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Woman, Read Your Books
"[Conduct books] represented a specific configuration of sexual features as those of the only appropriate woman for men at all levels of society to want as a wife." - Nancy Armstrong
The parlour image of a woman so reclined -
her legs outstretched beneath her black bustle,
a mockery of strenuous movement,
as if to say "she doesn't move, really,
but let's pretend she might" -
has haunted period pieces.
The great bin bag of history
is almost bursting with such books,
which represent figures of girls and young women.
Who act always with decor so refined
that no human remains, but just
a patchwork of service, a godly gift, to men.
The critical godhead, however, selects abidingly.
The novel always wins, as conduct burns in history.
The parlour image of a woman so reclined -
her legs outstretched beneath her black bustle,
a mockery of strenuous movement,
as if to say "she doesn't move, really,
but let's pretend she might" -
has haunted period pieces.
The great bin bag of history
is almost bursting with such books,
which represent figures of girls and young women.
Who act always with decor so refined
that no human remains, but just
a patchwork of service, a godly gift, to men.
The critical godhead, however, selects abidingly.
The novel always wins, as conduct burns in history.
Published 8th Jul 2022
Author's Note
"Conduct books remained popular through the 18th century, although they gradually declined with the advent of the novel." - from the Wikipedia entry for "conduct books"
Image sourced to the Wikipedia entry for "A Young Girl Reading" by Jean-Honoré Fragonard: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Young_Girl_Reading
Image sourced to the Wikipedia entry for "A Young Girl Reading" by Jean-Honoré Fragonard: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Young_Girl_Reading
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