(7B) Blackstone, Norton, and Woolf

systematic approach, utilizing definitions, explanations, and examples to clarify legal concepts

What is the text structure of "Commentaries on the Laws of England"?

William Blackstone

"Commentaries on the Laws of England"

Caroline Norton

"The Women of England”

Virgina Woolf

“A Room of One’s Own”

Character archetypes 1

- The husband: is required by law to SUPPLY HIS WIFE with necessary items and is accountable for any debts she incurs for those necessities; however, if she leaves him for another man, he is not responsible for her expenses unless the provider did not know about her elopement.

- The wife: can serve as her husband's ATTORNEY, representing him; she needs his CONSENT to initiate or defend a lawsuit, but can act on her own if he is banished, and they can be prosecuted separately in criminal cases.

Situational archetypes 1

- The Role of Authority: The chapter discusses the authority of the law, reflecting the tension between individual freedoms and the necessity of governance.

- The Just Ruler: Blackstone often portrays the ideal legal authority as a just ruler, highlighting the importance of moral integrity in lawmaking and enforcement.

- The Struggle for Rights: The discussion touches on the evolution of individual rights and liberties, reflecting the ongoing struggle to define and protect these rights within the legal framework.

1756

What year was "Commentaries on the Laws of England" published?

Action develops from conflict 1

- The text discusses various types of conflicts that arise within the legal system, such as DISPUTES between individuals, CONFLICTS between individual rights and societal laws, and TENSIONS between different branches of government. Each of these conflicts necessitates legal resolution, driving the action of legal proceedings.

Summary 1 (1)

- In marriage, the LEGAL IDENTITY of the wife is SUBSUMED UNDER that of the HUSBAND, effectively SUSPENDING her SEPARATE LEGAL EXISTENCE. This principle means that MANY LEGAL RIGHTS and OBLIGATIONS arise from their UNION, impacting PERSONAL rather than PROPERTY rights. Consequently, a husband CANNOT GRANT ANYTHING to his wife or enter into AGREEMENTS with her, as such ACTIONS would imply her SEPARATE EXISTENCE, rendering any prior contracts void upon marriage.

Summary 2 (1)

A WIFE can act as her husband's ATTORNEY, reflecting her role as his REPRESENTATIVE, and he may BEQUEATH PROPERTY to her through a WILL, effective only upon his death. The husband is LEGALLY OBLIGATED to provide for his wife's NECESSITIES and is RESPONSIBLE for her DEBTS incurred for them; however, if she ELOPES, he is NOT LIABLE for her EXPENSES unless the SUPPLIER was UNAWARE of her DEPARTURE.

- In legal actions, a wife requires her husband's CONSENT to SUE or be SUED, although she can act INDEPENDENTLY if he is ABSENT due to BANISHMENT, and in criminal cases, they can be PROSECUTED SEPARATELY; however, they CANNOT TESTIFY AGAINST EACH OTHER due to the LEGAL PRINCIPLE that PROHIBITS SELF-INCRIMINATION.

Problems characters face 1

- Injustice and Inequality: Characters may struggle against systemic injustices in the legal system, such as discrimination or unequal treatment under the law.

- Understanding the Law: Individuals face the challenge of navigating complex legal principles, often leading to confusion or misinterpretation of their rights.

- Rights vs. Authority: There is a tension between personal rights and governmental authority, where individuals must contend with laws that may infringe upon their freedoms.

Are these problems solved? 1

- The text doesn't provide direct resolutions to the problems faced by individuals in the legal system, it offers foundational principles and frameworks that can guide the resolution of such issues

Important statements 1

- "If the wife be indebted before marriage, the husband is bound afterwards to pay the debt; for he has adopted her and her circumstances together. If the wife be injured in her person or her property, she can bring no action for redress without her husband's concurrence, and in his name, as well as her own: neither can she be sued, without making the husband a defendant."

- "For this reason, a man cannot grant any thing to his wife, or enter into covenant with her: for the grant would be to suppose her separate existence; and to covenant with her, would be only to covenant with himself: and therefore it is also generally true, that all compacts made between husband and wife, when single, are voided by the intermarriage"

Main themes 1

- The Nature of Law, Rights and Liberties, The Relationship Between Law and Morality, The Role of Precedent, The Development of Common Law, and Justice and Fairness.

Symbols 1

- The Law Book: Symbolizes knowledge and authority. It represents the codification of legal principles and the importance of legal literacy in society.

- Scales of Justice: Though not explicitly depicted in the text, this symbol is often associated with the law. It represents fairness, balance, and the weighing of evidence in judicial processes.

- Precedent: Symbolizes the continuity and evolution of law, illustrating how past decisions shape current legal practices.

Contemporary connections 1

- Blackstone's exploration of rights, liberties, and the nature of law serves as a cornerstone for many legal systems today, particularly in common law jurisdictions. His ideas about individual rights resonate with current human rights frameworks.

a formal letter structure

What is the text structure of "A Letter to the Queen" ?

