Learned Helplessness
Dr. Madden loved his dear girls with all his heart. They were so gentle, so tender, and so happy that his heart filled with warmth every time he looked at them. Just like every loving father, Dr. Madden wished them all the best. However, his idea of “the best” did not include any practical skills or a good education, so that the girls could earn money and live comfortably if they wouldn’t marry. The girls were absolutely unprepared for the harsh reality. Learned helplessness was the bane of their existence and led to terrible consequences.
Changes and time
They said it was a man’s world, but Miss Barfoot knew that it wouldn’t last forever. Having inherited a good fortune that allowed her to live comfortably for the rest of her life, she decided to help less fortunate women. She was often viewed as a revolutionary, even though she didn’t want to turn every woman into an emancipated female. So many girls preferred more convenient style of life to freedom and emancipation. However, it didn’t discourage Miss Barfoot, for Rome wasn’t built in a day. She knew that changes would take time.
Hopes and disappointments
Alice and Virginia often entertained each other, dreaming about the happy future that waited for them. They would find work, earn salaries big enough for them to eat properly, dress beautifully, sleep healthily, and not to count every penny. Monica would marry a caring man and settle down. Everything seemed to be bright and troubles. It helped them to forget about the terrible position they were in and the sisters they had already lost. But it also made them suffer, for the happier their dreams were the harsher they contrasted with reality.
