The Fretful Wife
THE interesting Victorian advice book, Home Whispers to Husbands and Wives (The American Female Guardian Society, New York; 1859) by “Melva” contains some wise words on the important subject of the “fretful wife.” Victorian writing is flowery and effusive compared to modern style, but it often expresses passion and common sense. How many fretful women have given homemaking a bad image — and indirectly encouraged the feminist revolt? We will never know. Surely many. The only appropriate response to this essay for fretful women is — to fret about being fretful.
FRET, fret—scold, scold, from morning to night, in haste or leisure, when it rained or the sun shone; Mrs. More always found something to find fault about, something to dislike.
She began it when she was a child; her mother fretted and she learned the art. She practised her lessons well as she grew up. She carried the habit with her into the home of her married life, and scarcely kept it out of sight during the honey-moon. After she became a mother, she found occasion to fret every day and almost every hour of her life, till she came to be the most accomplished fretter that we knew.
She was handsome—at least she might have been, but fair and regular features will look ugly, when the scowl of peevishness mars them. She was smart, and efficient in the management of her domestic afi’airs. Her house was a model of order, and the Ways of her household were well looked after, but I have seen more comfort, where there was less system. She was intelligent and when the demon, that enthralled her, slumbered for a little, and her fine features were irradiated with the smile and glow of social cheerfulness, she would seem to be a most engaging woman. She was self-sacrificing. Her ease and preferences she would yield to the good of others, but the most precious offerings she laid on the altar of love, she would baptize with the unholy waters of fretfulness and complaint, till the valueof the benefaction was wholly lost, or greatly marred to the recipient. (more…)






