Domestic Affairs : Intimacy, Eroticism, and Violence Between Servants and Masters in Eighteenth-Century Britain

From Daniel Defoe's Family Instructor To William Godwin's Political Novel Caleb Williams, Literature Written For And About Servants Tells A Hitherto Untold Story About The Development Of Sexual And Gender Ideologies In The Early Modern Period. This Original Study Explores The Complicated Relationships Between Domestic Servants And Their Masters Through Close Readings Of Such Literary And Nonliterary Eighteenth-century Texts. The Early Modern Family Was Not Biologically Defined. It Included Domestic Servants Who Often Had Strong Emotional And Intimate Ties To Their Masters And Mistresses. Kristina Straub Argues That Many Modern Assumptions About Sexuality And Gender Identity Have Their Roots In These Affective Relationships Of The Eighteenth-century Family. By Analyzing A Range Of Popular And Literary Works - From Plays And Novels To Newspapers And Conduct Manuals - Straub Uncovers The Economic, Social, And Erotic Dynamics That Influenced The Development Of These Modern Identities And Ideologies. Highlighting Themes Important In Eighteenth-century Studies - Gender And Sexuality; Class, Labor, And Markets; Family Relationships; And Violence - Straub Explores How The Common Aspects Of Human Experience Often Intersected Within The Domestic Sphere Of Master And Servant. In Examining The Interpersonal Relationships Between The Different Classes, She Offers New Ways In Which To Understand Sexuality And Gender In The Eighteenth Century.--jacket. The Servant Problem And The Family -- In The Posture Of Children : Servants, Family Pedagogy, And Sexuality -- Interpreting The Woman Servant : Pamela And Elizabeth Canning, 1740 To 1760 -- Dangerous Intimacies : Roxana, Amy, And The Crimes Of Elizabeth Brownrigg, 1724 To 1767 -- Performing The Manservant, 1730 To 1760 -- Men Servants' Sexuality In The Novel, 1740 To 1794 -- Conclusion: Notes Of A Footman On The Servant Problem, 1790. Kristina Straub. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [191]-214) And Index.

From Daniel Defoe’s Family Instructor to William Godwin’s political novel Caleb Williams, literature written for and about servants tells a hitherto untold story about the development of sexual and gender ideologies in the early modern period. This original study explores the complicated relationships between domestic servants and their masters through close readings of such literary and nonliterary eighteenth-century texts.

The early modern family was not biologically defined. It included domestic servants who often had strong emotional and intimate ties to their masters and mistresses. Kristina Straub argues that many modern assumptions about sexuality and gender identity have their roots in these affective relationships of the eighteenth-century family. By analyzing a range of popular and literary works—from plays and novels to newspapers and conduct manuals—Straub uncovers the economic, social, and erotic dynamics that influenced the development of these modern identities and ideologies.

Highlighting themes important in eighteenth-century studies—gender and sexuality; class, labor, and markets; family relationships; and violence—Straub explores how the common aspects of human experience often intersected within the domestic sphere of master and servant. In examining the interpersonal relationships between the different classes, she offers new ways in which to understand sexuality and gender in the eighteenth century.

Contents......Page 6 Acknowledgments......Page 8 1 The ‘‘Servant Problem’’ and the Family......Page 14 2 ‘‘In the Posture of Children’’: Servants, Family Pedagogy, and Sexuality......Page 32 3 Interpreting the Woman Servant: Pamela and Elizabeth Canning, 1740 to 1760......Page 60 4 Dangerous Intimacies: Roxana, Amy, and the Crimes of Elizabeth Brownrigg, 1724 to 1767......Page 96 5 Performing the Manservant, 1730 to 1760......Page 123 6 Men Servants’ Sexuality in the Novel, 1740 to 1794......Page 154 Conclusion: Notes of a Footman on the ‘‘Servant Problem,’’ 1790......Page 191 Notes......Page 204 C......Page 228 D......Page 229 F......Page 230 H......Page 231 L......Page 232 N......Page 233 S......Page 234 V......Page 235 W......Page 236 This book explores the complicated relationships between domestic servants and their masters through close readings of such literary and non-literary eighteenth-century texts. Kristina Straub argues that many modern assumptions about sexuality and gender identity have their roots in these affective relationships of the eighteenth-century family. By analysing a range of popular and literary works - from plays and novels to newspapers and conduct manuals. Straub uncovers the economic, social, and erotic dynamics that influenced the development of these modern identities and ideologies. Highlighting themes important in eighteenth-century studies - gender and sexuality, class, labour, and markets, family relationships and violence Domestic affairs In the posture of children Reading the woman servant: Pamela and Elizabeth Canning, 1740-1755 Roxana, Amy, and the crimes of Elizabeth Brownrigg, 1724-1767 Performing the man servant, 1730-1760 Men servants in the novel, 1740-1794 Conclusion: notes of a footman on "the servant problem," 1790.