Luella thinks, “Papa had taught me that choosing a husband was as much about survival as it was love.” (p. 60) What did you think of this statement? Do you think it’s equally true today as it was in the 19th century?
I agree with that statement, especially during the era that the Kingdom was founded. Women needed support, protection,physical strength a man could provide and companionship. I dont think its as critical today as women have learned to make their own way. But, finding love along with that is definitely a blessing.
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I think that statement was very true in the 19th century. Maybe not so much today, but it is often the case for a woman who has no other means of making it in the world. Especially if children are involved.
First of all, I applaud the fact Papa spoke to his daughter about what you should think about before committing to marriage. Papa was giving Luella permission to get on with her life, and probably expected she would continue to be Queen and help the community. I don’t think it’s equally true today because a large percentage of women are doing well financially and I think they have more of a sense of themselves than back in the 19th century. I feel choosing a husband today has more to do with being friends with each other, love, and of course how they will share financial responsibilities.
it was important then as options for women were limited. I don’t think that is true now.
Unfortunately, it can still be true today, though not as much as it was back then. Although women can make it on their own just fine, many are still underpaid and underappreciated in the work environments and often struggle to make ends meet because of it.
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That statement was very true in the 19th century. I think it is still true today, but to a lesser extent. Having a partner to share life with, assuming it is a good partner, makes life easier for both people.
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I believe that it was much needed then as women needed support then. They needed a lot more support then that they do now. We are seen as more “equal” today depending on how you look at things. I do not believe the statement is as important today as it was then.
I do think this is prévalent today, although not as enduring. My first spouse had substance abuse issues and haphazard income. It made for a lot of chaos and trauma. Back then, women were stuck for life with an abusive spouse and did not have opportunities for divorce. I found the dynamic between the 2 brothers and Luella complex and interesting.
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Within the timeframe of the novel, Papa’s statement was definitely spot on in all aspects of a woman’s life. Today, it may not hold as much strength if the woman is in a good relationship, but if she is in a poor relationship, it is no different than it was during the time of the novel. Poor relationships still translate to financial difficulties, abuse, mental health issues, etc.
I think this statement was very true in that time. Luella’s father was wanting to do everything he could to ensure she was safe, and this wisdom is an important example of that. I don’t think it rings as true today, where we can in most situations consider love first without jeopardizing safety.
It was definitely true in the past when women didn’t have many options. They were often viewed as property, may not be eligible to inherit or trusted in business and financing. About the best that most women could hope for was marrying well. If that included love, then they could count themselves lucky!