Understanding Coverture in Wuthering Heights British Literature March 2, 2015.
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Transcript of Understanding Coverture in Wuthering Heights British Literature March 2, 2015.
Understanding Understanding Coverture in Coverture in
Wuthering HeightsWuthering HeightsBritish LiteratureMarch 2, 2015
Happy Mechanics Monday!DIAMANTE POEMDIAMANTE POEM
Write a diamante poem for a character of your choice in Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights (using this format):
Try to use alliteration! Try to use alliteration!
Noun
Adjective Noun
Four describing words (-ing: present participles)
Three describing words (-ed: past participles)
noun
Happy Mechanics Monday!DIAMANTE POEMDIAMANTE POEM
Write a diamante poem for a character of your choice in Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights (using this format):
Lockwood
Nettlesome Narrator
Meddling Migrating Meditating Marauding
Tangled Touched Twitterpated
Traveler
HONORS STUDENTS
HONORS DIALECTICAL HONORS DIALECTICAL JOURNALS ARE DUE ON JOURNALS ARE DUE ON
MARCH 10MARCH 10thth! !
Marriage varies over time, across cultures and religions
English Common LawMarriage was contract based on
voluntary private agreement by man and woman to become husband and wife
Marriage viewed as basis of family unit and vital to preservation of morals and civilization
Husband had duty to provide safe house, pay for necessities; live in house
Wife had duty of maintaining home, living in home, conceiving children, and rearing couple's children
When does the When does the novel take place? novel take place?
LATE 18TH CENTURY•Emily Bronte writes Wuthering Heights in 1847•1772: Mr. Earnshaw finds Heathcliff•1783: Edgar and Catherine marry•1801: Cathy and Linton are married
Sir Blackstone’s Commentaries on the Laws
of England“The husband also (by the old law) might give his wife moderate correction. For, as he is to answer for her misbehaviour, the law thought it reasonable to intrust him with the power of restraining her, by domestic chastisement.... But, with us, in the politer reign of Charles the II, this power of correction began to be doubted: and a wife may now have security of the peace against her husband; or, in return, a husband against his wife....Yet the lower rank of people, who were always fond of the old common law, still claim and exert their ancient privilege: and the courts of law will still permit a husband to restrain a wife of her liberty, in case of any gross misbehavior.” (1771)
Law of Coverture"By marriage, the husband
and wife are one person in law: that is, the very being or legal existence of the woman is suspended during the marriage, or at least is incorporated and consolidated into that of the husband; under whose wing, protection and cover, she performs every thing; ...and her condition during her marriage is called coverturecoverture.“ (1771)
The Rules of Coverture Prohibited Women From…
Own property - all wages, any inherited wealth, became the husband's Hence, Edgar Linton’s concern about Thrushcross Grange Think Pride and Prejudice!
Make contracts
Write wills
Sue or be sued in court (including initiating divorce)
Refuse sexual relations with her husband (legal rape excluded husbands)
Obtain custody of children in case of divorce
Be responsible for her actions (husband had responsibility for her conduct -- duty to reprimand her physically) Chastisement
Married Women’s Property Act of 1882
Gave increased rights to married women to control their own property
Gained right to sue for divorce, as well as to custody of children
Small Group Discussion Questions
Discuss the following questions in small groups of your choice:
1.Is it possible to be in love with two people at the same time? If so, why is marriage restricted to one monogamous relationship?
2.What is the purpose of marriage in your own personal opinion? Consider why people marry in different cultures around the world. What other reasons (besides love) would people marry?
3.How do the laws of coverture influence the plot of Wuthering Heights? What do you think Emily Bronte was illustrating about the laws of coverture?