登陆注册
5241300000046

第46章 CHAPTER 4(6)

But his daughters -- their marriage may depend upon it: and his wife, whois unable to enter into or understand the objects for which these sacrificesare made -- who, if she thought them worth any sacrifice, would think soon trust, and solely for his sake -- who could participate in none of theenthusiasm or the self-approbation he himself may feel, while the thingswhich he is disposed to sacrifice are all in all to her; will not the bestand most unselfish man hesitate the longest before bringing on her this consequence?

If it be not the comforts of life, but only social consideration, that isat stake, the burthen upon his conscience and feelings is still very severe.

Whoever has a wife and children has given hostages to Mrs Grundy. The approbationof that potentate may be a matter of indifference to him, but it is of greatimportance to his wife. The man himself may be above opinion, or may findsufficient compensation in the opinion of those of his own way of thinking.

But to the women connected with him, he can offer no compensation. The almostinvariable tendency of the wife to place her influence in the same scalewith social consideration, is sometimes made a reproach to women, and representedas a peculiar trait of feebleness and childishness of character in them: surely with great injustice. Society makes the whole life of a woman, inthe easy classes, a continued self sacrifice; it exacts from her an unremittingrestraint of the whole of her natural inclinations, and the sole return itmakes to her for what often deserves the name of a martyrdom, is consideration.

Her consideration is inseparably connected with that of her husband, andafter paying the full price for it, she finds that she is to lose it, forno reason of which she can feel the cogency. She has sacrificed her wholelife to it, and her husband will not sacrifice to it a whim, a freak, aneccentricity; something not recognised or allowed for by the world, and whichthe world will agree with her in thinking a folly, if it thinks no worse!

The dilemma is hardest upon that very meritorious class of men, who, withoutpossessing talents which qualify them to make a figure among those with whomthey agree in opinion, hold their opinion from conviction, and feel boundin honour and conscience to serve it, by making profession of their belief,and giving their time, labour, and means, to anything undertaken in its behalf.

The worst case of all is when such men happen to be of a rank and positionwhich of itself neither gives them, nor excludes them from, what is consideredthe best society; when their admission to it depends mainly on what is thoughtof them personally -- and however unexceptionable their breeding and habits,their being identified with opinions and public conduct unacceptable to thosewho give the tone to society would operate as an effectual exclusion. Manya woman flatters herself (nine times out of ten quite erroneously) that nothingprevents her and her husband from moving in the highest society of her neighbourhood-- society in which others well known to her, and in the same class of life,mix freely -- except that her husband is unfortunately a Dissenter, or hasthe reputation of mingling in low radical politics. That it is, she thinks,which hinders George from getting a commission or a place, Caroline frommaking an advantageous match, and prevents her and her husband from obtaininginvitations, perhaps honours, which, for aught she sees, they are as wellentitled to as some folks. With such an influence in every house, eitherexerted actively, or operating all the more powerfully for not being asserted,is it any wonder that people in general are kept down in that mediocrityof respectability which is becoming a marked characteristic of modern times?

There is another very injurious aspect in which the effect, not of women'sdisabilities directly, but of the broad line of difference which those disabilitiescreate between the education and character of a woman and that of a man,requires to be considered. Nothing can be more unfavourable to that unionof thoughts and inclinations which is the ideal of married life. Intimatesociety between people radically dissimilar to one another, is an idle dream.

同类推荐
  • 论书

    论书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • Lay Morals

    Lay Morals

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 周子全书

    周子全书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 邱祖秘传大丹直指

    邱祖秘传大丹直指

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 丽白楼诗话

    丽白楼诗话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 穿越女配的反击

    穿越女配的反击

    身为孤儿她奋斗了26年,从小她就懂得只有自己努力才能好好活下去的道理,在终于可以平平安安的生活下去的时候,她居然穿越了,还是穿成了书中最大的恶毒女配,她本想好好的完成一个女配应该完成的事情然后回去,可是男主偏偏不让其如意,当她开始奋起反击的时候,一个一个让她震惊的秘密慢慢的被揭开……
  • 一夜惊喜,总裁乖乖就擒

