The Gilded Age: What Ada Being A Spinster Really Means In 1882
Ada Brook is a spinster who lives with her sister, Agnes van Rhijn, and this lifestyle choice of hers could give some insight into her identity.
Warning: SPOILERS for The Gilded Age episode 1 - “Never The New.”
Ada Brook (Cynthia Nixon) is labeled as a “spinster” by her sister Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) in The Gilded Age episode 1, and the true meaning of this term has historical roots from long before 1882. The show already has audiences immersed in its world and wondering about the significance of certain labels and expectations of the day. The Gilded Age story, based on historical facts, includes many social curiosities that might confuse contemporary viewers, but the idea of the spinster is one worth exploring in order to further understand who Ada is.
When Agnes and Ada are introduced, the former reminds her sister that she is able to live a spinster lifestyle because Ada’s own financial stability allows it. They go on to discuss how their niece, Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson), might find employment, which is not exactly a path Ada has taken either. There are many reasons a woman might choose not to marry in the 19th century, and from the few moments that her lifestyle has been discussed so far, this choice seems to have worked well for Ada. Some paths have not worked as well for others: in The Gilded Age, Mrs. Chamberlain is an outcast because of her secret past.
While the word “spinster” has some negative connotations today, it wasn’t necessarily used derogatorily at the time, and this label can actually give some insight into who Ada is. “Spinster” was used in 1882 to describe a woman that was past marrying age but had chosen not to get married. There were many different reasons why women would choose to not get married at the time and for Ada, there might be multiple reasons, including her privileged social status, and maybe even her sexuality.
Many women would choose a spinster life in order to have more independence. Instead of relying on a husband for financial support, they would find their own employment. However, Agnes, who is basically The Gilded Age’s Dowager Countess from Downton Abbey, provides a home and financial stability for Ada so that she does not have to work. This arrangement was a common one for these women; if their families were able to give them a place to stay, in return they could help to maintain the house.
Ada’s choice to not marry a man also brings forth another reason why many other women chose a single life: because of their sexuality. It is possible that Ada is not attracted to men. It’s also interesting to note that the actor who plays Ada, Cynthia Nixon, is a lesbian in real life. Diversity is important to Nixon, the Sex in the City star who was reluctant to return to the reboot of the show due to its lack of representation. Of course, just because Nixon is a lesbian doesn’t mean her character, Ada, has to be as well — but it opens up an interesting discussion about her other roles and what this could mean for Ada’s future since she is a strong advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.
Ada appears to enjoy her spinster lifestyle in The Gilded Age episode 1 evidenced by the fact that she seems very comfortable in her sister’s home and she is looking forward to being there for her niece, Marian. Every family in The Gilded Age is different, and fortunately for Ada, her sister is able to provide financial stability and perhaps also emotional stability for her because this is something that Ada seems to have wanted for herself. As the season unfolds, perhaps more of Ada’s past will be explored and explain how it is she came to be a spinster.
The Gilded Age airs Mondays at 9pm on HBO and streams on HBO Max.