S/H/15. The Prostitute was the "most efficient guardian of virtue" of the Victorian notion of the family. Discuss with reference to Victorian literature and legislation

This essay discusses whether the prostitute was the most efficient 'guardian of virtue' of the notion of the Victorian family. The essay examines what is meant by the Victorian family, in particular the issue of Victorian 'separate spheres' for males and females is discussed. The essay also assesses the importance of the Madonna/Magdalene theme when examining the issue of prostitution. The significance of Victorian legislation on prostitution is mentioned, in particular the Contagious Diseases Acts. This essay uses primary evidence such as Victorian poetry, cartoons and literature to answer the question. Overall, the essay tries to answer why the prostitute is good, or bad for the Victorian family.