In England back in the 18th century spousal abuse was a very common thing. Spousal abuse in the 18th century was in fact not against the laws, back then husbands were given the right to strike their wives in order to correct their conduct (i.e. their behavior). For example, One judge, Francis Buller, even went so far as to specify that a husband could beat his wife with a stick so long as it was no thicker than his thumb, he was nick named ‘Judge Thumb’. This is not how a person should treat his own wife it is very wrong. In Wuthering Heights, Isabelle was beaten brutaly by Heathcliff. Heathcliff only beat Isabelle because she had the same eyes as her brothers. The beating by Heathcliff put Isabella in a bad condition, and she was horrified at the man she had married. With spousal abuse this was common in the 18th century. I simply find that this is extremely terrible and this is not how a husband should behave towards his wife. However, the person who put a stop to spousal abuse was in fact a woman by the name of Mary Eleanor Bowes. Mary married an adventurer by the name of Andrew Robinson Stoney, the marriage was not a happy one Andrew treated Mary very horribly. Mary instituted divorce proceedings in 1785 but Andrew then kidnapped her and tortured her brutally. Mary had been weakened to the point that she could not stand for a month or walk across a room for six weeks. However, she was rescued and Andrew was sent to prison.
Question 1. After a careful analysis of the topic, what would you have done if you were in the same situation Mary was in? and why?
Sources:
http://www.westminster-abbey.org/our-history/people/mary-eleanor-bowes
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1131262/Britains-worst-husband-How-18th-centurys-Andrew-Robinson-Bowes-make-spouse-look-saint.html
Question 1. After a careful analysis of the topic, what would you have done if you were in the same situation Mary was in? and why?
Sources:
http://www.westminster-abbey.org/our-history/people/mary-eleanor-bowes
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1131262/Britains-worst-husband-How-18th-centurys-Andrew-Robinson-Bowes-make-spouse-look-saint.html