In Margaret Cavendish’s play The Convent of Pleasure during act three, another play performs for the Princess and Lady Happy, as well as the rest of the convent. The performance obviously is aware of the spectatorship, since the only people who will watch the play performed, and the only people who will perform in the play, are women. Understandably, this play would be completely different if the performance’s direction were at men, since a considerable amount of the portrayals of men would most likely cause uproar among a more gender balanced audience. The convent provides a safe place for the women to perform possible realities of a married women’s life. Thus, it also reinforces the women to stay inside the convent. Most of the themes during
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Obviously, the princess cannot fully act like a man, considering she would run the risk of exposing herself as the prince to Lady Happy. However, the princess appears to possess the same ideal as other men. Particularly, men believe that women would be happier in marriage than they would be if they were single. This is not only mentioned after the women perform, but also earlier on when Monsieur Take-pleasure and Dick are having a conversation and Dick explains that “Women never think themselves happy in marriage.” To which Take-pleasure responds with “You are mistaken; for Women never think themselves happy until they be Married.” (II. i) This shows that they unsuccessfully pay attention to a woman’s emotions, and disregards that women find displeasure with how their marriages have negatively impacted their lives. Despite even seeing the play for himself, where women quite literally confess their discontent, the prince still believes that more women are happier in marriage than not. Thus, the prince fails to understand the entire purpose of the play or even of that the convent existing was a result of Lady Happy not wanting to subject herself to an unhappy marriage and a burden given to her by
Obviously, the princess cannot fully act like a man, considering she would run the risk of exposing herself as the prince to Lady Happy. However, the princess appears to possess the same ideal as other men. Particularly, men believe that women would be happier in marriage than they would be if they were single. This is not only mentioned after the women perform, but also earlier on when Monsieur Take-pleasure and Dick are having a conversation and Dick explains that “Women never think themselves happy in marriage.” To which Take-pleasure responds with “You are mistaken; for Women never think themselves happy until they be Married.” (II. i) This shows that they unsuccessfully pay attention to a woman’s emotions, and disregards that women find displeasure with how their marriages have negatively impacted their lives. Despite even seeing the play for himself, where women quite literally confess their discontent, the prince still believes that more women are happier in marriage than not. Thus, the prince fails to understand the entire purpose of the play or even of that the convent existing was a result of Lady Happy not wanting to subject herself to an unhappy marriage and a burden given to her by