Whately divides a wife’s chief obligation into two parts. First, the wife should admit and realize that the husband is superior to her. Second, the wife should carry herself as inferior and realize that her place is the lower part of the life pyramid. Whately mentioned that a wife must do what the husband said and the wife should know she is not equal to the husband. Whately reminded the wives to consider their husbands first before themselves (DiCaprio and Wiesner). Otherwise, a couple will forever have a family battle and hard time if the wife does not realize that her husband is superior to her.
The metaphor that Whately uses is how God is a step higher than her, therefore, a husband is superior to a wife. Whately further says that the husband’s will should tie a wife and the wife’s wishes. Whately emphasizes that it is the wife responsibility to consider her husband’s desires and needs before and above her own needs. Whatley compares a couple’s life to a broken horse who turns at the least turning and stands at the riders control zone. According to DiCaprio and Wiesner, Whately believed that marriage is sacred and a blessing from God.
The role that sexual relations play in marriage begins with mutual attachment and love, which are necessary for sex to be right. Whately suggests that lovemaking should be orderly without any mean desires. Lovemaking should be done in line with the wife’s body schedule. Whately describes sexual relations as having three properties that are crucial in every marriage (DiCaprio and Wiesner). First, sexual relations must be sanctified to prevent married people from making love from their own desires. Second, sexual relations should be done at lawful times implying that women should not have sex on their period. Third, sexual relations must be cheerful.
Works Cited
DiCaprio, Lisa, and Merry E Wiesner. Lives And Voices. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Co., 2001. Print.
