The Careers of Diplomat versus Attache in Victorian Times :: Victorian Era

Diplomat or Attachà ©: Which was the better job? How to become a Diplomat To become a diplomat, one must possess the art of diplomacy. They have to handle know how to negotiate, be well tempered and genteel. In order to become a diplomat Mr. Pitt Crawley must have had to earn and been awarded the position. In addition, he had to possess an art for politics and Etiquette. While in college Crawley mastered these diplomatic skills. He became the Private Secretary to Lord Binkie. He also became the Attachà © to the Legation at Pumpernickel. However, after ten years into this position he â€Å"gave up the diplomatic career and began to turn country gentleman† (Vanity Fair). Crawley prided himself on having manners. Thackeray even mentioned in Vanity Fair that Crawley would have been a great diplomat if not for early neglect. Crawley and the Victorians both had the ability to use deceptive tactics to accomplish certain goals. Modern Diplomacy Modern Diplomacy started in Eastern Europe and Russia during the 18th century. Diplomats were also called statesman. Diplomats were the eyes/ears/and mouth to the outside. They were the ambassadors, the dignitaries who work with the others to maintain civility and peace. They were usually members of the aristocracy (nobility). There were two types of diplomats: public and private. Private diplomats were accountants and investigators that complied information. Marcus Garvey described diplomacy as â€Å"the artful deception of opponents.† While in Parliament a Victorian would have had to deceive his opponents in order to win. The diplomats resolved conflict, restored peace, and respect. The Victorian Age was seen as a time of moral standards that were applied hypocritically. Diplomacy was described as artful deception, but the Victorians were supposed to have moral characters. It was easy to notice that the Victorian’s idea of morality was to give a superficial appearance of dignity and restraint. Today diplomats are referred to as Foreign Service officers. What was an Attachà © An attachà © was a technical expert on the diplomatic staff of his country at a foreign capital ("Attache"). The word attachà © comes from the French word â€Å"attacher.† The attachà © was like a secretary in that they both gathered information for their legation (a legation was an embassy). The job was usually appointed to a former Private Secretary of a Lord. One can either be a cultural attachà © or military attachà ©. An attachà © was also a specialist and they knew everything about what they were an attachà © for; whether it be a culture or a person.