Consuelo and Gladys: A Comparison

Consuelo Vanderbilt, Duchess of Marlborough

Gladys Russell, Duchess of Buckingham (or soon to be in this picture), played by Taissa Farmiga

Have you been watching The Gilded Age? I have. Of course I have! As I'm sure you know, Gladys Russell's story is meant to mirror that of Consuelo Vanderbilt, daughter of Alva and William Vanderbilt. How close has the production stayed to true life? Let's take a look!

In the spring of 1895, Alva took Consuelo on a European tour for the purpose of parading her in front of the royalty and nobility of Europe. She wanted the best option for her daughter - the best money could buy - but Alva also knew her social status would soar once she became the mother of a titled lady. This was regardless of the fact that Consuelo already had a serious beau, Winthrop Rutherford. Though fairly wealthy and of a respected family, he simply was not good enough for Alva, just as Gladys's beau wasn't good enough for Bertha Russell. So far, the show is pretty much in line with history. The first deviation, however, comes in the form of family support, or lack thereof. While George and Larry Russell both show sympathy for Gladys's plight as Bertha pushes her into marriage, Consuelo had no such champions. Her brothers teased her by reminding her the Duke of Marlborough only wanted her for her money (true), and dad William stayed clear of the entire matter. At the time, he and Alva were already on the way to a divorce and he was spending all his time on his yacht, Valiant, in Newport Harbor.

Let's take a look at the dukes:

Hector Vere, Duke of Buckingham, played by Ben Lamb

Charles Spencer-Churchill, Duke of Marlborough

Upon their first meeting, Gladys's duke, Hector Vere, shows her kindness, and this helps her to yield to her mother's demands. Unfortunately for Consuelo, her duke, Charles Spencer-Churchill (Sunny to family and friends), exhibited no such regard for her feelings. He was indeed marrying her only to save his home, Blenheim Palace. What's more, he had a mistress and he would go on seeing her. The marriages of both heiresses underwent intense negotiations beforehand, and both were settled with huge doweries. And both brides walked down the aisle in tears.

Once in England, we see Hector's sister, Lady Sarah, treat Gladys as though she were an imbecilic child, making decisions without consulting the new duchess and dismissing her as unfit to make even the simplest choices. Not only was this true for Consuelo initially, but fairly universal for all American heiresses who married into the nobility. They were considered inferior to British gentlewomen - uncouth, ignorant, and unfashionable - despite being, in most cases, much better educated than their British counterparts. This was especially true for Consuelo, whose education had been extensive. But among English nobility, that counted for little.

When Gladys expresses her frustrations with her new life, Bertha sails to England to advise her daughter to stand up to her sister-in-law and "make Hector fall in love with you." As of episode 7, that appears to be working. Gladys also shows an interest in learning about the estate, which we assume will lead to her using her influence as a duchess to better the lives of the working people in the surrounding area.

While Consuelo and Sunny would never have a loving relationship, she also learned about the workings of the estate and influenced not only local practices but instituted help for the poor on a national level. Once she had produced an heir and a spare, she and Sunny effectively went their separate ways, with Consuelo establishing her own household in London, where she entertained artists, writers, and the like. In short, she made as satisfying a life for herself as possible, eventually divorcing Sunny and marrying French aviator and manufacturing heir, Jacques Balsan - very much for love. We can only hope Gladys's marriage fulfills the promise we see in its early stages and that she finds happiness sooner and easier than Consuelo did. But I haven't yet seen episode 8, and so much can change in a hour!

What are your thoughts about the show and the history that inspires it?