Etiquette & Espionage - December BOTM Discussion

[Booknut, Head Moderator]

Discuss the book here!

The question to think about is:

'Mrs. Temminick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady.'

What is your definition of a 'proper lady'?

And do you think it differs throughout time...or is it less because of temporal/time-related reasons, and more to do with what each person as individuals perceives the definition to be?

Explain with reference to the book.

Feel free to extend the discussion beyond the questions and simply talk about the book as well :D

[Olivia]

I definitely think that the definition of a 'proper' lady' changes throughout time. In the book a proper lady had to know how to curtsy correctly and how to dance at a ball. Today, the definition has changed.
I also think that the idea of a proper lady may differ from one society to another. A proper lady in Russia may not be the same as a proper lady in England.
I don't think there can be one definition of what a 'proper lady' is.