COVE

The Magdalen’s Commentary:

Oh, the rose, how it reminds me of a much simpler time. Its beauty reminds me of a time in my life when love was plentiful, and regret was scarce; a time long before the days of sleeping on pallet beds and dwelling on my insecurities. I had always enjoyed being adventurous and trying new things, as did you. Oh, how I miss the days we spent together. I often find myself reminiscing on the time I spent with you, and it brings back joyous memories filled with laughter and cheer. Unfortunately, that rush of happiness I feel quickly turns into a feeling of pain and regret; the rose serves as a constant reminder of the mistake I made. Such obscenities as prostitution should have never graced my mind. I should have known better than to damage my reputation by entering into that field of work, but I convinced myself that there was no other way to succeed as a woman. I rendered myself useless, and in hindsight I recognize just how disappointed you were in me. If I could make my decision over again, I’d see the value in myself every single time. This rose helps me to do so; I see my value in this rose. It reminds me of the mistakes I have made, but it also symbolizes my recovery from the damaging decisions I have made.

Editorial Commentary:

In modern texts, the rose has become most commonly associated with “love and romance” (Fresh). Victorian texts used the rose very similarly; however, the Magdalen seems to see the rose differently, and the stark contrast in perceptions makes the journal very intriguing. She states that it reminds her of the days before sleeping on pallet beds, when “love was plentiful, and regret was scarce.” In essence, she sees the rose as a symbol of purity and freedom, which she believes she lost as a result of her decision to become a prostitute. Unfortunately for her, these are not the only things she lost, as she also sees the rose as a symbol of the relationship that was broken by her entering into prostitution. She mentions another person in her journal, but she only refers to them as “you.” Based on the context, it can be assumed that “you” is a male figure of romantic significance to the Magdalen, and that the Magdalen does see the rose as a symbol of love; however, the rose does not symbolize a strong, healthy relationship in her eyes, but rather a wilting, dying relationship. In blaming herself for the broken relationship, she admits her wrongdoing, and states that the rose reminds her of the mistake she made by underestimating her value. This story was unfortunately commonplace amongst women during the Victorian Era, as many women fell into prostitution as a direct result of underappreciating their value as contributing members of society. Albeit unfortunate, the Magdalen sees the rose as a symbol of a broken relationship rather than a thriving one, contrary to modern portrayal of the rose, but she seems optimistic about the way her past will affect her future.

Citations:

Fresh, F. (2020, December 02). Rose flower meaning and symbolism. Retrieved April 07, 2021, from https://www.ftd.com/blog/share/rose-meaning-and-symbolism#:~:text=Roses%20are%20most%20commonly%20associated,rose%2C%20comes%20from%20ancient%20times.&text=On%20the%20Fool%2C%20the%20white,reminder%20to%20cleanse%20the%20mind.