The Lamplighter

Comparing how girls are expected to behave today and in the 19th century, I believe some things have changed but at the same time some principles are still in effect.

In the beginning of The Lamplighter, Gerty is portrayed as this rude, ugly child and only her eyes are of interest as shown when the author says, "Had anyone felt any interest in her (which nobody did), had she had a mother (which alas! she had not), those friendly and partial eyes would perhaps found something in her to praise." (80). In essence, Gerty is not a rude child but in fact she is a very passionate and loving child who only cares for others especially those she loves.This also shows that ugliness was associated with being a bad person, and beauty was associated with wealth and good manners. In today's world this is still seen in some aspects but not as emphasized as in the 19th century. Miss Emily and Willie notice what a great little person Gerty is and they understand why others see her as a bad child. When Gerty tells Willie about when she used to live with Nan Grant "he could not help smiling at her childish wrath, nor could he resist sympathizing with her in a degree, and almost wishing he could have a brush with Nan himself...But he had been well brought up by his gentle mother, was conscious that Gerty was exhibiting a very hot temper, and began to understand what made everybody think her so bad." (118). In today's world, little girls are still expected to be have well and not have tantrums. Gerty would probably still be criticized for having the anger tantrums she got when she spoke about Nan Grant. Although more people would sympathize with her, Gerty would still be seen as an angry and unruly child. Granted, today there is more leniency in raising children and people let their children have tanrums to a certain extent but there is still a certain way to be that children must follow.

On Amy Pohler's TV show, it is even stated that balance is important in the 8-year old's life and the little girl even says that one must not quit but instead try your best and try harder. In our society, this thought is pushed and pushed onto us as we grow up and we are afraid to quit or give up on anything because in our eyes that equals failure. Gerty is challenged with this belief when she meets Emily and later on expresses that she hates the girls at school and Nan Grant. Emily tells Gerty that it's bad to hate people and tells Gerty that if she wishes "to be good and be forgiven", she must "forgive others." (149). Gerty then asks "Will he [God] love me, and let me some time go to heaven?" and Emily says. " Yes if you try to be good, and Love everybody." This is when Gerty is challenged with trying or not and says, "I can't do it-so I s'pose I can't go." (149). Gerty is so set on trying to be good and trying to please Miss Emily that she wants to have faith in God and she wants to be able to go to heaven, but her anger confuses her and she does not know how she can get rid of the anger she feels towards the people that have done her harm.

One thing I noticed that is different today than it was in the 19th century is the idea of being oneself and not trying to be like anybody else. Anna, the girl on Amy Pohler's TV show emphasized how a person shouldn't try to be like anybody else but his or herself. This idea kind of contradicts how children have been raised all these years. Children are raised in a way that they always have a role model to look up to and they are trying to be like. Whether a child has a role model in his or her home or not, it does not matter because they will find that role model inside or outside the home because it is nature to emulate somebody. The only difference is that today, individualism is more emphasized that it was in the 19th century. Gerty has several role models in her home from True Flint, Mrs. Sullivan, Miss Emily, and even Willie.In the 19th century, little girls were expected to grow up and be just like their mothers, and to follow the norms that everybody else did. This is shown when True brings up Emily's idea of Gerty going to school. "Gerty herself was very much disgusted with the idea, but it met with Willie's warm approbation; and when Gerty learned that Miss Graham also wished it, she consented, though rather reluctantly, to begin next week, and try how she liked it." (145). Gerty would probably not have agreed to go to school if she hadn't seen that Willie agreed with it or that Miss Emily wanted her to do it. This supports how much children were expected to do what adults wanted from them, and there wasn't really any individualism back then.

If Gerty would have been on Amy Poheler's TV show, I don't think balance would have been emphasized as much as it was with the other girl. Gerty would have probably had a fit of rage because Nan Grant would have been brought up. Even in today's standards, Gerty would have been seen as a weird, rude child for having an anger tantrum because children are supposed to be taught to be polite and nice around other people. Gerty can be nice and loving around others because we see that in The Lamplighter, but the one thing most people see all the time are the negative aspects of a person and with Gerty it's her temper. Gerty has a lot of individualism and that is the only thing that I think would have been agreeable on Amy Pohler's TV show.