Maria (Marianna)
The [letter] informed him [Wokulski] that Maria So-and-So, formerly a girl of loose conduct, was now learning to sew and make dresses, and was behaving piously, obediently, modestly and nicely. (239)
Maria, also referred to as Marianna, was a nineteen-year-old prostitute. She attracted attention with her vulgar make-up (too much blush on her cheeks) and provocative outfit (velvet coat and a gaudy hat). Before she became a prostitute, she worked as a seamstress, but the meagre wages were not enough to make a living and pay the rent. In the brothel, she went into debt again and entered into a conflict with the keeper. She tried to escape and looked for a rich sponsor – without success. Maria’s life changed after was the Easter charity event, where Wokulski saw her. The girl stood out from the crowd due to her looks and behaviour. She did not dare touch the cross, and weeping, fell to her knees and kissed the feet of Jesus Christ. Her behaviour deeply moved Wokulski, and he decided to help change her fate. Despite the girl’s protest, he sent her to a Magdalen institution. Her initial resistance to the idea showed Maria’s passive attitude and resignation to her money-making activity and lifestyle. Her stay with the nuns was a life-changing experience: Maria trained as a seamstress; she exhibited piety and obedience. When she left the institution, Maria moved into a vacant room in carter Wysocki’s house on Tamka Street. Wokulski lent her money to settle in and helped her find a job in a linen shop. Maria resumed her sewing work, this time as a skilled seamstress, and later married carpenter Węgiełek. She won his heart with her kindness, diligence, and tender care during his illness. The dowry, which she received from Wokulski, enabled them to settle down in Zasław. Maria became a hard-working, conscientious housekeeper. Her happiness, however, did not last long. Although she was a good and loving wife, Węgiełek could not forget about her past, which turned their life into a living hell.
→ The Magdalenes; → Scandal;
