Class and Society
Amy Dillwyn’s approach to life as a woman and member of the upper-class society of Swansea in the Victorian era arguably broke the stereotype of what was expected of her. But where did it all begin?
A key aspect of Amy’s life which we know of from her younger years is her diary entries, particularly one labelled as DC6/1/1, which she started at around the age of 17 years old in 1863 to the age of 19 years old in 1864. This first diary of Amy Dillwyn provides an interesting perception around class and society.
An early photograph taken by Mary Dillwyn, showing Hendrefoilan House, Swansea, circa 1855. Courtesy of Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales.
Class and Society in the 19th Century
During Amy’s time as a woman of the upper-class, she would have had a very different experience in life to many other people from her generation. She grew up Hendrefoilan House in Killay, which can be seen on the left. So what do we mean when we say upper and lower class?
For starters, the upper-class, would have been able to enjoy luxuries and take part in activities known as leisure. On the other hand, a large proportion of Swansea’s people would have consisted of both lower and middle-class individuals. The lower-class would have had a more difficult time within society, this can include not being able to find work due to their conditions. However, there was a proportion which were considered the ‘working lower-class’, these individuals mainly took up difficult jobs in factories and mines. This would have been a very difficult life which saw no luxuries or time for leisure. A key difference between the classes in Amy Dillwyn’s time was the lifestyle.
Women like Amy from the upper-class of society, were not expected to take part in paid work. Instead, they were granted the privilege in taking up roles such as being a nurse or governess. Of course, the overall expected role of women was to marry and have children. This then meant that their primary role was to take care of the children, raise them, and look after the home.
The day-to-day experiences and activities which Amy took part in could be seen as a major factor in distinguishing her class.
Leisure and Experiences
Throughout her first diary, she spends a large amount of time taking part in cultural activities such as learning French history, learning the Italian language and reading many books. On average it appears she read a few a week, sometimes more! Check out our Reading Corner.
Amy really started to enjoy taking part in sporting activities with her peers including shooting, archery and croquet at times. During her time, sports could have been considered as a key distinction of class. There was a gradual improvement of what women were allowed to do between the 16th and 19th century, such as these sports which were believed to be more of a leisure activity for women.
So, it is possible to say that Amy was living the stereotypical life of an upper-class woman in regard to her leisure. But, this can also be seen in her involvement with high profile member's of society that she spoke of throughout her first diary. These people include: the Prince and Princess of Wales, many Dukes and Duchesses and many other prominent families from the surrounding area of Swansea, including the Talbots.
Diary entry of Amy Dillwyn, 18th July 1863. DC6/1/1. Courtesy of the Richard Burton Archives, Swansea University.
Amy as an Upper-Class Woman
Amy was presented to society at the Royal Drawing Room in 1863, where she would have met the Crown Princess of Prussia. In her first diary, it is possible that she recalls an event: “I am 18 today. Papa, and mama and I went to the drawing room” (DC6/1/1, 16th May 1863). Typically, this event was only available to the daughters or wives of high social status men. It required women to have no scandals in their life, and therefore act as role models in upper class society. This shows Amy’s role and what was expected of her as a young woman who was still in her parents' care.
Of course, another key part of being an upper-class woman was to be set up with a suitor and marry young, and have a family of her own. Amy became engaged to her fiancee, Llewellyn Thomas, who was one of the richest young men in Swansea at his time, in her first diary at the age of 18 years old. It's very interesting, as she doesn't seem to have a lot of enthusiasm around the event by simply stating “Llewellyn has given me an engagement ring” and then proceeding to talk of other things she did that day, including, that she “read some French history” (DC6/1/1, 13th November 1863). It is likely that due to it being a written diary entry, the emotion behind words can be lost at times. The engagement didn't last long, as Llewellyn died at the beginning of 1864 of smallpox. This was documented in her diary, but again, it was not spoken of in much detail. Amy was believed to have been relieved in some sense as it was a loveless pairing on her part. She went on in later life remaining unmarried and therefore breaking the stereotype of women in her society. The first diary could be considered as a key insight into this bereavement that could have allowed her to escape the matrimonial life expected of her.
Amy appeared to show some disregard for the idea of marriage in her first diary before her engagement to Llewellyn Thomas. Amy read a book and noted that “people get married & live happily ever afterwards in novels & I always have a sneaking kindness for the villain” (DC6/1/1, 18th July 1863). She seems to recall the admiration for an unconventional ending, where the classic ‘happily ever after’ isn't met.
Amy's Perception of Class and Society
The young Amy Dillwyn appeared to be both aware and unaware of her privilege at times in her first diary. She recalled, after reading one of her many books, supposedly called ‘Good for Nothing’, Amy reviews it by having a thought of “I think society in general is not so bad as might be considering our imperfect condition” and “The only two standards to be had are rank & money & the reasons for adopting these two are too boring to want repeating” (DC6/1/1, 12th May 1863).
Diary entry of Amy Dillwyn, 12th May 1863. DC6/1/1. Courtesy of the Richard Burton Archives, Swansea University.
It could be suggested that Amy talks about society from the perspective of an upper-class individual with a slight unawareness of her privilege. Amy comments on the idea that an author “draws peoples social existence pretty much as it really is… divided almost entirely into two great classes- the lazy ones who wont work and the restless ones…” and “we must always be working” (DC6/1/1, 13th December 1863). By Amy describing those who “wont work” as lazy, it could show a lack of consideration or understanding for the reality of many of the lower-class, due to a sheltered upper-class life that she's had. There again, the typical attitude of this era is believed to have been to work hard and better oneself. So, it could be a combination of these factors that led to these thoughts. Of course, a major factor in this could be because of her age and therefore maturity level at the time.
In comparison to Amy’s later life and the novels she wrote, this is a huge difference to how she could be showing her perception of society and the lower-class.
Diary entry of Amy Dillwyn, 13th December 1863. DC6/1/1. Courtesy of the Richard Burton Archives, Swansea University.
Depiction of the Rebecca Riots, Illustrated London News, 1855. Courtesy of Wikipedia.
The Rebecca Rioter
The Rebecca Rioter is a novel by Amy Dillwyn, which recalls the riots in both south and west Wales in 1843. It is told from the perspective of the rioters, the main focus is on the tale of a rebellious young working-class man who struggles with the social inequalities of his world.
The riots in context, took place as a result of farmers protesting the payment of tolls to use the roads.
When comparing Amy’s writing of The Rebecca Rioter to her first diary DC6/1/1, in regard to class and society, there are some key features which differentiate them. Her writing as a young girl in the diary could show a typical upper-class perspective, whereas the novel she wrote in later years, takes on the role as a lower-class individual which empathises with those who are affected by the injustice of taxation by the wealthy individuals of society. It could be that Amy Dillwyn was influenced by her part of society, the people, family and wealth that she was born in when writing her first diary.
The novels that she went on to produce could show a noticeable difference in her attitudes towards societal expectations of both class and society as she progressed further in life, when she had more control over her life.
References
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Swansea, Richard Burton Archives DC6/1/1, 1863-1864
by Rebecca Johnson