What I found most interesting about the first part of Walsingham was the contrast between Frances and Penelope. They are educated differently and the difference it makes in the two is startling. Frances is known for her beauty and ambition while Penelope is described as having "mind formed
in natures most perfect mold." It is not surprising that Frances happiness is short lived. Even though her ambitions are met and she is received at court very well, her vanity becomes her highest importance and when she is forced to leave court and all her admirerers, misery sets upon her. But Penelope is described in highest regard. On page 55 she is described as being "composed of the purest passions, the most exquisite sensibility; she harmonized the ills of life by the affections of the heart." So even in the beginning the difference of these two female characters show the examples of the two perspectives of the education of women at this time.
I find the difference between Penelope's and France's education to be a very interesting topic because it seems that one of their education focuses more on "accomplishments", while the other focuses more on "domestic training".
ReplyDeleteOn the topic of education within Walsingham, I thought it was very ironic that Sir Sidney's education is thought of as fantastic and amazing by Isabella and various party guests when it is a woman's education. Sidney is so impressive to those around him because he is a man with a woman's education. If Sidney was presented as a woman who knew how to play instruments and recite poetry she would simply be seen as many other women from her same class. Robinson must be commentating on the double standard women's accomplishments and education are held to versus men's.
ReplyDeleteEducation, in relation to France and Penelope, can be brought back to a nature versus nurture argument. The two girls grew up in the same household and received the same education, however they turned out extremely different. It could be argued that this is simple because they were two very different people to begin with or that their later environment, meaning after the loss of their father, changed their mindsets. Whatever the case, it is clear they embodied two different views on the results of education at that time.
ReplyDelete