While reading chapter 15 and 16, I was perplexed upon reading what was happening. But then I realized what was happening as I kept reading on. It appears that Louisa marries Bounderby because she wanted to please her father by marrying this 50 year old man. It seems as if in this time period (The Industrial Revolution) people do not marry each other based the principal of LOVE. Louisa agreed to marry Bounderby even though she was sure she didn’t love this man. Could it be that marriage wasn’t as sacred back then as it is today? Did they believe love wasn’t an important key role in marriage and other relationships? We’ve seen this happen twice so far in the book: Stephen and his wife; and Louisa and Bounderby. Do you think this is just a coincidence or did love have no meaning in marriage?
Honestly, I don't believe marriage WASN'T as sacred back then as it is today; I just think that marriage wasn't enforced or taught properly (in Louisa and Bounderby's case) because remember: Mr. Gradgrind brought up his household in a way that deprived his children the tools/resources needed to experience wonder, imagination, and of course, love. For Bounderby, this was in fact "love" because he indeed wanted to marry this Louisa Gradgrind. On the other hand, like stated previously, Louisa didn't know how to comprehend or respond to the "business proposal" composed by her father to Bounderby because she simply did not know what love or marriage were or required. Gradgrind impressed a realist mindset into his own young daughter's mentality.
ReplyDeleteStephen and his wife, however, did have love in the earlier days of their marriage. But, after her exile from Coketown and eventual turn to alcohol, their marriage eventually collapsed into turmoil. So, for this situation in marriage, love was a key role, until the deamands of their "hard times" in industry (perhaps) took over their lives.
During the time of the Industrial Revolution, I personally believe that marriage was just as important as present times, yet the selected characters portrayed love under special circumstances. Louisa was raised with morals that don't give her any guidance to be independent. She leads an orderly life, separating herself from emotion. Mr. Bounderby seemed to be the only one to propose marriage to Louisa, so seeing no further options in her future, she decides to accept. In the case of Stephen Blackpool, marriage is displayed as rough and perplexing. Although we see that is wife is sick and drunk throughout the time of the book, she may have not been like that when she married Stephen. At one point in time, their love may have been enjoyable, but difficult situations naturally arise, slowly destructing individual's lives. I think these marriages are natural situations that arise in various settings, and Charles Dickens exhibits these dilemmas through the main characters of Louisa and Stephen.
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