    一夜惊喜,总裁乖乖就擒

    一夜惊喜,他以为只是黄粱一梦,却不曾想到有了老婆还有孩子。一个有苦难言,一个不满不爽。“结婚吧。”“结就结。”从此开始了鸡飞狗跳的生活。当他爱上她,却没想到,她竟然丢下他,跑了。再度归来,她成了万千男人追捧的赌城五小姐,无数高富帅保驾护航,而他只能看着流口水,有老婆却不能睡。阴谋,诡异,手段,她都可以轻易化解。“老婆,跟我回家吧。”她听了,淡淡一笑,指着一排男人:“他们都想跟我结婚,你嘛!排队吧。”“排第几?”“倒数第一。”他怒了,他宫俊泽的女人,还被这么多男人虎视眈眈,直接打包扛回家。
  • 古今译经图纪

    古今译经图纪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 宿命决

    宿命决

    新的大幕已经拉开,诸神的时代已经到来!少年如何挣脱宿命。一语成譏《宿命决》。
  • 甜甜的霸总轮到我了吗

    甜甜的霸总轮到我了吗

    听闻风华总裁不近女色,却在某天上班时下巴上多了个牙印,一时间总裁有了女人的消息不胫而走,众女一口咬定:不可能!后来,女方小号被扒,红艳艳的结婚证闪瞎了众人的眼,众女捶胸顿足:好好的白菜怎么被猪拱了?夜晚,女孩巧笑嫣然:她们说我是猪。男人沉默。后来,大总裁小号被扒,上面赫然写着:能拱到我家丫头这颗小白菜,实属不易。*某次出差,他问:“夫人最近在做什么?”答曰:“夫人最近在琢磨三餐吃什么。”连续半个月,回答依旧。他终于得以回家,和半夜去厨房里翻东西的某女大眼瞪小眼。他盯着她的肚子,“有了?”答曰:“有了。”于是白三少大手一挥,第二天家里多了不同国家的厨子。某女感叹:果然败家。
  • 剩女恋爱手册

    剩女恋爱手册

    论长相,论家世,论学历……无论哪样,陈薇在“合适”的年龄,能够把自己顺利嫁出去,按道理说应该是件非常“轻而易举”的事的。然而,初恋男友弃自己而去;“数个”爱慕者也都陆续娶了如花家眷;就连那个一直苦苦追求自己,自己当时最看不上的“弱弱小男生”,都如愿娶了娇妻……他终于出现了——完全符合陈薇择偶标准的那个他——睿智、沉稳、魅力无限……陈薇毫不犹豫地沦陷了——没错,她爱上的,是个典型的“霸道总裁”!然而,此“霸道总裁”非彼“霸道总裁”,他有妻,有女,有家室……
  • 腹黑少爷卖萌控

    腹黑少爷卖萌控

    顾晨曦被人不小心推入水中,碰巧“见义勇为”救了溺水的“洛氏集团”大少爷洛司辰。从此这位大少爷开始装疯卖傻死赖在她家,并且没有下限得卖萌倒贴吃豆腐。当一位有钱少爷无耻得赖在你的身边,钱包里大把的钞票任你花,不仅豆腐任你吃,还花钱被你吃豆腐时你会不会得瑟!--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 王爷束手就擒:无良刁妃

    王爷束手就擒:无良刁妃

    哎呀呀,不得了,大名鼎鼎的战神王爷这次碰到了对手。新婚之夜被王妃丢进了倌馆高价拍卖,并请来所有人围观不说,还被人说功能有障碍!第二天居然还被王妃在大街小巷贴满了休书。休夫原因:新婚之夜夜宿倌馆,犯七出之条,不守男德!等九王爷气急败坏的找回去的时候,却只收到王妃留下的一份礼物——油纸伞:你若不举,便是晴天!哼,想娶我?!先问问本姑娘的拳头答应不答应!
  • 题晖师影堂

    题晖师影堂

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 中国历史名人之八(中国历史名人传记)

    中国历史名人之八(中国历史名人传记)

    朱元璋当元末农民起义之际,驱走了蒙族统治者,建立了汉族新政权——明朝(公元1368~1644年)。建国之初,人心是振奋的。全国上下,久乱思治。在一个时期里,经济繁荣,社会安定。明朝发生过的“大事”,择其要者,阐介如下。伴随着这些“大事”,就是本卷中出现的“名人”,读者可以从本卷中详细了解事情的来龙去脉,以及名人的详细传记资料。