To+The+Ladies

**To the Ladies by Lady Mary Chudleigh** Pg. 357 textbook questions:

1.What is the alternative to the slavery of marriage? It was almost impossible for women of any social status to divorce their husband during the 18th century. "For when the fatal knot is tied, / Which nothing, nothing can divide" (lines 3-4)

Therefore, the poem suggests that women must love and value themselves and be hateful towards men, especially those who are deceptive. "Then shun, oh! shun that wretched state, And all the fawning flatterers hate, Value yourself, and men despise: You must be proud, if you'll be wise." (lines 21-24) 2. Who are the "fawning flatterers" women are advised to hate? What do these flatterers have to do with the tyrannical husbands of the poem? They are men who shower praises, appearing to be kind and sweet, in order to win the hearts of women. This was the kind of behaviour that the husbands presented themselves when courting. Once the woman is finally married to him and she, by law, has become his property, his true and cruel personality shows through.

"When she the word //Obey// has said, And man by law supreme has made, Then all that's **kind** is laid aside, <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">And nothing left but **state** and pride." (lines 5-8) kind:natural state:pompous behaviour