In the story The Revolt of Mother, the mother goes against her husband's wishes and moves into the barn. The whole town freaks out and the minister visits her in hopes of convincing her to move back to the house. This reaction by the town could reflect the role the community plays in a person's life, as well as how it dictates social norms. As with Dickson and Twain with the overall acceptance and criticism of their pieces is dictated by the social climate and accepted subjects of the time. As learned in class, women were allowed to own property but only under specific conditions. Either through a will or the widow's third, each limiting what and how much the woman would receive. Taking this into account, the control over certain areas of the home, namely where and what is the home is primarily up to the man and left to the woman to obey. This story, however, breaks the established societal norm and allows the woman freedom.
This allowance of power is still left up to the man. The freedom in having her will being obeyed is only dictated by the man allowing her to stay in the barn. In truth, their would be very little the husband could do to remove her, especially since divorce was very hard to come by and was only granted with special circumstances, but he still could have said no. So did the men actually still have the power? Society would have the women believe this, but was society coning women into thinking they had any control? So the question really is, who is dominant and who is submissive?
I would say that yes the man probably had more power at the time, but what the story provides is an example of a woman taking the reins. So as for you last question, I would have to say that in the story yes, Father is the submissive one. But since the story does show how a woman can in fact have some power as well, I can venture to guess that women in the period were smart enough to do what Mother did and figure out a way to get what they wanted too.
ReplyDeleteChris Kiick
To your question I think she may have fallen into a false sense of power, because yes she was able to move into the barn and let her will be had. But her husband did not fight her on it so he probably agreed with the arrangement and saw it as a situation to that just worked out for him. If he really had a problem with it he would have just had the wife move back in, but to look good in the town’s eye and still what he wants, he just appeared like he was being good and she is still reflected badly upon.
ReplyDeleteThe description of Adoniram's complete surrender says something about the power relationship, too. He can try to shut down her complaints, but doesn't know how to fight her--and moving back to the house might make those delicious custard and mince pies disappear forever, if she got angry.
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