SIENA ROSSO
[[What is most striking in the Bridgerton series is, that Siena is ”suddenly there”, without
any clues about her background, where she came from, whether she had any Family.
what were her hopes and dreams in life.
Her whole background is shrouded in mysteries.
And as she came, so she left, as if she vanished into thin air….”]
”REMEMBER FOLKS, SIENA HAD A SUCCESFUL CAREER BEFORE SHE MET ANTHONY BRIDGERTON. AND THAT MADE HER ”HER OWN WOMAN” WHO COULD LOVE AND CAST ASIDE….”
While having an opinion about opera singer Siena Rosso whether there was real love between her and Anthony Bridgerton or merely ”lust” and ”escapism” [1] many Fans refuse to see her as the woman she really was.
A loving, strong and independent woman in a difficult and precarious situation.
THE PRECARIOUS POSITION OF OPERA SINGERS/FINANCIAL SECURITY
To delve deeper into the World of Siena [the Opera World] it is important that you realize,,
that apart from all romantic and sensation of the Bridgertonseries [2] [what was a part of her world to, with as main part her Love Affair with Anthony] [3], the position of opera singers was very, as I said, precarious and complicated in Regency Era.
As was rightly noted by a commentator
”While the women of the Bridgerton family live protected lives inside a bubble of wealth and balls, Siena literally has to sing for her supper.”
And that was the main difference between Siena and the Ton girls in general: [4]
Why they lived doing nothing but embroidering, doing ”charity” and visiting balls, Siena had to work for her money, wake up early, depending for her living from her voice.
But not only that:
In order to get a position and being in the opportunity to build up
a career, operasingers were dependent of wealthy men, mostly noblemen, to give them as well the possibility to make a career as
financial protection [5]
SEXUAL PREDATORS
In Regency Era, society was highly sexualized:
Men had practically every sexual right:
A sexual affair of a Ton man was considered as normal, but when a woman had a sexual affair and it came into light, she was completely ruined. [6]
Men ”had all the rights” and took them.
That reflected on the Opera World also:
Women [here Operasingers] were considered as a sort of
”justified sexual prey”, who could be approached by any ”’gentleman”, who wanted to go backstage of the Opera as some did. [7]
So having a wealthy ”protector” prevented women to be sexually approached by any ”gentleman”, who felt the need to do so [8]
But apart from the ”wealthy protector”, those women had to be raw and able to fight physically, were they in a situation that an oversexualized gentleman wanted to approach them and the protector was not in
the neighborhood.
You can see a glimpse from that in the sex scenes between Anthony and Siena, which are very passionate, not only because of the wild and passionate magnetic between them, but also because of Siena’s need to be strong and protect herself.
You see her grabbing Anthony intensely and pushing him against a wall and tearing his clothes off, by passion and despair [because their relationship is incriminated by his mother and society] [9], but also from her raw surviving instinct [10]
And to come back to that financial security:
Not only singers were frequently expected to pay for their own elaborate stage costumes, private transportation, security, and specialized vocal training, they had to live in fashionable neighborhoods for their status.
AND the Opera work was seasonal, what means that after the Opera
Season they had no income, what urged the need of a wealthy protector [11]
ANTHONY/OATH OF BENEDICT
”IF I DIE YOU MUST ENSURE SHE IS PROVIDED FOR”
[ANTHONY TO BENEDICT BEFORE THE DUEL
ABOUT HIS OATH TO
TAKE CARE FOR SIENA]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJsGWUDjgX0
That”s why Anthony Bridgerton was extremely worried about Siena on the Eve of the Duel.
He knew that without his protection, Siena not only was left without income, but also unprotected and a possible sexual prey [12]
And because of his deep love for her, just before the beginning of the duel with Simon Basset, Anthony pulled his brother Benedict aside and made him swear to take care for Siena financially, when he died in the duel…..[13]
One of the most impressive and convincing proofs of his love for her, since his last thoughts before his possible death were for her and her wellbeing [14]
Were it just ”lust” he wouldn’t have cared at all.
So that’s the double standards to Opera singers in Regency Era
On the one hand they were applauded for their talents and honoured with favors by the noble gentlemen, on the other hand they were not seen as equals and not permitted to entrance in the Ton because of their ”loose morals”, without considering that they couldn’t survive without wealthy patrons [15]
But that’s one thing.
Regarding the sexuality, they were ”tolerated” as mistresses, but the moment true love came in the picture, like in the case of Anthony Bridgerton and Siena [16], it became impossible to be together or marry[16A].
Being seen together at public places, even a walk in places like Kew Gardens, was strictly forbidden [17]
Anthony, who really and deeply loved Siena, wanted to break those cruel rules and force Ton Society to accept Siena as equal, by bringing her to the Ton Ball of his sister Daphne, now Duchess of Hastings, thinking that his own powerful position as Viscount and his sister’s position as Duchess were strong enough for the acceptance of Siena. [18]
Since Siena refused, leading to the heartbreaking end of their Love Affair [19], we don’t know what would have happened, but in most cases it ended with a great social scandal, leading to possible social ostracization of the aristocrat and serious social implications for the Operasinger [20]
They could even be stopped at the door, to prevent they even attended the ball [21], but since in this case Anthony’s sister Daphne, Duchess of Hastings held the ball it is not likely that they would be denied entrance,
but social scandal surely would have been the case [22]
The cruel attitude of Anthony’s mother Lady Violet against Siena and by proxy her own son about their Love relationship [23] was a reflection of ”the shame society granted them” to quote the very words of Anthony [24][what of course doesn’t absolve Violet from her responsibility of especially her cruelty, leading to a permanent gap between her and her son [25]
SIENA AS A STRONG WOMAN
Why Lady Violet depicts Siena as a ”scandal” or an Regency Era ”golddigger” [26] , the opposite is true!
