Marriage Quote by Carole Pateman
““Under coverture, a wife was required to live where her husband demanded, her earnings belonged to her husband and her children were the property of her husband, just as the children of the female slave belonged to her master. But perhaps the most graphic illustration of the continuity between slavery and marriage was that in England – as Thomas Hardy’s The Mayor of Casterbridge reminds us – wives could be sold at public auctions.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy, 1886
Marriage historically mirrored slavery by treating wives as property, limiting their autonomy and economic independence.
In simple terms: Wives were treated like property under old marriage laws.
Key Takeaway
Recognize and challenge lingering gender inequities.
Themes
gender equality
legal history
property rights
marriage law
Mood
reflective
critical
determined
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- legal reform
- education
- activism
- policy advocacy
Key Concepts
Patriarchy
coverture
economic dependence
Questions to Reflect On
- How do current laws reflect or reject these historic norms?
- What steps can individuals take to promote equitable partnerships?
A Different Perspective
Modern marriage still shows power imbalances in some cultures.
![“Stilletos of a frozen stillicide [...] In the lovely line heading this comment the reader should note the last word. My dictionary defines it as 'a succession of drops falling from the eaves, eavesdrop, cavesdrop.' I remember having encountered it for the first time in a poem by Thomas Hardy. The…” quote by Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/1e8/vladimir-nabokov-198_books_stilletos-of-a-frozen-stillicide-in-the_210741.jpg)
![“I don't like being away from home. That's one reason why I don't work as much as I used to [when I started my career], because so many things are on the road. I just don't want to be away from my husband, my dogs and my home. I don't sing that much any more because that also takes you on the road.” quote by Jane Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/07c/jane-powell-36243_away_i-don-t-like-being-away-from-home-that-s_278.jpg)
