Gerty in the beginning is a wicked little girl who doesn't know how to behave because she was never taught. When she gets angry she is often "not sobbing, as many children do, but uttering a succession of piercing shrieks, until she sometimes quite exhausted her strength" (91). Unlike the rude behavior portrayed by Gerty, Anna, the little girl in the video, turns to meditation to help ease her anger and emotions. She has learned of a way to control and be a lady in today's society by not throwing tempers and fussing.
I feel that if Gerty appeared on Amy Pohler's show today she would of shocked people. She would of been a sweet girl for people who care about her but if Amy brought up the topic of Nan people would see the "wicked" side of her. She would of told the story of how she "quick as lighting, stooped, and picking up a stone from the sidewalk, flung it at the window" (134) and broke Nan's window then ran away. I'm sure today some of us, well most of us would find that amusing knowing how she was once treated, but back in that time this was barbaric and definitely not lady like. The way that young ladies are portrayed today and how they once were are similar in the manners that young ladies should behave, especially when out in public and around guests.
I like how you pointed out the way Gerty expresses her emotions in comparison to the little girl in the video. While Gerty learns to be useful and do household chores she is not really taught how to appropriately express herself. We also saw this in The Wide Wide World with Ellen because she cried all the time. She was taught so much how to be a lady yet her emotions were out of control.
ReplyDeleteI agree that our views of girls have changed. What I noticed was that in the video the girl was the one who was teaching the adults. In the Lamplighter Gerty is mainly inquisitive of the adults and is taught how to clean by Mrs. Sullivan. I think the video shows how girls today are more independent than girls were allowed to be during the 19th century.
ReplyDeleteI don't necessarily think that a child crying and throwing a tantrum is barbaric or rude; however, at the same time, I don't think it is the right way for kids to handle stress in that manner. That's just kids being kids. I do agree with you in the fact that girls today aren't expected to do as much around the house. I think that it is good that our society has evolved and now allows kids to be kids.
ReplyDeleteGreat job in showing how Gerty portrayed her emotions through anger and shrieking. This point really help set up the fact that if she was on Amy Pohler's show and portrayed that behavior people would see her bad side. This sort of helps us see that the way people portray little girls has become really different. Great Post!
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