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Be a wife of whom he can make no complaint, Margaret. That…

“Be a wife of whom he can make no complaint, Margaret. That is the best advice I can give to you. You will be his wife; that is to be his servant, his possession. He will be your master. You had better please him.” quote by Philippa Gregory
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““Be a wife of whom he can make no complaint, Margaret. That is the best advice I can give to you. You will be his wife; that is to be his servant, his possession. He will be your master. You had better please him.””

Philippa Gregory

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote depicts a patriarchal view that a wife’s duty is to be obedient and subservient to her husband, treating him as a master.

In simple terms: A wife should be obedient and please her husband.

Key Takeaway

Accept subservience as a marital role.

Themes

gender roles marriage patriarchy

Mood

somber critical

Type

advice literary historical

When to use this quote

  • historical fiction
  • marriage counseling
  • women’s rights activism
  • relationship expectations

Key Concepts

subservience power dynamics gender oppression

Questions to Reflect On

  • Is obedience the only path to marital harmony?
  • How can partners share power equally?
A Different Perspective

It ignores women's autonomy and mutual respect in healthy partnerships.

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