A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE CHILDHOOD OF THE MERENCOURT WOMEN TO THAT OF THE CHILDREN OF TODAY

Whilst writing the story of “Marguerite,” it crossed my mind to wonder just how fortunate are the children of the 21st century, relative to those of a bygone age? These days, a child’s place within the family is celebrated by parents who strive to structure their time and resources around an offspring’s needs and desires.   During the 19th century, a girl such as Marguerite spent a sheltered childhood almost entirely isolated from the outside world, and was expected to conform to a restricted lifestyle. Unlike this far-from-usual girl, who appalled her family by dressing like a boy to race about her father’s estate on a horse. Nevertheless, she – as other girls of aristocratic status – was viewed as little more than a chattel to be disposed of at will or for the...