The gendered foundations of marriage

Quote

Character

Chapter no.

“Matrimony, as the origin of change, was always disagreeable; and he was by no means yet reconciled to his own daughter’s marrying.”

Omniscient narrator

Volume I, Chapter 1

“The real evils, indeed, of Emma’s situation were the power of having rather too much her own way, and a disposition to think a little too well of herself; these were the disadvantages which threatened alloy to her many enjoyments.”

Omniscient narrator

Volume I, Chapter 1

“Harriet’s claims to marry well are not so contemptible as you represent them [. . . ] I am very much mistaken if your sex in general would not think such beauty, and such temper, the highest claims a woman could possess."

Emma

Volume I, Chapter 8

“I believe few married women are half as much mistress of their husband’s house as I am of Hartfield; and never, never could I expect to be so truly beloved and important; so always first and always right in any man’s eyes as I am in my father’s.”

Emma

Volume I, Chapter 10

“I shall not be a poor old maid; and it is poverty only which makes celibacy contemptible to a generous public! A single woman, with a very narrow income, must be a ridiculous, disagreeable, old maid! the proper sport of boys and girls, but a single woman, of good fortune, is always respectable, and may be as sensible and pleasant as anybody else.”

Emma

Volume I, Chapter 10

“[Jane] has a fault. She has not the open temper which a man would wish for in a wife.”

Mr Knightley

Volume II, Chapter 33

“[Frank] is a disgrace to the name of man. And he is to be rewarded with that sweet young woman?”

Mr Knightley

Volume III, Chapter 49

“She felt that, in quitting Donwell, [Knightley] must be sacrificing a great deal of independence of hours and habits.”

Omniscient narrator

Volume III, Chapter 51