A wise man in those times would choose to marry women of material substance, because it was to their advantage. They not only gained a wife and mother for their kids, but gained control over whatever money, land, and freedoms she was used to. She no longer had a say in what her life meant, for she was forever changed into whatever he wanted her to be. If a woman wished to be married, she was only given a "Hobson's choice, 'that or none'." (p. 527)
The song lyrics that comes to mind when I read this is "what a man, what a man, what a mighty good man." J.S. Mills has found his first and hopes to be his only love. He not only chooses to marry her, but chooses to give up the many rights that are given to men who marry. Luckily for Mill's wife, he loved her enough to produce a binding agreement (however unenforceable ) "that she retains in all respects whatever the same absolute freedom of action, and freedom of disposal of herself and of all that does or may at any time belong to her, as if no such marriage had taken place; and I absolutely disclaim and repudiate all pretence to have acquired any rights whatever by virtue of such marriage." The future Mrs. Mills must have been amazed to know that her fiance was not all talk and followed through on what he openly protested. Mills not only lets her keep what she brought into the marriage but will allow her to take whatever she gained during the marriage, should it end in divorce. I can't imagine at this point in my life, having acquired so much without a husband, that I would want to be married so bad, that I would be willing to possibly lose it all in the end. Even for women who have not established themselves financially, marriage in those days would be the ultimate loss of one's self.
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3 comments:
Sherri,
Good commentary on Mill's document. I wish you had connected it more in your discussion to his "Subjection of Women" essay, though--there is more material for analysis there.
Mills was definately a visionary in his time. It is easy to write how one should do things, but with all I know about him he lived what he wrote. It was interesting to get your take on another passage of Mill's.
Interesting look at this passage. I too found it quite amazing that he would give up all of his rights as a husband to prove his beliefs and love for his wife. He did not just tell his wife what he believed, but he showed her and really lived by it. I'm sure that was difficult for someone to do of his time. He basically went against the norm and wasn't afraid to do so.
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