I watched one of my favorite movies last night, “Age of Innocence”.
It’s based on the book by Edith Wharton. Another favorite movie by the same author is “Ethan Frome”. If you ever get a chance, you should really see these movies. But I digress.
As I was watching the movie, I couldn’t but think how I would never have wanted to live in the late eighteenth century. At least not as one of the “upper class”.
I mean planning your whole day around what you’re going to wear to dinner that night. Sitting down to a seven-course dinner that takes hours to finish.
Never being able to say what you mean. Playing the demure woman even though you’re anything but.
Not being able to dig in the dirt or building anything.
And the worst part was that once you’re past thirty, your life is over so you had better hope you’re married by then.
But my favorite movies are always these “period” movies. I love any movie set in the 1800’s and especially if they take place in Europe. So I find it odd that I wouldn’t want to live back then. But maybe that’s it.
It’s precisely the fact that I couldn’t live back then that I like these movies. It’s a life I find enchanting because I can’t imagine being a woman without the freedoms women now possess. It makes me appreciate how hard women have fought for me to live the life I live now.
One plate, three pieces of silverware, one glass and as far as dressing for dinner, jeans are just fine.
God bless and have a good day.
