A Woman’s Role in Marriage
...ent is of one of Effi’s father’s favorite sayings. Within the first three pages of the novel, we already are beginning to see society’s norms for each gender. While Effi Briest displays some statements regarding men, the woman’s role in marriage and society is much more clearly defined. A woman’s role in society and marriage begins even before she is married. When a suitor proposes to a woman, her decision is one that doesn’t require thought. Effi’s marriage holds to the same expectations. While she has a choice on whether or not she will marry Innstetten, the decision is already made for her based upon her parent’s expectations and societal pressures. Her mother practically tells her she must marry him for the family. It is in this that Effi Briest illustrates some of the marriage standards of the late nineteeth century. Effi dreamed and envisioned a marriage of love between her husband and herself. However, when she becomes engaged to Innstetten, society has told her that love is not the basis of marriage. As an aristrocratic girl, if you are asked to marry a man of such high social status and class, you should feel privileged and honored. Effi knew that she had no decision to make. It was already made for her; she must marry Innstetten. In a broader sense, aristocratic marriage doesn’t seem to be one based on love, but instead is a formality to improve a family’s social standing. This is also why many aristocratic girls married men much older than them. A girl who marries an older man establishes herself immediately. Whereas, a girl who marries a younger man, must struggle to maintain or strengthen her class standing. In fact Effi even states, “...I’m just realizing what a distinguished marriage I’ve made.” Once Effi and Innstetten are married, a woman’s role in marriage becomes even more evident. Effi is uncomfortable even referring to Innstetten as anything but master. She feels as if she is there to serve him and distinguish him among the aristocratic class. Effi even kisses his hand, even though he tells her that it is completely unnecessary. As the book continues we are beginning to see more and more that the marriage they have established is one not with a foundation of love. Effi has her own quarters, in which she refers to Innstetten as a guest. He often leaves her before she wakes up and eats breakfast without her. Innstetten doesn’t show Effi the affection or love that she had always dreamed her marriage would possess. He is often away on work-related business trips, leaving Effi feeling abandoned and very lonely. These occurrences offer the reader a glimpse into marriages of the time. The man and the woman are two bound by a document as opposed to love. Of course there were exceptions in which the two really did base the relationships on love, but in this case Fontane uses Effi in order to represent the typical aristocratic marriage. Effi is the lonesome wife who married for status as opposed to love. Effi also stands for the typical woman in a marriage when examing women’s attitudes about their marriage . This first was seen in her choice to marry Innstetten. She figures she must love him, because everyone else around him loves him. If nothing else, she must love him based upon the fact that he is a man of wealth. However, she is afraid of his morals and principles. She knows she has no choice but to love him, because he is her husband. This is the case with many marriages during the late nineteenth century. Women, while knowing in their ...