03.10 And Justice For All

In "A Jury of Her Peers" there is a moment when, "the eyes of the two women [Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters] met—this time clung together in a look of dawning comprehension, of growing horror." Which line from the story explains this reaction?

"Somebody wrung its neck," said she, in a voice that was slow and deep.

Use evidence from "A Jury of Her Peers" and the Spoon River Anthology epitaphs to explain how literature of the time reflected some women's feelings of being trapped and oppressed by their husbands.

Both pieces of literature show that women did not always appreciate their husbands and how they were respected by them. Over time this has changed but there are still relationships which suffer in ways such as the ones described by the authors. Men can sometimes feel like they should have all the power and are in always in charge, similar to the way Benjamin Franklin describes marriages. In 'A Jury of Her Peers", the men were very offensive and didn't feel the need to hold back rude comments when speaking about the women. This shows how women can feel oppressed by their husbands. In the epitaphs, a few women wrote how they did not feel the same way about their relationship but they were trapped and had to continue on living like that. Both pieces of literature showed different examples about the same subject and were able to show a clear understanding of the matter.

Read the epitaphs of Mr. and Mrs. Purkapile from the Spoon River Anthology and answer the questions that follows. Mrs. Purkapile HE ran away and was gone for a year. When he came home he told me the silly story Of being kidnapped by pirates on Lake Michigan And kept in chains so he could not write me. I pretended to believe it, though I knew very well What he was doing, and that he met The milliner, Mrs. Williams, now and then When she went to the city to buy goods, as she said. But a promise is a promise And marriage is marriage, And out of respect for my own character I refused to be drawn into a divorce By the scheme of a husband who had merely grown tired Of his marital vow and duty. Mr. Purkapile SHE loved me. Oh! how she loved me I never had a chance to escape From the day she first saw me. But then after we were married I thought She might prove her mortality and let me out, Or she might divorce me. But few die, none resign. Then I ran away and was gone a year on a lark. But she never complained. She said all would be well That I would return. And I did return. I told her that while taking a row in a boat I had been captured near Van Buren Street By pirates on Lake Michigan, And kept in chains, so I could not write her. She cried and kissed me, and said it was cruel, Outrageous, inhuman! I then concluded our marriage Was a divine dispensation And could not be dissolved, Except by death. I was right. Recall Benjamin Franklin said, "Good wives usually make good husbands" and "The likeliest Way, either to obtain a good Husband, or to keep one so, is to be Good yourself." What would Benjamin Franklin say about the Purkapile's marriage? Answer in at least three complete sentences using supporting details from the reading in this module.

I believe that based on how Benjamin Franklin views marriages, he would accept the wives behavior towards her husband. Franklin believes that the woman should just please the husband and as a result, he will be good to the wife. In this case, Mrs. Purkapile holds back her true feelings about their relationship because "a promise is a promise". She is hiding her emotions and just acts the way the husband would want her to act. This is a good example of the type of relationship that Franklin was talking about.

The following line from "The Story of an Hour" provides Mrs. Mallard's view of marriage: "There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature." Which word emphasizes male dominance in marriage?

Impose

Explain how Mr. Hale's question, ""But would the women know a clue if they did come upon it?" demonstrates the men's attitude toward the women in "A Jury of Her Peers."

In "A Jury of Her Peers", the men don't seem to sincerely care about how they speak about the women. They are very direct and don't seem to be bothered if they say anything offensive. This question just implies that women wouldn't be smart enough to notice "a clue" if it came up. It is not necessarily about being book smart but also just generally smart and aware of their surroundings. Once again it shows how the men are very direct and don't care much for women's feelings.

Benjamin Franklin said, "Be assured, a Woman's Power, as well as Happiness, has no other Foundation but her Husband's Esteem and Love." Based on her epitaph, how would Mrs. McGee from Spoon River Anthology have responded to Franklin's idea? Use evidence from the McGee's epitaphs to support your conclusion.

Mrs. McGee does not seem to respect her husband and she felt that he was manipulative. Based on how Franklin feels about marriages, Mrs. McGee would have a different opinion. Mrs. MGee seems like she could be a strong and independent woman who does not need to depend on a husband. Based on all this information, I believe she would respond quite harshly to Franklin's views because she already has strong opinions about her husband.

Read the epitaphs of Mr. and Mrs. Purkapile from the Spoon River Anthology and answer the questions that follows. Mrs. Purkapile HE ran away and was gone for a year. When he came home he told me the silly story Of being kidnapped by pirates on Lake Michigan And kept in chains so he could not write me. I pretended to believe it, though I knew very well What he was doing, and that he met The milliner, Mrs. Williams, now and then When she went to the city to buy goods, as she said. But a promise is a promise And marriage is marriage, And out of respect for my own character I refused to be drawn into a divorce By the scheme of a husband who had merely grown tired Of his marital vow and duty. Mr. Purkapile SHE loved me. Oh! how she loved me I never had a chance to escape From the day she first saw me. But then after we were married I thought She might prove her mortality and let me out, Or she might divorce me. But few die, none resign. Then I ran away and was gone a year on a lark. But she never complained. She said all would be well That I would return. And I did return. I told her that while taking a row in a boat I had been captured near Van Buren Street By pirates on Lake Michigan, And kept in chains, so I could not write her. She cried and kissed me, and said it was cruel, Outrageous, inhuman! I then concluded our marriage Was a divine dispensation And could not be dissolved, Except by death. I was right. Which best describes the Purkapile's marriage?

Resentful—they are together because Mrs. Purkapile won't get a divorce.

Which of these best describes Mrs. Peters in "A Jury of Her Peers?"

She had eyes that looked as if they could see a long way into things.

Which of these lines from "The Story of an Hour" reveals the reason for Mrs. Mallard's new found excitement?

There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself.

Read the epitaphs of Mr. and Mrs. Purkapile from the Spoon River Anthology and answer the questions that follows. Mrs. Purkapile HE ran away and was gone for a year. When he came home he told me the silly story Of being kidnapped by pirates on Lake Michigan And kept in chains so he could not write me. I pretended to believe it, though I knew very well What he was doing, and that he met The milliner, Mrs. Williams, now and then When she went to the city to buy goods, as she said. But a promise is a promise And marriage is marriage, And out of respect for my own character I refused to be drawn into a divorce By the scheme of a husband who had merely grown tired Of his marital vow and duty. Mr. Purkapile SHE loved me. Oh! how she loved me I never had a chance to escape From the day she first saw me. But then after we were married I thought She might prove her mortality and let me out, Or she might divorce me. But few die, none resign. Then I ran away and was gone a year on a lark. But she never complained. She said all would be well That I would return. And I did return. I told her that while taking a row in a boat I had been captured near Van Buren Street By pirates on Lake Michigan, And kept in chains, so I could not write her. She cried and kissed me, and said it was cruel, Outrageous, inhuman! I then concluded our marriage Was a divine dispensation And could not be dissolved, Except by death. I was right. Which of these lines from the epitaph directly states Mr. Purkapile's view of the marriage?

Was a divine dispensation/And could not be dissolved,/Except by death.