Domestic Violence in Victorian England :: Victorian Era

Domestic Violence in prissy England wife beating was a prominent occurrence in priggish times. It is soci aloney acceptable and may be seen as a characteristic of the tear down classes, but wife beating is prevalent in all classes. In William Montagus social investigation Round London Down easterly and Up West, he tells of women in the hospital Sometimes as some(prenominal) as twelve or fourteen women may be seen pose in the receiving-room, waiting for their bruised and bleeding faces and bodies to be attended to In nine cases out of ten the injuries have been inflicted by brutal and perhaps drunk husbands (Montagu). Many incidents of sign servant violence in Victorian times atomic number 18 influenced by alcohol. But wife beating is present in all classes, non just the lower classes as Montagu portrays. Caro quarter Norton, a Victorian author in mid nineteenth century England, commonly writes of her husbands continuous wife-beating. Her husband being a member of parliamen t is obviously not lower class. Yet she writes of his physical violence towards her and how the servants restrain him from inflicting serious monetary value (Norton 1). Sir Pitt also beats his wife also even though he is considered upper class.The article Spousal Abuse discusses that Victorian perception of religion, domestic principles, and laws allows men to justify wife-beating. Domestic violence during Victorian times is generally attributed to the idea that the man is the ruler in all worlds. The mans responsibility of being a protector is the main idea in contributing to domestic violence.In the area of religion the emphasis of unearthly based subordination suggested that, for a woman to be clear and take care God, she must follow the lead of her husband this gave men the impression that they had a God given right to control their wives, even if this mean through and through the use of physical correction (Nolte 1). Due to the fact that religion is claimed to be an impor tant Victorian ideal, men believe that for women to lead a virtuous life, she must follow the wishes of her husband. Even if these wishes allow her to be beat.Domestic principles of Victorian England also promoted the dominance of men. The husband was the supreme being in the house and it was a husbands duty to protect his wife this countenance also allowed for him to use violence, if necessary, in order to keep her in line (Nolte 3). Caroline Norton gave evidence of this when she disagreed with her husband upon the actions of another lady.