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Conclusion: Unraveling the Bonds If marriag e ca n b e compare d t o a wove n fabric , the n thi s wor k i s a study o f ho w tha t clot h wa s wove n i n eighteenth - an d earl y nine teenth -century Pennsylvani a an d wha t condition s mad e i t unravel. Thi s examination of marital discord reveals a picture of discontentment cause d both b y evolvin g societa l expectation s an d b y distinction s betwee n how husband s an d wive s viewe d marriage . Change s i n America n so ciety betwee n th e mid-eighteent h an d earl y nineteent h centurie s pro moted an d sprea d a view o f marriag e a s "companionate," wher e hus band an d wif e wer e lovin g partners wh o share d i n makin g importan t decisions. Th e olde r traditio n o f marriag e a s a patriarchal institutio n continued, however , bot h withi n th e law s an d a s a part o f individua l beliefs. Th e encumbrance s o f coverture , fo r instance , kep t marrie d women second-clas s citizens , legall y dependen t upo n thei r husband s for economi c support . Within trouble d marriages , me n an d wome n ofte n ha d disparat e beliefs abou t thei r roles . Whe n eithe r spous e fel t unabl e t o confor m to hi s or he r presume d part , i t caused problem s withi n th e marriage . Similarly, tension s aros e when a wife o r husban d believe d tha t hi s or her spouse did not meet the accepted norms . Conflict s ensue d i n some cases when husband s retaine d thei r patriarcha l viewpoint s whil e thei r wives embrace d newe r companionat e form s o f marriage, an d i n othe r 179 i8o CONCLUSION instances emerge d whe n husband s faile d t o take charge a s the maste r of the house . Thus , i t was no t onl y th e development o f new expecta tions , bu t als o gender distinction s regardin g th e ne w way s o f lookin g at marriage tha t cause d marita l discor d durin g thi s time . Men and women were therefore tor n between the conflicting more s of thei r society . Ho w coul d wome n b e morall y superio r an d ye t s o dependent? Ho w coul d me n b e partner s an d stil l b e "head " o f th e household? Althoug h thes e conflict s hav e ye t t o b e resolve d eve n i n the twentiet h century , the y wer e particularl y acut e i n thi s perio d o f rapid transition . Wit h th e worl d changin g al l aroun d them , som e in dividuals embrace d ne w standards , whil e other s kep t hol d o f th e ol d in a n attemp t t o recreat e a pas t ideal , n o matte r ho w false , whe n husbands hel d tigh t contro l ove r thei r wive s an d families , an d thei r mates submitte d withou t question . At th e sam e time , man y o f th e problem s the y face d o r create d i n their marriage s existe d i n earlie r period s an d als o exis t today . Som e of the m ha d sexua l problem s o r dran k to o much , other s ha d spouse s who abused them . Affecte d b y changing economic conditions, a s well as b y restriction s place d upo n the m b y thei r assigne d role s a s hus bands o r wives , man y couple s fough t ove r money , arguin g ove r wh o was goin g t o contro l it , o r ho w muc h...

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