Life as a Maid-of-all-Work | Comic Update #12
This page continues the exposition of the story as well as establishes the main location where most of the events of the story will be taking place: Top Hat McGee's house.
As the main character assumes her new role as housekeeper, Everett's home becomes the center of her life. Imelda's life revolves around her household duties. Domestic servants of the time worked long 14-17 hour days and according to some sources had one day a week off for themselves. In some sources, I found it was only one day a month. A sole house servant was called "Maid of all Work" and as the title suggests, the tasks expected of them were seemingly endless.
They were expected to be mild-tempered, diligent, and happy and were to complete all of their chores without having an overt presence in the household. In addition to long hours, countless duties, and little pay, workers had very little rights to protect them. But with very little alternatives in employment opportunity, domestic service was a very popular "option" for women of the time.
I've already shared this speed draw I did of the inking process in this post but in case you missed it and feel like watching an admittedly too-long video, you can check it out below:
[insert comic name here] is a gothic style story set in the 19th century about an immigrant houseworker who uses the spiritualist movement to rebel against the societal pressures of the time. If you would like to read the previous updates about this story, you can find them in the links below:
Update 1: Progress
Update 2: Perspective is The Worst
Update 3: Art Hacks
Update 4: Establishing Shots
Update 5: Changes
Update 6: Loving/Hating Your Work
Update 7: New Techniques
Update 8: Speed Draw
Update 9: Quick Update
Update 10: In Media Res
Update 11: Exposition Time
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STOPI love seeing it coloured. I'm also really into the history of the servant. One day off a week was not the norm. You were allowed half sundays where in you went to church with your employer if you lived in. Sometimes maids of all work lived out, but even in a poorer house, slept in the kitchen or a small room off the kitchen. Sometimes they had a cot set up by the stove at night (the warmest spot).
The title 'housekeeper' at the time was actually equivalent to a butler and that person was in charge of female staff and often had reached the status in a large household where she did more management than ever actual cleaning. She could have worked her way up from a maid of all work or a 'tweenie'. Housekeepers would have only been in larger upper middleclass or upperclass homes that had the money for a 'staff' whilst a bank manager or office worker in the lowest of middle class would have afforded a maid of all work. Sorry, I went overboard, I'm just a history nerd. ;)
No, I love your history tidbits! It's so cool to see another person so interested in the same things as me. And it's always helpful; I try to do as much research as I can but sometimes google isn't as thorough as I'd like it to be. I did see in some research that "housekeeper" was used in reference to the head female servant. But I only recently discovered the term Maid-of-all-Work which is definitely more fitting for my main character.
Thanks for reading! Keep those history facts coming :)