understanding coverture in wuthering heights british literature march 2, 2015

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Understanding Understanding Coverture in Coverture in Wuthering Heights Wuthering Heights British Literature March 2, 2015

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Page 1: Understanding Coverture in Wuthering Heights British Literature March 2, 2015

Understanding Understanding Coverture in Coverture in

Wuthering HeightsWuthering HeightsBritish LiteratureMarch 2, 2015

Page 2: Understanding Coverture in Wuthering Heights British Literature March 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

Page 3: Understanding Coverture in Wuthering Heights British Literature March 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):

Lockwood

Nettlesome Narrator

Meddling Migrating Meditating Marauding

Tangled Touched Twitterpated

Traveler

Page 4: Understanding Coverture in Wuthering Heights British Literature March 2, 2015

HONORS STUDENTS

HONORS DIALECTICAL HONORS DIALECTICAL JOURNALS ARE DUE ON JOURNALS ARE DUE ON

MARCH 10MARCH 10thth! !

Page 5: Understanding Coverture in Wuthering Heights British Literature March 2, 2015

Marriage varies over time, across cultures and religions

Page 6: Understanding Coverture in Wuthering Heights British Literature March 2, 2015

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

Page 7: Understanding Coverture in Wuthering Heights British Literature March 2, 2015

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

Page 8: Understanding Coverture in Wuthering Heights British Literature March 2, 2015

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)

Page 9: Understanding Coverture in Wuthering Heights British Literature March 2, 2015

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)

Page 10: Understanding Coverture in Wuthering Heights British Literature March 2, 2015

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

Page 11: Understanding Coverture in Wuthering Heights British Literature March 2, 2015

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

Page 12: Understanding Coverture in Wuthering Heights British Literature March 2, 2015

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?