, see here.

You can also test your knowledge on women’s rights during the reign of Queen Victoria here.