Analysis Of Unhappy Marriage And Domestic Violence

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Unhappy marriages and domestic violence document enriches the themes of violence and murder from this course, by giving an insight into social and economic roles that both males and females played during marriage. The focus will be on how economic factors, effects of alcoholic drinking and influences female status such as separation and divorce. In seventeenth to eighteenth century England, marriage played a significant role in both male’s and female’s lives. Not only due to the social and economic aspects of it, but due to the sexual morals associated with it. The Catholic Church placed immense significance on the sacredness of marriage and on its inseparability. It was legally binding in the eyes of god. It was very difficult to get a divorce …show more content…

The document “Unhappy marriages and domestic violence in early modern England” describes the marriages of Mary Hobry, George Whalley and James Hall and the events pertaining to the abuse they have received from their spouses which eventually leads to them murder …show more content…

In “Unhappy Marriages” James Hall’s wife…“He being then (as he all his lifetime was) stingy, niggardly, and mean spirited, allowed her little or nothing to live on.” (Unhappy Marriages, 10) Men were considered perfect specimens, masters in not only dress, but in religion as well. While women on the other hand were supposed to obey, be modest, chaste and to not speak much. Mary Hobry’s story tells of a similar situation, of hopelessness and “finding herself in this hopeless condition, and under frequent temptations of putting some violent end to her misfortunes.” (Unhappy Marriages, 2) Yet, her neighbours see her “as a violent disorderly woman and her husband as a weak and harmless man.” (Unhappy Marriages, 1) Nonetheless, she committed petty treason by murdering her husband who is her superior. The law states that women are unable to claim benefit of clergy because she is a women and it is an unforgivable offence. Unlike George Whalley who could claim benefit of clergy when he describes how “she raved at me, and abused me, and I, in the violence of my passion, did this unhappy murder.” (Unhappy Marriages, 8) Women in England has very little social and political rights which did not allow them to be free from marriage to abusive husbands even if there was cruelty involved. They had to pleased adultery as well, unlike males who only had to plead

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