In the Bridgerton series, sometimes Anthony breaks the relationship, but also Siena, who is tired of the fact, that she must be kept ”in the dark”
because of the Ton and Violet”s disapproval of opera singers [27]
But everything, despite of fierce resistance by mother Violet [28] it is
Anthony, who returns to Siena.
You can see Siena’s resistance to take him back when he visits her on the Eve of the Duel [29], only to grab him vehemently and pull him into her home after he reveals the ”duel at dawn” and their possible shared future [30]
And although loving her deeply, due to his noble privileges he doesn’t always realize the financial impact for Siena.
So when there is a temporary break up between him and Siena [it is an on/of relationship due to Ton pressure and their own passionate characters, because Siena is a fierce and passionate woman [31] and Anthony is not an easy one either], he doesn’t pay her apartment [31A], forcing her to go to her friend Genevieve Delacroix, a dressmaker for the Ton Ladies [32] to live their until the storm has come to rest and she and Anthony kiss their reconciliation again.
For a woman like Siena that is a dangerous and uncertain financial position and although she loves Anthony dearly, she is forced to look out for another patron, who can help her to survive.
REGAINED LOVE/THE BOX SCENE
And that happens
She finds another ”protector”, but during a Box match show, where she is with him, Anthony is in the public too.
While everyone is watching the box game, Anthony sees Siena and has only eyes for her and at a certain moment their eyes meet and it feels like electric magnetism.
At the next scene you see them making love under the Box Platform
Watch the scene! [33]
And so was their relationship:
They were vehement, passionate and fought with each other,
physically and verbally, stormed against each other and had vehement break-ups, but at the end were atrracted to each other like magnets…..
WHAT SHE WAS TO ANTHONY
For a long time, she was the hearth fire by which Anthony warmed himself against the cold walls of Aubrey Hall and a mother, who emotionally neglected him, though she loved him in her heart.
With her, he could be himself for a moment, with someone who saw him as a man to be loved, not as a Viscount with duties.
HER MOST PAINFUL DECISION/THE BREAK UP
This is said by a commentator about their painful break up
”The breakup at the end of Season 1 is often perceived as a defeat, but it is actually Siena’s most powerful moment. She is the one who realizes that Anthony can never truly protect her from societal exclusion.”
I think that”s true
Despite all social resistance against their relationship [34] Anthony still wants to fight for them.
And he thinks, that having the power of a wealthy Viscount and having a sister as a Duchess [Daphne, married his best friend Simon Basset, who out of her great love for Simon, fought tooth and nails for her marriage, but that was in their own social class, so approved] [35], he could force the Ton to accept Siena,
So he went to her, with flowers in his hand and high hopes in his heart but she, being with another man, refused him and nearly screamed that he ”must let her go” [36]
Not out of love, but BECAUSE she loved him and with pain in her heart.
She understood what he was not willing to.
That even if his sister would accept and support him, the Ton would socially exclude him [37] and if not, Siena would bear the brunt since they would be polite to her in his presence, but mock her behind his back.
It was heartbreaking for her and him and would always leave a scar on him. [38]
And her last words to him were heartbreaking:
“Farewell, my lord. I hope you find perfection.”
SIENA AS A STRONG, PASSIONATE AND FIERCE WOMAN
Although the immense heart break, Siena did not lose.
Her great Love
YES
But not her Dignity
She loved Anthony passionately and fiercely, but she had also
the power to be realistic in a desperate situation.
She had to put her social preservation first and the securing of her financial future, seeing that the Ton would not accept their relation
”in the Light”
Because that was the Dilemma
Anthony loved her deeply, but wanted to combine his position as a Viscount with his love for her.
And Yes, he was prepared to flee with her on the Eve of the Duel, when he had to flee the country when he had killed his best friend [39], but staying in England and continuing their relationship would be ”in the dark” and she so desperately wanted to be his wife ”in the light” and understood that that would not happen, despite their deep love for each other.
So it was not heartlessness that caused her to finish their relationship, like parts of the Bridgerton Fandom claim, but out of love, courage and self preservation.
She had to go on, with a man who could bring her into
the Light, while she so desperately wanted to be with her love.
Had their Love Life continued, than it was either ”in the dark” or was it ”in the Light” than Anthony had to go to duel each day for the offenses done to his beloved Siena.
But let’s be totally fair:
However destructive Violet’s role was, Anthony had also his own responsibility in this.
Because when all things were said and done, how much he loved Siena, at the end he had not the courage to stand up against his mother, no matter how immense her pressure and emotional blackmail, leave all things behind and flee with Siena.
So he gave ”Lady Violent” the power to ruin his life…..
I think Siena understood at the end.
She HAD the courage to take that heartbreaking decision to break up their Loving Relationship.
And that was HER Power.
She was passionate, loving, courageous, proud and loyal till the End [40]
But she couldn’t be ”his fool again” [41]
Heartbreaking, but she protected him and herself.
And it is high time for someone to speak out loudly and
give her the Honour she truly deserves.
ASTRID ESSED
NOTES
AFP
Getty Images
De Status van Feme Sole
De Paradox: Wel Financiële Afhankelijkheid
Juridische en Financiële Verhoudingen
Huisvesting en Afhankelijkheid
Sociale Dynamiek en Voogdij
De Oudste Zoon als Gezinshoofd
