Love And Marriage In 18th Century Essays - Philosophy Of Love

Love And Marriage In 18th Century Our aim in this paper will be to analyze and discuss the different ways in which love and marriage were dealt with during the eighteenth century and to what extent these two terms were linked together or considered as opposite. To accomplish this matter we are going to focus our attention on several works that are representative from this period and that reflect in an accurate way the social mores and more specifically, marriage conventions and romantic love. Throughout this discussion we will be emphasizing the idea that marriage is represented in these works as an institution completely detached from love and that it pursues more than anything else economic purposes and an rising in the social hierarchy. First of all we should account for the situation of English women during the eighteenth century, that despite several social improvements, continued having less rights or freedom than men within the family and marriage as an institution. Patriarchal forms were still a deep-rooted custom that ruled society, which was male-centered. Marriage was often forced on women as their only way of having a recognized position in society, but at the same time led them to slavery. Women's property could be spent to the discretion of the husband as she was considered, together with all that she owned, a possession of the husband. Significantly relevant is the fact that the convention of marriages arranged by parents was still widely accepted. Evidences of this aspect can be found in Goldsmith's work She Stoops to Conquer. At the very beginning of the play Mr.Hardcastle expresses that he has already chosen a husband for his young daughter: "Then to be plain with you, Kate, I expect the young gentleman I have chosen to be your husband from town this very day. I have his father's letter, in which he informs me his son is set out, and that he intends to follow himself shortly after." (p. 3) Mr. Hardcastle later explains that he would never control her daughter's choice, but in fact claims that Marlow "(he)'s a man of excellent understanding" (p.4), this meaning that the young gentleman should be the right option for her. Despite her initial disagreement with the idea of this established encounter with the young boy, she finally accepts the meeting after her father's exaltation of the young man's virtues. She then joyfully declares: "My dear papa, say no more (kissing his hand), he's mine, I'll have him!" (p.4). Later on in the play, Tony's false directions lead Marlow and Hastings to the Hardcastle residence, where they believe they can lodge for a decent rate before continuing on to meet Mr. Hardcastle and his beautiful daughter at his estate. This "inn" is actually Mr. Hardcastle mansion, but the travelers do not realize this since the mansion remarkably resembles an inn. Hastings is soon informed of his mistake when he meets Miss Neville, but the couple decides to leave Marlow in ignorance for the time being so that their plans for marriage will not be frustrated by his outrage and embarrassment. In a similar way, in the novel Mary the Wrongs of Woman, Mary Wollstonecraft exposes this same tendency of arranged marriages, where love is forgotten and only the possible benefits that both parts can obtain from the union are taken into account. Hence, the way in which Darnford asserts "my father and mother were people of fashion; married by their parents" (p.94) should not be taken as a striking statement for this matter was considered in the eighteenth century the usual procedure to follow . It is also important to remark that Mary loses her case because the judge considers that "it was her duty to love and obey the man chosen by her parents and relations, who were qualified by their experience to judge better for her, than she could for herself " (p.199). Therefore it is not stunning that the idea of marriage is often understood as a social custom generally detached from love. This detachment not only concerns marriage directed by someone superior but also the economical benefits taken out of it. We can set an example in Henry Fielding's Joseph Andrews, and more precisely in the chapters referring to the story of the young lovers Leonora and Horatio. With the appearance of Bellarmine, a fine"gentleman who owned a Coach and Six" (p.135), breaking into Leonora's life, she reconsiders her engagement with Horatio, who had "not even a Pair" (p.138). Being a young and inexperienced girl, Leonora asks her aunt for

How to Write a College Classification Essay 3 Steps to a Masterpiece

How to Write a College Classification Essay 3 Steps to a Masterpiece How to Write a College Classification Essay: 3 Steps to a Masterpiece Amongst a great variety of college papers, classification essay is probably one of the easiest. It’s pretty brief and doesn’t require an in-depth and too lasting research. Nonetheless, you should never think that you will write as if it’s a simple stroll in the local park. This would be a mistake. A classification essay is a responsible piece of writing. This paper type is related to the organization of certain things, facts, terms, etc. into definite and logical categories. This piece of writing is needed for the convenience while arranging information. Such essay simplifies complex terms and makes them easier to comprehend. You won’t mess up things if you see that they are divided into groups with similar roots. In order to cope with this paper, you should remember three crucial steps. These are: Dividing things into logical categories. Classifying categories with one principle. Supporting every category using examples. Prior to reviewing those three essential guidelines, it’s necessary to highlight one crucial point. A classification essay can be successfully completed if finding categories correctly. Your task is to sort out, classify, and bind the things together in a reasonable way. This can be achieved if knowing how to relate topics to one another. For instance, your task is to classify sporting events. There may be two large groups like summer and winter sports. You can delve deeper and sort out separate competitions that can take place outdoors and indoors etc. Therefore, you should find and stick to a certain defining principle to divide all variables. 1. Determine the Category Once you pick up a topic, you should make a proper research on all possible things that might be associated with it. This information will help you understand what category you are to classify. That is why the compiling of all facts is so significant. Be thorough! Use critical thinking and analyze all details. Of course, you ought to verify the data you are going to implement into your text. You should know the peculiarities. 2. Use a Single Classification Principle Every classification essay writer would confirm the golden rule for this essay type – use a single principle to classify your topic. It would make no sense in using different principles for one category. Under such a condition, you would simply mess the things up. However, the main objective of this essay type is to simplify and clarify your research. Therefore, you should learn all possible principles. Your next move is to choose the most suitable one. The perfect combination would be the principle, which fits in the content and your personal writing style. 3. Provide Equal Examples After you select the single principle and determine your category, support the studied research. Regardless of how many categories you are classifying in your essay, find equal examples for each. The number of examples should be the same. It would be wrong to support a certain category with too many. Their essence should be even as well. Probably, you will devote more energy to the main category. Accordingly, it might take more time. Nonetheless, you ought to follow status quo. Some Additional Points It is worth mentioning the typical transitions. These are either kind, or type, or group. Thus, choosing a group, there should go the first – second – third group, etc. Do not add kind or type. This would be a mistake, and you will lose a lot of grades. You should keep clarity in your research. Undoubtedly, a lot depends on the topic of your essay. If you are given the prerogative to choose on your own, you will reap great rewards. You will have a chance to choose the one that is interesting to you. Thus, the process of classification would run smoothly. As a topic, you may choose: Major events in the American history. Countries classification (population, territory, etc.). Classification of psychological diseases. Sporting events. Popular books, movies or TV shows, etc. It’s up to you what to choose. Of course, you should make sure that the classified topic will be interesting, helpful, and relevant to your audience as well. Thus, you will earn more grades to sustain your academic progress.