Question

What principles of the cult of domesticity does this story illustrate? 2. what benefits does mary gain from mrs. may as opposed to the benefits she receives from harry's "rule?" 3. why does harry disapprove of mrs. may? consider the adjectives that both he and mary use to describe her, in comparison to the way harry describes his wife. what threat does mrs. may pose to his family life? 4. consider fanny fern's title for the story. do you think she is more concerned with women's need to submit or with demonstrating to men the way that they should treat their wives?

Answer 1

1. The story exemplifies the principle of submissiveness as Mary yields to her husband’s desires over her own. The text shades an image of Mary’s domestic space and the meaning of that space to Mary, highlighting her domestic role.

2. Mrs. May is labelled as “intellectual, and captivating” and then “smart and humorous.” These images suggest she reassures Mary to be an independent thinker, contrasting to Harry who gives love, care, and material ease.

3. Harry suggests that Mrs. May impends to encourage his wife and possibly encourage her to be an independent thinker. Harry states that Mrs. May has the likely to cause “trouble between” Mary and him.

4. Fern appears to be more apt to display that women will acquiesce when men treat them correctly. She highlights Harry’s love and generosity with his wife. The assumption of the piece states that “there are some husbands worth all the sacrifices.”