Women and Fashion

It’s hard not to consider the role fashion had in European society when reading Lady Montagu’s letters. She certainly takes great pains to describe the clothing, accessories, and hairstyles of her contemporaries in these foreign settings. So much so that I think some of the men in our class would probably rather poke their eyes out than read one more sentence about how someone’s dress was put together or how artfully these women arranged their hair.

While I’ll admit I find the descriptions tedious at times, I can completely buy into the fact that she may have truly spent the time and energy in describing them in the actual letters she sent to her sisters and the other women back in England. Fashion was very important to the aristocracy. It was a mark of prestige to be a trend-setter.

In the European world women of rank had little else to occupy them – they certainly didn’t have full-time jobs or rigorous studies to keep them busy. If they were educated it was in “various skills that contribute to the moral development and the "display" quality of a wife: music, drawing, singing, painting, and so on. So while men were learning the new sciences and philosophies, all that was offered to women in education was decorative ‘accomplishments.’” (Cited)

It’s also not likely these upper class women spent their time taking care of their homes. Most of the nobility would have servants to take care of the everyday mundane tasks like cleaning and laundering.

Although the age of Enlightenment would eventually lead these women into new arenas of education and break down some of the gender barriers so prevalent in the day, this didn’t happen until near the end of the 18th century. For more info on women’s rights and how the Enlightenment started them down the path to equality, visit this website and scroll down to ORIGINS. It’s not a rosy picture, but at least the concept was tossed around.

During Lady Montagu’s letter writing days it would have been perfectly reasonable to expect her sisters and the other ladies would want to hear about the continental fashions. It would have been gender appropriate content, which likely helps explain why her letters to Pope contain very little mention of such frivolities.

Oh, and on a completely unrelated note, while trying to research the Age of Enlightenment and the role of women during this period, I found a very interesting article regarding the attitude toward sex during this period in time. While it doesn’t mention that the women were reading these publications, it does perhaps offer some insight into Lady Montagu’s fascination with the “exotic” sexual practices in each country.

True letters or the art of epistle writing?

While I enjoyed reading the first series of letters assigned for this week, I must admit I wasn't as fully engaged with the writer as I had expected to be. Of course, upon reflection, this might have been due to my state of mind and not necessarily the fault of Lady Wortley Montagu. It was well after my bedtime when I started reading her letters.

However, I'm feeling a bit more partial to her as the reading continues. I think this is in part due to the background info discussed in class on Monday evening. Knowing that she, as one of England's privileged elite, was scarred by the smallpox gives insight into her character and her writings. She becomes a sympathetic character in my mind's eye. As a woman, I can't imagine the daily insecurities she must have lived with every day. How horrible! Yet, she does not seem to use these imperfections and the social stigma they must carry as an excuse to be mean, petty, or generally disagreeable.

So, suddenly she is a person and not just a name on a byline.

And that brings me to her letters. I think it makes a huge difference in knowing that these were not the actual letters gathered from around England, but her imitation of correspondence she sent during her travels. I found this knowledge somewhat changed my perspective on her letters. Suddenly they weren't quite so...trustworthy. They seemed suddenly more a work of literary art than casual letters sent to friends and family. Given the information in the letters and the lack of any true gossip about England, I suspect Lady Montagu's recrafted letters would only resemble the missives she actually sent while abroad.

If this is true, is it a bad thing? I don't think so. Epistle writing is very engaging. It feels very personable and warm. Intimate.

However, I will be paying more attention to the kind of information she does and doesn't put into her writings. I'm not sure what I hope to discover by doing this, but I know I won't be able to help myself.

Said's Theory on Orientalism & the Writings of Thomas Dallam

First, I had to refresh myself on what exactly was Said's theory on Orientalism. If I understand it correctly, Said's theory is that Western writers have misrepresented the Middle East and created a romanticized idea of "the Orient", which completely dismisses the variety of lifestyles, customs and beliefs found throughout this vast territory.

At first I must admit I'm wasn't sure how a theory about scholarly work could be applied to travel writing, especially if you consider the writings to be autobiographical in nature and not scholarly. However, after a little reflection, I could see his point to a certain extent. If I think of writer's like Biddulph, I can see how his prejudices would support Said's theory.

However, there are other instances where I would completely disagree. Consider Thomas Dallam. His writing did not portray a backward, wicked society. He did not set out to belittle the Sultan or the other Muslims. His diary excerpts were very accepting of the culture he found hismelf in. His portrayal of the Muslims he came into contact with are very flattering, actually. He made sure to mention that he was treated with courtsey and kindness at every turn.

Of course, Dallam wasn't in the Sultan's court pursuing religious ends or enduring the hardships of slavery. He was treated to a very privledged view of the Ottoman Empire. He was, in fact, an honored guest. Although he lacked any formal title or diplomatic immunity, he had been sent with a miraculous gift for the Sultan from Queen Elizabeth.

Not to mention he was also a much sought after commodity: a skilled trademan.

I would have to argue that Said's Orientalism may hold some kernal of truth in it, but it is not a hard and fast rule you can blindly apply to every Western writer discussing the Middle East. I think its a dangerous generalization that could be inappropriately applied.