This essay delves into an extensive study and analysis of marriage in the Victorian era, exploring the complexities surrounding this topic. It focuses on various aspects of the institution during that time period.
Marriage in the Victorian era was widely discussed and analyzed.
Marriage in the Victorian era was commonly viewed as a means of enhancing social standing, with financial factors outweighing love as a motivation. As a result, Victorians often organized marriages within their families to protect their wealth. This trend is apparent in numerous pieces of Victorian literature.
In Thomas Hardy’s novel, “Desperate Remedies,” we are introduced to Cyntherea, who had to end her relationship with Ambrose Graye as she was about to travel to meet her cousin with whom she had previously flirted. However, he had already departed for India and was now set to return (9). Similarly, another cousin relationship is portrayed between Edward Springrove and Adelaide Hinton, who have been engaged for quite some time (122). The novel raises questions about the societal acceptance of first cousin marriages in the Victorian era. Furthermore, it prompts one to wonder which other relations were permitted to marry and whether the church approved of cousin marriages.
Cousins getting married in the Victorian era was not the first time the idea was discussed. In the 1650s, The Religious Society of Friends decided to ban marriage between cousins. In 1840, a man named Thomas Hodgkin contested this rule, arguing that it was not prohibited by the Bible and that there were no medical reasons to forbid it. Despite his appeal being denied, marriage between first cousins was ultimately allowed in the late nineteenth century.
During Victorian times, wooing was seen as more of a strategic move than a romantic encounter for a young man. This is because all of a woman’s belongings would be transferred to him upon marriage. The act of getting married was only encouraged within one’s own social class. If someone aspired to marry above their social standing, they were regarded as an upstart. Conversely, marrying someone of lower societal status was seen as marrying beneath oneself (Hoppe 2). Marriages between cousins were common as a means to maintain the same social standing and retain property within the family.
In Victorian fiction, many characters married their first cousins, which was considered legal by both civil and spiritual authorities. The Church of England’s Book of Common Prayer had a tabular array that listed 30 relations as Prohibitive Degrees.
According to McMurtry, there were certain individuals that one could not marry, and first cousins were not included in this list (McMurtry 215). One person on this list that was forbidden to marry was the deceased wife’s sister. This type of marriage was also not depicted in fiction. It was considered unacceptable for a man to marry a woman in this category because his former wife’s relatives became his own, thus making the husband and wife one entity. Therefore, marrying her sister would be considered incest (McMurtry 216). There were attempts over the course of a year to remove one of the prohibited categories by allowing marriage with a deceased wife’s sister. Despite significant changes during the Victorian era, marriage laws still granted more rights to men compared to women at the end of the century (Shanley 478).
Elizabeth Browning’s poetry novel “Aurora Leigh” also addresses the topic of first cousin matrimony. The work centers around a young woman who is dedicated to her poetry and addresses societal issues related to women. It also explores Aurora’s ambitions and aspirations for her poetic career. In the novel, Aurora declines a marriage proposal from her cousin Romney, who wishes for her to support his broad causes.
During the Victorian era, it appeared that people primarily focused on wealth and personal comfort, which is acceptable. However, marrying a relative solely for the purpose of preserving family possessions seems to be excessive. Nowadays, in the twenty-first century, marrying one’s cousin is strongly discouraged and the only time such marriages are witnessed is on The Jerry Springer Show.
Cited Plants
Browning, Elizabeth. Aurora Leigh. The Norton Anthology of
English Literature edited by M.H. Abrams and Stephen
Greenblatt. New York: Norton.
Hardy, Thomas. Desperate Remedies. 1871. New York:
Published by Penguin in 1998.
Michelle Hoppe’s book “Wooing the Victorian Woman” is set in New York.
The text, “
Penguin, 1998.
“, remains unchanged.
McMurtry, Jo. Victorian Life and Victorian Fiction. Connecticut:
Archon Books, 1979.
Shanley, Mary’s book “Marriage Law” discusses the laws regarding marriage in Victorian Britain.
Sally Mitchell’s book, published in New York in 1988, is titled Garland.
