How does the relationship of Margaret and William challenge or conform to 17th-century gender roles in Margaret the First?
In Danielle Dutton’s novel, Margaret the First, the marriage between Margaret and William Cavendish provides a prism through which to examine the intricacies of gender roles in 17th-century England. The relationship between Margaret and William is remarkably unusual in that it respects and encourages Margaret's intellectual endeavors, since the majority of marriages during that era followed norms that confined women to household responsibilities. However, their relationship is unable to completely transcend the social systems that provide Margaret's career a significant boost from William's riches and status. In their progressive yet conventional marriage, this dynamic simultaneously defies and complies with gender norms of the 17th century mainly through the relationship’s impact on Margaret’s literacy work.
On the one hand, their relationship goes against the grain because William actively encourages Margaret to pursue her literary goals, which is unusual during a period when women were mainly shut out of the arts and intellectual life. By supporting her writing, giving her tools, and valuing her uniqueness, he fosters an intellectually stimulating and respectful relationship that was uncommon for the time. Margaret also made it a point to share her work with William, as she mentions, “I shared each page with William, often before the ink had dried.” (Dutton 74) Thus, representing how present and active he was within her work. Furthermore, when William says, "I’ve long admired your books as they are." (Dutton 111) It demonstrates William's profound admiration for Margaret's intelligence and inventiveness, which is a crucial component of their relationship's subversion of gender norms in the 17th century. William's sincere appreciation for Margaret's writing highlights his progressive outlook during a period when women's writing was frequently disregarded or needed male approval to acquire validity. He accepts her ideas and lets her creative voice thrive on its own without trying to change, censor, or control her work. Their relationship is framed as one of intellectual equality, with William supporting her goals rather than acting as an overseer. At the same time, this moment also subtly reflects societal expectations, as William’s endorsement carries weight in legitimizing Margaret’s work within a male-dominated literary world. His role as a nobleman provides Margaret with the platform to publish and defend her writing, which might not have been possible without his protection and status. Thus, while this highlights the ways their relationship challenges gender norms by fostering mutual respect, it also reveals the extent to which their relationship operates within the confines of 17th-century societal structures.
Margaret and William Cavendish's marriage in Margaret the First serves as an example of how resistance and conformity interact within the strict gender norms of 17th-century England. Their relationship highlights the constraints of their time by relying on the perks and protections provided by William's social status, even as it defies conventional standards by promoting intellectual equality and respect for one another, mainly through Margaret’s work.
Dutton, D. (2016). Margaret the first. New York, NY: Catapult.
“Outline 17th-century gender roles” prompt.
Chat GPT, Version 4o, Open AI, (19, November. 2024)
I agree with how you compared and contrasted William and Margaret’s relationship with a conventional 17th century relationship. Margaret was able to be a successful writer because William supported her and saw her as academically equal. William’s status also gave Margaret a platform to stand on for publishing her writing. However, Margaret still fell victim to the gender roles in 17th century society.
ReplyDeleteFor example, Margaret and William try for years to conceive and are unable to do so. Margaret endures lots of medical treatments and sees different doctors throughout the novel to try and remedy the issues they are having. William tries to tell Margaret, “of course, I do not blame you” and “will never hold our disappointment against you” (Dutton, 78). Although William sounds sincere, it is evident he does not fully mean it. In the 17th century, it was a woman’s role to bear children and Margaret is unable to do so. This simple fact sets her apart from the typical gender role she is supposed to play. Additionally, women were often not educated in the 17th century and Margaret falls victim to this within her writing. Margaret believes, “it is against nature for a woman to spell right” (69). Men in the 17th century typically ignored their wives, but William agrees with Margaret comment and supports her regardless of her lack of education. Margaret is still able to publish despite her bad English skills, but the lack of education for women is evident.