One of the recurring themes throughout all of my Pride and Prejudice variations is the education and accomplishments expected of a Regency gentlewoman. It is a fascinating subject because, while young ladies were encouraged to become "accomplished," their world was surprisingly limited. Society approved of only a narrow range of pursuits, and many talents that we celebrate today were considered unsuitable for women.
Jane Austen captured this expectation perfectly in Pride and Prejudice during the memorable conversation at Netherfield about what constitutes an accomplished woman. Caroline Bingley lists an impressive array of requirements: music, singing, drawing, dancing, modern languages, and graceful manners. Mr. Darcy adds that a truly accomplished woman must also improve her mind through extensive reading. Elizabeth Bennet humorously replies that she is astonished any woman could possess so many talents.
Their conversation reflects the ideals of Regency society.
A young gentlewoman's accomplishments were intended to make her an agreeable companion and an attractive prospective wife. They were not meant to prepare her for a profession or financial independence. A lady was expected to excel in pursuits that were beautiful, refined, and domestic.
Some of the most desirable accomplishments included:
- Singing
- Playing the pianoforte or harp
- Dancing
- Drawing and watercolor painting
- Fine needlework and embroidery
- Speaking French or Italian
- Reading aloud well
- Letter writing
- Knowledge of household management
- Graceful conversation and manners
Among these accomplishments, singing occupied a particularly important place.
Music filled Regency drawing rooms. Families gathered around the pianoforte after dinner, and amateur musicales were common among the gentry. A young lady with a pleasant voice could entertain family and guests for an evening, making singing one of the most admired feminine accomplishments. The goal was not to become a professional musician. Indeed, earning money through music would have been considered beneath a gentlewoman's station. Rather, music demonstrated refinement, education, discipline, and taste.
This is one reason music appears so frequently in Jane Austen's novels. In Pride and Prejudice, Georgiana Darcy is an accomplished pianist whose shyness prevents her from displaying her considerable talent. Mary Bennet, by contrast, loves to perform but lacks the judgment to know when her audience has heard enough. Elizabeth herself sings well enough to entertain among friends, though she possesses neither Mary's ambition nor Georgiana's polished technique.
Music also plays an important role in Emma. Jane Fairfax is an exceptionally gifted pianist, and her accomplishments become one of the ways others judge her refinement and education.
Jane Austen herself loved music. She was an accomplished amateur pianist and sang regularly with her family. Several of her music books survive today, containing nearly six hundred pieces copied by hand or purchased as printed collections. Her repertoire included English country dance tunes, Scottish and Irish airs, opera selections, and popular ballads. Among the songs associated with her surviving collections are "Robin Adair," "The Yellow-Haired Laddie," "Within a Mile of Edinburgh Town," "The Bluebells of Scotland," and "The Lass of Richmond Hill." Reading these titles makes it easy to imagine an evening at Chawton Cottage with Jane seated at the pianoforte while family members gathered nearby to sing.
Yet for all the emphasis placed upon feminine accomplishments, women lived within strict boundaries.
Many activities considered suitable for men were discouraged or even forbidden to ladies. University education was unavailable. Women did not enter the learned professions. They rarely studied advanced mathematics, science, engineering, law, or medicine. Hunting, military service, politics, and most business pursuits belonged almost exclusively to men.
There were, of course, exceptions. A father who was unusually broad-minded or indulgent might encourage his daughters to ride astride, study astronomy, learn Latin, explore natural history, or pursue subjects generally reserved for sons. But such opportunities depended almost entirely upon the attitudes of the men who governed the household.
That reality is one reason I enjoy writing Elizabeth Bennet. She possesses an active, inquisitive mind that longs to understand the world around her. Throughout all of my Pride and Prejudice variations, I explore what might happen when intelligent women are encouraged to learn beyond the narrow accomplishments society expected of them while still remaining true to the Regency world.
Looking back, we can appreciate the beauty of these accomplishments. Music, art, dancing, and elegant conversation enriched countless homes. At the same time, we can recognize how few choices respectable women truly possessed. Their education was designed not to broaden their opportunities but to prepare them for marriage. Fortunately, heroines like Elizabeth Bennet remind us that intelligence, curiosity, kindness, and courage are accomplishments that never go out of fashion.
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— Lily Michaels
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