JA on the double standard
Posted by Linden on August 10, 1998 at 23:25:27:
In response to Wait a minute....., written by Caroline on August 09, 1998 at 10:50:41
] I'd love to know whether thay can be justified using what Jane Austen said, did and wrote.
There isn't much about sex in JA, but there is a clear statement about the double standard near the end of Mansfield Park, when Henry Crawford gets off with a much lighter punishment for adultery than Maria.
Divorce rules were also based on a double standard: he could divorce her for simple adultery, but she could only divorce him if he deserted her or moved his mistress into the house as well.
The wise wife wouldn't ask her husband about his pre-marital adventures (indeed, it's still not a bad piece of advice). Can you imagine Anne in Persuasion asking Captain Wentworth about ALL his activities while he was a sailor?
Posting followups to old messages is disabled; instead go to the main index and post a new message which mentions this one.
