In Florence Nightingale, Florence was the complete opposite to the prominent figure of the typical Victorian woman. She rejected one of the most prestigious expectations of women in the Victorian Era; marriage. Her thoughts of this are depicted in the animated video below.



In the novel, Florence Nightingale said, 'To be nailed to a continuation and exaggeration of my present life...to put it out of my power ever to be able to seize the chance of forming for myself a true and rich life' – "that would be a suicide". In my opinion, Florence viewed marriage as a cross that she would be nailed to. She felt that the Victorian expectations of a woman in marriage, this world that she had always tried to escape from, would inflict wounds to her being while burdening her in many ways. She even refers to it as “suicide” because to her, by committing in marriage, she would kill herself; her desires and her dreams. In fact, “She would think of nothing but how to satisfy that singular craving of hers to be doing something. As if there was not plenty to do in any case, in the ordinary way, at home". Her mother even highlighted this point in the video above when she asked her if she was too good to run a household. Hence, we see the significance of marriage and family presented in the Victorian Era and also the obligation and role of the woman in marriage and family. We also see that “her sister, cousin, all the young ladies of her acquaintance, were either getting ready to do this or had already done it. It was inconceivable that Florence should dream of anything else; yet dream she did.” This emphasizes her independence which may be mistaken for rebelliousness.



In my opinion, Florence fulfilled her own expectations of “her duty in that state of life unto which God had called her”; marriage. Instead of committing herself to a man, she committed herself to providing for the sick and needy. She also carried out her obligations as a Victorian woman in the home as the nursing institutions and hospitals can be seen as her “household” and the patients her “family” whom she took great care of.



Today, the statue of Florence Nightingale seen above can be found in Waterloo Place, London to commemorate her leadership and devotion to the lives of many.