The Merchant's Wife: The Role Of Women In Medieval Times

In a first place, it is important to understand the importance of property in that period to maintain elite status: the dowries of young brides often determined whether a woman entered her marriage as a principal wife or as a simple concubine. The new law protected the inheritance rights to daughters under various conditions, they also protect wife’s properties during marriage and after widowhood. Another important factor is the spread of literacy and printing of law books which allied people to got to courts more easily. Some records shows that female of all ages and social classes initiating lawsuits related to property rights during the Song

Eleanor believed in women's rights, she stood up for equality for all genders and races. Did they change the wealth or goods of the people? Eleanor was wealthy because she was the duchess of Aquitaine, one of the greatest lands in Europe. Aquitaine was like a separate nation with lands extending in southwestern France from the river Loire to the Pyrenees. Eleanor's court was a trend setter in the medieval world, known for its sophistication and luxury.

In the novel, “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the female characters, Jordan Baker, Daisy Buchanan, and Myrtle Wilson, throughout the whole novel, all have the same motive which is achieving their desired social position through cheating. Jordan Baker is a very wealthy and famous golfer who will do anything to achieve her goal which is very beneficial to her social position. Like Jordan, Daisy Buchanan is very wealthy as well and married to one of the richest men in East Egg, Tom Buchanan. However, when she finds real love, Gatsby, she denies it because she wants to keep her social position. Like Daisy, Myrtle cheats on her husband and had an affair with another man who is Tom Buchanan.

Both plays, having been written at the end of the 19th century, offer insight into how this societal pressure creates an environment in which women face a particularly large amount of pressure to find wealthy, suitable husbands rather than ones they truly love. This issue of marriage being classified as business is best summed up in The Importance of Being Earnest when Algy, after having learned Jack intends to propose to Gwendolyn, remarks, “I thought you had come up for pleasure…? I call that business” (Wilde

Women’s actions and ideas had to have an input towards the males. While upper classes runs their husband’s business, women of the lower class worked in the lands. “First lady of the Renaissance Age: Isabella”, She patronized and promoted the arts and allowed artists and writers to exchange their ideas and views in their home. During her years of ruling, she set a huge example for women which had a great impact on politics, social life and

For example, Daisy is a wealthy socialite married to a man that comes from “old money”, and therefore, has achieved the American dream through marrying “properly” in society. Yet, she is very unhappy and insecure. She’s married to a man who doesn’t love her, nor does she truly love him. She loves him for what he stands for: privilege, wealth, affluence, social acceptability, class, and the finer things of life. She is an example of why the American Dream is foolish because the things that matter to her happiness are temporary; the things she strives for don’t ultimately lead to true happiness.

The idea of living within a high class society and the illusion of control becomes appealing to many. Perhaps this is a tactic they use to lure more people to follow them? For instance, George Wilson’s wife, Myrtle has an affair with Tom Buchanan because she was attracted to his wealth and she dreamed of living a life full of excess. “The modern individual is produced by a power that individualizes precisely in order to better control (1470).” In this case, it is apparent that the wealthy individuals went to great lengths to acquire substantial wealth so that they could oppress the disadvantaged members to meet their societal goals.

Emma Marriage For Jane Austen, marriage was a permanent affair that conferred financial and social security on a woman. This is due to the fact that women had limited rights such as earning one’s own property and wealth. The significance of matrimony is apparent through her female characters, Emma, Harriet and Miss Bates. Emma aspires to match-make Harriet by marrying her into a higher social position to Mr Elton – “she would detach her from her bad acquaintances, and

Their wealth within the novel and movie play very massive roles. If Emma and Cher were not wealthy they wouldn't find themselves apart of the rich, upscale societies that are in England and California. Both of the woman abuse there fathers wealth and become spoiled, self involved girls, where Emma “thinks a little too well of herself.” (5) They get exactly what they want, when they want it. Emma and Cher both find themselves playing the role as matchmaker with there groups of friends.

In China, foot binding, a process in which tight pressure is applied to prevent growth, was a desired practice among the higher social classes. The practice originated among the court dancers in the 10th and 11th centuries, and later spread to all social classes. Originally, women whose feet were bound were women who were raised by a wealthy family, and therefore did not need their feet for labor. However, once the practice started to become prevalent among all social classes, it became a symbol of beauty among the Chinese. Because men enjoyed the appearance and beauty of small feet, women continued to practice it because it would help them become married.

As for women, they were seen as their husband 's property once they married their dowry became their husband’s money. Women tried to make their voices heard, especially throughout the revolution. A women’s place in the world was their ‘sensibility’, their ability to “stimulate the sentiments or emotions of individuals… inspiring them to act in ways that promoted the virtue and happiness of others,” (The Contrast p.5). After the revolution women were allowed to have a voice in marriage, they were no longer seen as only being domestic. They still did not have a lot of freedoms but their voices were starting to be heard.

Major continuities and changes regarding various views of women in the years between 1450 and 1700 include both the continuation of disdain towards women and the emergence of the idea that women are equal to men. Women were often thought to be of less value than men, an idea that originated early in history and progressed throughout this time period. Some men and women began to speak out against inequality and, whether directly or indirectly, influenced new ideas causing others to believe in the power of women. Many views of women in the years between 1450 and 1700 continued to show the age old idea of women being seen as the inferior gender. James Sprenger and Henry Kramer wrote that women are more likely to be attacked by the devil because they are more naive than men (1).

For decade women have been discriminated by society, all around the world. In many countries women are still treated as the inferior sex. “daily life for women in the early 1800s in Europe(Britain), was that of many obligations and few choices. Some even compare the conditions of women in time as a form of slavery.” (Smith, Kelley. "

The Medieval society was very traditional, in the aspect that men were the most dominant figure as oppose to women. Women had to learn their ‘place’ in the society. They were treated with very little respect and played a very slim role towards the country’s behalf. Her main duty was to support her husband and family and take care of all of her responsibilities. Women had very limited freedom and for the majority of the time, her father or husband would make all of the decisions on their wife/ daughter’s behalf.