Understanding Coverture in Wuthering Heights British Literature March 2, 2015

Happy Mechanics Monday! DIAMANTE POEM Try to use alliteration! Write a diamante poem for a character of your choice in Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights (using this format): Try to use alliteration! Noun Adjective Noun Four describing words (-ing: present participles) Three describing words (-ed: past participles) noun

Happy Mechanics Monday! DIAMANTE 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

HONORS STUDENTS HONORS DIALECTICAL JOURNALS ARE DUE ON MARCH 10 th !

Marriage varies over time, across cultures and religions

English Common Law Marriage 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

When does the novel take place? LATE 18 TH CENTURY Emily Bronte writes Wuthering Heights in : Mr. Earnshaw finds Heathcliff 1783: Edgar and Catherine marry 1801: Cathy and Linton are married

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)

Law of Coverture 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 coverture.“ (1771)

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

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

Small Group Discussion Questions Discuss the following questions in small groups of your choice:  Is it possible to be in love with two people at the same time? If so, why is marriage restricted to one monogamous relationship?  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?  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?