Housework for me
Posted by Neassa on February 13, 1998 at 01:21:57:
In response to What would you do?, written by Helen on February 04, 1998 at 07:10:08
] I was waffling on about the industrial revolution in answer to Ayelet below, and the thought struck me: what would you rather do if you were working class in JA's England - work as a servant in a Big House (or in a little one), or be independent and work in a factory? Or work from home, or be on a farm?
] Working as a servant would be quite nice if you had Miss Matty from Cranford as a mistress... but what if you ended up with Lady Catherine de Bourgh? Or, even worse, Fanny Dashwood?
] Helen
If I were married, I think being married to a tradesman or shopkeeper would be most agreeable. You'd have the opportunity to work with him in his shop, while running your own home. And if he was ambitious... this was a time of considerable upward mobility for clever men.
If I were single, I'd want to be working in a gentleman's house, with my eye on becoming housekeeper. Or perhaps a cook.
I'd never survive the monotony of factory work - and I'm not that fond of the outdoors, especially if it involves being wet, or hot. Running a household, either your own or someone else's, provides seasonal variations and a degree of physical comfort other options lack.
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