Women and Marriage

Paper Summary:

This paper examines two of the literary works of manners which were created during the 17th and 18th centuries. The books, "The House of Mirth" by Edith Wharton and "The Coquette" by Hannah Webster Foster provide a look at women's perception of marriage and to what extent society influenced them. The paper discusses the underlying themes of feminism and the quest for freedom in these novels, thereby illustrating the predominant female opinion of love and marriage.

From the Paper:

"The author also highlights the highly judgmental nature of the New York's elite people. The class distinctions that existed in New York are clearly obvious when Simon Rosedale looks at Lily with a suspecting eye. (Just for the only reason that she had tea with Selden, a modest person) This is precisely the reason why Lily tries to conceal her meeting with Selden when Rosedale questions her about her presence at the Benedick. "Yes--I came up to see my dress-maker. I am just on my way to catch the train to the Trenors'." (Part 11)So in a way the society has contributed to the suppression of Lily's true feelings (her love for Selden) and her earning for the elusive status and security. What is more Lily is even forced to get involved in gambling (a pass time for the rich) just to cement her place in the higher society. One only gets the feeling that Lilly has virtually compromised the real things in her life in pursuing false vanities. In all Lily is thoroughly haunted by the fear of social seclusion and envisions that money alone could get her the status and security. Lily is bereft of these things and she seeks to restore hem through her marriage. But in her pursuit to secure the comforts and the status in life she looses her own real identity and becomes another victim of the society which is perverted by the negative stains of class and money."

More papers on Women and Marriage:

• Research Paper # 107983 : "Victorian Women and Marriage"
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• Analytical Essay # 130652 : "Women, Fundamentalism and Marriage in Abrahamic Religions"

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