Comparing The Coquette And The Awakening

Women at the end of both the 18th and 19th centuries had very little say in what happened in their lives. This was particularly true in the area of romantic relationships and marriage. Eliza from The Coquette and Edna from The Awakening both face dilemmas in this area as a single and married woman respectively. Although each dies a tragic death, they demonstrate a shift in the moral fiber of society not to occur for many years. These women challenge their era’s standards about relational morality and personal autonomy through making independent choices based on their emotions. In the late 18th century, the world ran under a heavily patriarchal system. Women mattered to society solely based on their attachment to men and ability to bear children. A young lady could expect her worth not to extend beyond her virginity and fertility. Fathers, uncles, and brothers often made all the decisions regarding suitors and official marriage relationships, though mothers and other post-menopausal women could sometimes supervise or oversee these connections for lack of a male relation (Cayton 295-6). Also, to further facilitate these arrangements, individuals of the late 1700’s followed a strict system of puritan courtship. To ensure that no damage could come to a woman’s value, as previously defined by her sexual …show more content…
Boyer she wishes to delay the marriage between them. He considers this to signify attraction to Major Sanford and indecision between the two men. While Eliza continues to see Major Sanford, she makes clear to him her decision. Major Sanford protests, of course, and urges her to reconsider. She does, indicating her attraction to him, but she also seeks his company because he has additional entertainment value as a friend. Mr. Boyer, however, does not understand this desire to have a male friend one does not actively pursue a relationship with as an adherent of the traditional values of the day, and ends their