Character archetypes 2

- The Advocate: The writer represents those advocating for reform, arguing for the necessity of the bill and the changes it proposes. This character embodies the desire for progress and social justice.

- The Innocent: References to individuals affected by marriage and divorce laws may evoke the archetype of the innocent, emphasizing their plight and the need for compassionate reform.

- The Authority: The Queen herself acts as a figure of authority, symbolizing tradition and the established order. The writer addresses her with respect, highlighting the importance of her role in the decision-making process.

Situational archetypes 2

- The Quest: The letter embodies a quest for reform and justice regarding marriage and divorce laws. The writer seeks to persuade the Queen to support a progressive change, aiming for a more equitable legal system.

- The Fall: The letter could address the consequences of failing to reform these laws, illustrating how individuals suffer due to the existing system, which can lead to moral or social decline.

- The Initiation: The letter itself serves as a moment of initiation for the Queen and society, urging them to recognize the need for change and to step into a new understanding of marriage and divorce.

1855

What year was ""A Letter to the Queen" published?

Action develops from conflict 2

- Societal Conflict: The letter addresses the conflict between traditional marriage laws and the need for reform. This tension highlights societal issues, such as the injustices faced by individuals (especially women) in divorce proceedings, prompting the writer to advocate for change.

- Personal Conflict: - The writer may express their own internal conflict regarding the implications of the bill. This personal struggle reflects broader societal concerns, creating a sense of urgency and a call to action for the Queen.

- Emotional Appeal: The conflict is not only legal but also deeply emotional. The letter may recount personal stories of those affected by the current laws, evoking empathy and motivating the Queen to take action.

Summary 1 (2)

In previous English law, a wife had NO LEGAL AUTONOMY regarding her EARNINGS, INHERITANCE, or PERSONAL FREEDOM; everything she had BELONGED to her HUSBAND who could forcibly reclaim her if she left. If she sought SEPARATION due to cruelty, the standards were STRINGENT, and any past forgiveness undermined her claims. Additionally, while husbands could easily obtain a divorce, wives faced IMMERSE BARRIERS, needing a special Act of Parliament for any DIVORCE, which was RARELY GRANTED.

Summary 2 (2)

Under previous English law, a wife had NO LEGAL STANDING to pursue LIBEL CLAIMS, CONDUCT BUSINESS, or CLAIM FINANCIAL SUPPORT from her HUSBAND, who was NOT LEGALLY BOUND to PROVIDE for her if she had other means. Despite her character or circumstances, the LAW treated husbands as ENTITLED to their WIVES' ASSETS while denying wives any rights to their husbands' property or support. Separation did not alter these dynamics; husbands retained the RIGHT to DIVORCE, while wives had MINIMAL RECOURSE, essentially remaining MARRIED in NAME ONLY, with NO LEGAL RIGHTS or PROTECTIONS.

Problems characters face 2

- Legal Injustice: Many individuals, especially women, encounter unfair treatment under existing marriage and divorce laws, which often favor men and perpetuate inequality. This creates a sense of urgency for reform.

- Emotional Strain: The emotional toll of marital discord and the complexities of divorce are central issues. Characters may experience heartbreak, loss, and societal stigma, which highlight the need for compassionate legal solutions.

- Social Stigma: Those seeking divorce or challenging traditional marriage norms often face societal judgment. This pressure can discourage individuals from pursuing their rights, exacerbating their suffering.

Are these problems solved? 2

the problems faced by the characters are not fully resolved within the text itself

Important statements 2

- "If the wife sue for separation for cruelty, it must be "cruelty that endangers life or limb"

- "If her husband take proceedings for a divorce, she is NOT, in the first instance, ALLOWED to DEFEND HERSELF. She has no means of proving the falsehood of his allegations. She is not represented by attorney, nor permitted to be considered a party to the suit between him and her supposed lover, for damages."

Main themes 2

Justice and Inequality, Social Change, Compassion and Understanding, Moral Responsibility, Power and Authority, and Personal Struggle.

Symbols 2

- The Bill: The Marriage and Divorce Bill itself symbolizes hope for justice and progress. It embodies the possibility of transforming outdated laws into more equitable ones.

- Marriage: Often a symbol of love and commitment, marriage in the context of the letter also represents societal norms and the complexities of personal relationships, particularly when entangled with legal implications.

- Divorce: As a symbol, divorce signifies liberation for some but also societal stigma and personal heartache. It highlights the struggles individuals face when seeking autonomy from oppressive circumstances.

- Letters/Writing: The act of writing the letter symbolizes advocacy and the power of voice in challenging injustices. It serves as a medium for expressing urgent concerns and seeking change.

