Marriage in Clandestine Scotland
Marriage; the union of two individuals into a sacred bond that is intended to last and grow over a lifetime, is significantly different from culture to culture and society to society. Marriage in a tribal society in Africa has many different meanings and applications to it, than the union of two people in matrimony, in England. Rules, practices and legislation of marriage in one culture and even a single class within the aforementioned culture also differs from what it was in centuries past. The marriage practices and customs of present day England have changed significantly from those of the 17th century. This is most true when studying the higher social groups, the Aristocratic and gentry classes in England. Marriage in seventeenth century 'high' English society had many political, economic and social implications attached to it. Reasons for marriage were not structured mainly love and compassion, such as it is today; rather the political and economic stature of both families were of great concern and therefore played a large role in marriage. For this reason, the fathers of the couple to be wed had the greatest interest in the wedding, as they had the most to gain or lose. The lack of control over the 'most important ev
was not marriage of love, rather a marriage of two families for economic gain or at least relief from the financial burden of unwed adults. " Not only would the new wife be a subject to her husband but he would have power over her to do as he pleased and concern for her wants was of no matter. Economically, he would be better of marrying her than having to support her throughout her life and then pay allowances to her after his death to ensure her comfort. The importance of producing a male heir to carry on the family name was above any other concern for the happiness of the marriage. It was therefore accepted in the gentry that women could refuse to marry a suitor chosen for her. " Women who were of age to be set up in a marriage, new that this marriage would give them security in life but at the expense of their liberty and freedom. The couple's meeting, corting and wedding were set up by the father. It can be said that the marriage in 17th century England for the high gentry' classes, was more of a political and economic deal between to men, involving their children (a son and a daughter) for the succession of the family business, name and estate. Too much room for error leading to family embarrassment, economic and social losses by letting the young man choose his partner. They could not be trusted to choose a man as it would be based on circumstances of romance and love, leaving out the political, social and economic reasons which dominated the decision of whom to marry. The groom's father was not free from the financial burden of his son's marriage. "[The] father of the groom had to undertake a far wider set of obligations [than the father of the bride]. "Those with the strongest vested interest in the couple's marriage, and the most powerful sanctions of it were the parents. The most important was the provision of a future jointure, or annual allowance for support of the bride during her widowhood.
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