The Victorian era was rich with elegance, splendor, and romance. The Victorian period was a time of the lush, abundant, cluttered look that most of us associate with the term "Victorian." Families in the Victorian era were very important. They were usually large, in 1870 the average family had five or six children. Most upper class and middle class families lived in big comfortable houses. Each member of the family had it’s own place.

The wife's role was to dress well infront of others, and to behave in a prim and proper fashion. She would oversee her servants, plan meals, shop for clothes, and pay visits to other women. She did not do jobs like washing clothes or cooking and cleaning. She kept a pleasant, comfortable, clean home for her husband and family. Only poor women went out to work, middle- and upper class ladies stayed at home. As a wife, the woman's behavior reflected upon her husband, and her position meant that she should not let him down. Her husband held a great deal of control over her.

The father was often strict and was obeyed by all without question. The children were taught to respe

Then there were the servants, the servants lived with the house hold. All households except the very poorest had servants to do their day to day work. The cook and butler were the most important. The butler answered the front door and waited on the family. The cook was responsible for shopping for food and running the kitchen, he would often be helped by kitchen and scullery maids. Housemaids cleaned the rooms and footmen would do the heavy work. A clean, well-organized house was important. Sadly little of the servants were respected, or treated fairly.

There was also a dining room, rarely there was a library, since books were hard to get. Sometimes you could find a smoking room in the house. Out side there was a garden, the garden was always beautiful, it had many flowers.

The Victorians took much pride in their homes and their family. A cluttered, well ran house indicated social status and Victorian values. Having a large family was also important. The Victorian era was so elegant, full of fashion and beauty. It may have been harder to live in the Victorian era, but it was truly beautiful.

Sometimes there was also a music room, music was very important to Victorians. Every young woman was expected to play at least one instrument--typically, the piano, as the piano was the ultimate symbol of respectability during the Victorian Era.

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