The Letters Of Jane White

Published Date: 02 Nov 2017

Jane White’s letters reveal that she was a middle-upper class Irish-Protestant woman who immigrated to Canada in the 1800s. Her letters document some historical developments in Canada such as the building of the railroad and the incoming of many different immigrants into Canada, specifically from Europe and America thus giving hisotirnas some insight into this time period. Her letters were written to her friend, Eleanor, who resided in Ireland so it can be assumed that her letters are honest accounts of her experiences to Canada. She does not appear to be trying to convince Eleanor to come to Canada so her experiences are likely accurate depictions of how she perceived things, as there is no reason for her to lie to her friend about this. However, Jane White’s letters only represent one immigrant’s experiences. Thus it is difficult to interpret how other immigrants experienced Canada other than Jane. Despite this setback, they may still give some insight into the social perspectives of Irish-Protestant immigrants (for example, negative views of Catholics). Jane brings societal perceptions developed in Ireland into Canada. She was distrustful of Catholics and Americans and enjoyed playing the piano (2). These letters were an honest account of Jane’s life in Canada. From the letters, Jane faced the challenges of meeting new people and finding a lifestyle that she was comfortable with. A historian can see that Jane would have likely been happier at home in Ireland. She did not make many friends or go out much when she immigrated to Canada as a result of how she felt an Irish Protestant should interact with other people outside of her social class. This prejudice resulted in a rather unsuccessful immigration experience.

Settling in a new land can be difficult. Jane seemed interested in learning about Canada, getting married and teaching piano but she never does any of that. An immigrant must learn to deal with various people on different occasions, adapt to the cultural norms of the new land and settle into a way that you find comfortable. Jane emigrated out of Ireland during the Potato Famine. She travelled to Canada in the ship’s cabin with her piano (1), suggesting that she was of the upper middle class. When she arrives, she lives with her parents and occasionally goes out with them. She does not appear to make any new friends other than the ones she knew in the past such as Mr. Fred White and Miss Parke (2). She shows her pessimism in meeting new people when she states in her second letter that "We are all fond of gathering but do not know who will enjoy it in this changing world" (3). This quote seems to represent that Jane is interested in gathering with people she is familiar with but not people she is not familiar with, such as newcomers into the new "world" of Canada.

The letters expose the prejudices of the time period that perhaps Irish Protestant immigrants held. She makes very bold statements about Americans ("Yankies") and Roman Catholics that illustrate her repulsion for both groups of people (4). These two groups were coming into Canada abundantly at the time that Jane was living in Canada. Roman Catholics were coming in from Europe and Americans were coming in to escape the American civil war. Jane’s distaste for these groups made difficult for her to meet new people in a country where diversity was thriving. She mentioned that she became acquainted with one Roman Catholic but did not pursue a friendship as a result of her mother’s advice to not befriend Catholics. Both Jane and her mother found Catholics to be "bigoted and uncharitable." She also appears to dislike English, exposing the tensions between the Irish and English at the time of this immigration. In respect to responding to the immigrant challenge of meeting people and accepting new norms, Jane essentially failed at doing so. She was not fond of many people out of her race and religion (6) thus limiting the scope of her Canadian experience of meeting people outside of her narrow social class.

Jane seemed to have an interest in the piano. She gave piano lessons to her friend but said she would not work as a piano teacher because "any person knows [Jane has] no occasion" (3). This objection to teaching may stem from gender roles. At the time of Jane’s immigration to Canada, women’s rights were still not fully established. While women were permitted to work, it was not a norm. Jane acknowledges female workers in the letter where she states that all of the music teachers at a local school were female (5). Jane’s discomfort with working may have been due to her high educational status. She appeared to have a high level of education because of her high class (father seemed to be a business-owner), her ability to play the piano and the well written nature of her letters. Her high status may have made her uncomfortable with engaging with others of a lower class, since she would likely have to interact with people of a lower class if she were to teach in a small town where everyone interacted with one and other. Like her social prejudices of meeting other immigrants, she might have had the same anxiety in teaching other immigrants. Thus, she did not become a piano teacher or attain any kind of job despite her educational abilities. This would have been a problem had Jane not come from a bourgeoisie family. In her case, Jane lived with her family for her entire life without the need to support herself.

Jane’s views of other people led to her to live a very sheltered life. Her parents did not seem to encourage her to meet people out of their social standing suggesting that they did not do the same (2). Rather, her father tended to his store and Jane and her mother stayed at home to do chores such as planting the garden (ibid.). Jane eventually seemed to lose interest in marriage (3), something she seemed to consider doing in her second letter. Jane acknowledges her social prejudices in her last letter. She states "I do not feel disposed for society as I would be at home. The people are not so good or simple in their habits as in Ireland, not the same humility" (7). She seems to blame those around her for her isolation despite her unwillingness to interact with other groups of immigrants. Her social prejudices clearly affect who she is willing to interact with since those she does interact with do not appear meet her standards of acceptability.

Jane’s immigration experience seemed rather unsuccessful due to her social prejudices. She seemed to miss her social network at home of Irish-Protestant people thus revealing that she would have likely been happier living in Ireland rather than Canada. Jane did not want to interact with people who were not of her social standing, that being a bourgeoisie Irish Protestant. She preferred to stay at home and tend to her garden (2) and parents. As the letters progressed, Jane’s discomfort in engaging with other people did not seem to decrease. Over the course of the letters her social prejudices appeared to persist. Since Jane did not ever get married, get a job or move out, it can be assumed that she died with these prejudices and never truly experienced a successful immigration in Canada.

Citation

:Cecil J. Houston and William J. Smyth, Irish Emigration and Canadian Settlement: Patterns, Links, and Letters (Toronto: University of Toronto Press 1990), 291-301.