The debutante and the debaucher

A dichotomy of women is apparent in the Georgian period.

On one hand, there is the genteel woman, the perfect wife… on the other, there is the fallen woman, who is inclined to disobedience and sexuality.

While men of all classes and ages enjoyed the sexual deviant, the woman who would do a whole manner of things in the whore house, she would not make a suitable wife. Not if he was ‘in possession of good fortune’ as Jane Austen once wrote. This man must marry the perfect, pure woman.

“ The virtuous and obedient woman was praised, of course, but it appears that her unruly sister attracted more attention.” - Marlene Legates

As the eighteenth century progressed, the image of woman altered to celebrate chastity, purity and gentility in women. Marriage also became more highly prised, as did social standing. Daphne Bridgerton from the popular Netflix show Bridgerton exemplifies everything a Georgian woman should be:

Daphne Bridgerton, photo credit: Netflix

Daphne Bridgerton - image credit: Netflix

“ one of the chief beauties in a female character, is that modest reserve, that retiring delicacy, which avoids the public eye, and is disconcerted even at the gaze of admiration.’ - p.31.

This is an excerpt from a source published in 1808 entitled ‘A Father’s legacy to his daughters’ and was written by John Gregory to outline how his daughters should behave in order to marry a suitable match. View the entire document at: https://archive.org/details/fatherslegacytoh00greg

Daphne Bridgerton was set to be the ‘ diamond of the season in 1813. She was accomplished, beautiful and well-spoken. While the show and Daphne are fictional, everything she represented was not. The need and pressure for women of good birth to marry were endless, and the consequences for not doing so were dire. A scandal such as that from Lady Whistledown could ruin a young lady in an instant, and this threat of scandal, very real.

Although gossip papers such as that belonging to Lady Whistledown did not exist, gossip in written form certainly did. As Geri Walton explained, “Newspapers were plentiful during the Regency Era, with most of the stories published centring on politics, crime, fashion, infidelity, or royal doings.” Much like today, any story that may have stirred up readership would have been written, true or not. This would include stories on debutantes like Daphne and any gossip that may surround her.

Although a century earlier, there was a figure similar to Lady Whistledown. Mrs Crackenthrope wrote ‘The Female Tatler’ between 1709 and 1710 and was renowned as “a lady that knows everything”. The Tatler was a gem of satire ( satire was booming during this period) for women, written to educate and share gossip.

In 1769 a magazine entitles ‘Town and Country’ was published and contained a Tête-à-Tête column, which, according to Catherine Curzon, was one of the first gossip columns. She said that “Each month, it would choose a celebrity couple—though their names were redacted, they were shown in small portraits—and profile their love lives and associated scandals. Part of the social whirlwind of the coffeehouse was sharing these stories and working out exactly who the article was referring to!”

While this gossip and drama could ruin a high society lady, it could not ruin the harlots of the Georgian era (as they were dubbed already ruined), although they were not exempt from scandal. They were also not exempt from high society male interest. Men of good standing often took mistresses alongside their wives! Charlotte Wells, from the popular TV show Harlots, exemplifies how a harlot can become a courtesan and be desired by all.

Charlotte Wells - image credit Sven Arnstein /Hulu

It has been noted that the harlots portrayed in the show are pieced together from actual women that existed. Some say that Charlotte Wells is most closely linked to Kitty Fisher, however, I would argue that she is most like the very real Charlotte Hayes. Of Charlotte Hayes, it was written by one admirer that:

“ She is extremely genteel… all her feautres [are] elegant, her air is fine, her address is polite, and her taste in dress indisputably genteel; she is a woman of good sense, but talks less than most of sex, except when she is perfectly well acquainted with her company; then few women can be more agreeably entertaining.” p.49.

This is an excerpt from Hallie Rubenhold’s ‘ The Covent Garden Ladies’ available in all book shops and online, including on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1784165956/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_31DPK57K2H1N5J60S2J7

When you look at the description written by John Gregory and then at that describing Charlotte Hayes there is little distinction. I would argue that during this period, the distinction between debutantes and debauchers appearance/countenance only blurred.

Both opted for the same beauty standards, using little paint and aspiring to youth.

Both opted for rich gentlemen, one as a husband and one as a keeper or customer.

Both were objects of male desire.

However, they were NOT treated in the same way. Harlots were regarded as property, objects, things to use and throw away. While wives were carefully chosen and critical to producing heirs and maintaining households.

It is my intention to share with you through ‘Just Georgians: sex and scandal’ that no woman was exempt from scandal, and while both entirely different in social standing and desired for different reasons, faced many of the same issues. The Georgians adored scandal and gossip and I hope that you will too, be it 200 years later!

Until next time,

Chlo

The debutante and the debaucher

‘One of the most cruel enterprises’