Garments
In Victorian society, attires play a significant role in reflecting social status, femininity, and also moral code. The friend is fascinated by Amelia’s newfound elegance and class evident through her fancy and expensive garments. Clothes symbolize the financial and social status of the wearer and hence determines the amount of respect to be shown. The friend treats Amelia with decorum to not offend her even though she is envious of her newfound wealth. As such also reflects the importance of clothes in exuding femininity since the friend yearns for the same garments.
Rural and Urban
Amelia's friend points out the difference in rural and urban lifestyle in terms of the dress code, colloquialism, and finances. The rural-urban division symbolizes the rift in human experiences that exists in Victorian society. The rural dwellers are viewed as unrefined and illiterate since they lack the same opportunities to prosper. Moreover, the rural women are considered pure by societal standards as opposed to the ‘ruined’ urban women. Unmarried women in the urban areas are held as corrupted for their sexual freedom like their male counterparts.
Language
The different enunciations by the two speakers highlight the various accents based on locality. The poem aims to demonstrate the sharp divide between the lifestyle currently led by each of the speakers. Amelia uses proper English with the correct usage of vocabulary and diction. On the other hand, the friend uses colloquial speech that barely follows the rules of English grammar. The emphasis on the language plays an important role in conveying the overall meaning of the poem.
Patriarchy
The conversation between the two women reveals the repression women face in a society that disregards their autonomy. Amelia has chosen to lead a progressive lifestyle but the patriarchal society represses her by labeling her. For a woman in Victorian society to have prosperity in singlehood, she has to betray her dignity as per the set standards. The double standard is observed in the lack of public scrutiny to the men engaging with the ‘ruined’ women.
Money
The poem highlights the social stratification in this society that is highly dependent on the wealth of the individual. Both Amelia and her friend originate from rural areas where poverty is rampant and upward mobility is almost impossible. However, Amelia relocates to the urban scene to take advantage of the opportunities. As such the power of money is observed in her change from the dressing to the dialect.