Contemporary connections 2

- Gender Equality: The ongoing struggle for gender equality in marriage and divorce laws remains relevant today. Many countries continue to grapple with unequal treatment in family law, highlighting the need for reforms that protect women's rights.

- Marriage Equality: The push for same-sex marriage and recognition of diverse family structures reflects the ongoing evolution of marriage laws. The letter's call for reform parallels modern movements advocating for inclusive definitions of marriage.

- Divorce Reform: Contemporary debates around divorce laws, including no-fault divorce and the treatment of assets and custody, echo the concerns raised in the letter. Discussions about simplifying the divorce process and making it more equitable are ongoing.

unique and fluid

What is the text structure of A Room of One's Own?

Character archetypes 3

The Hero: Woolf herself can be seen as a hero in the quest for women's literary freedom. She advocates for women to claim their own space and voice in literature. The Sage: Woolf takes on the role of the sage as she offers wisdom and insights about the barriers women face in writing and the importance of financial independence. The Innocent: Woolf touches on the idea of the innocent, particularly when discussing women's historical roles and the societal expectations that limit their freedom and creativity. The Caregiver: Woolf's exploration of women's roles often highlights the caregiver archetype, as she reflects on how women have historically been expected to nurture others, sometimes at the expense of their own ambitions.

Situational archetypes 3

- The Quest: Woolf's narrative can be seen as a quest for understanding and advocating for women's creative freedom. She searches for the conditions necessary for women to write, emphasizing the need for financial independence and personal space.

- The Journey: Woolf embarks on a metaphorical journey through history, examining the experiences of women writers and the societal barriers they face. This journey leads to greater awareness and insights about the systemic issues impacting women's literature.

- Forbidden Love: Although not in a romantic sense, Woolf touches on the idea of forbidden desires—women's aspirations to write and express themselves in a world that often suppresses them. This theme reflects the societal constraints on women's freedom.

- The Underdog: Woolf highlights the struggle of women writers as underdogs in a male-dominated literary landscape. She advocates for their recognition and the need to challenge the prevailing norms that marginalize their voices.

1929

What year was this story published? 3

Action develops from conflict 3

Internal Conflict: Woolf grapples with her own thoughts and experiences as a woman writer, reflecting on the TENSION between her AMBITIONS and SOCIETAL EXPECTATIONS. This internal struggle drives her narrative as she seeks clarity on what women need to create art.

- Social Conflict: Woolf highlights the broader societal conflict regarding gGENDER INEQUALITY. She discusses the SYSTEMIC BARRIERS that PREVENT women from WRITING, such as LACK of ACCESS to EDUCATION and FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE. This conflict forms the BACKDROP of her ARGUMENTS, emphasizing the NEED for CHANGE.

Summary 1 (3)

The paragraph REFLECTS on the HISTORICAL POSITION of WOMEN in ENGLAND, questioning why, despite the wealth of literary talent from men during the Elizabethan era, NO WOMEN SEEMED to contribute to that EXTRAORDINARY LITERATURE. It highlights the HARSH REALITIES women faced, such as DOMESTIC ABUSE and LACK of AUTONOMY in MARRIAGE, as documented by historian Professor Trevelyan. While fiction depicts women as dynamic and complex characters, the HISTORICAL REALITY reveals a STARK CONTRAST t, emphasizing the STRUGGLES they ENDURED in a PATRIARCHAL SOCIETY.

Summary 2 (3)

The paragraph discusses the STARK CONTRAST between the LITERARY DEPICTION of WOMEN and their HISTORICAL REALITY, illustrating how WOMEN are CELEBRATED in FICTION but MARGINALIZED in HISTORICAL ACCOUNTS. Despite their imaginative significance and influence on literature, the EVERYDAY LIVES of WOMEN—especially MIDDLE-CLASS women in the Elizabethan era—remain LARGELY UNDOCUMENTED, making it DIFFICULT to UNDERSTAND their EXPERIENCES and CONTRIBUTIONS. The author calls for a COMPREHENSIVE STUDY of women's lives, suggesting that a MORE COMPLETE HISTORICAL NARRATIVE is necessary to ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR REALITY beyond the CONFINES of PATRIARCHAL STORYTELLING.

Summary 3 (3)

The paragraph imagines a FICTIONAL SISTER of Shakespeare, named JUDITH, who, despite possessing similar talent and ambition, FACES INSURMOUNTABLE BARRIERS due to her GENDER in Elizabethan society. While Shakespeare receives an EDUCATION and OPPORTUNITIES to PURSUE his PASSION for THEATER, Judith is confined to DOMESTIC DUTIES, forced into an UNWANTED MARRIAGE, and ultimately DENIED the CHANCE to EXPRESS her CREATIVITY. This thought experiment illustrates the PROFOUND INJUSTICES women faced, highlighting how SOCIETAL CONSTRAINTS EXTINGUISED the POTENTIAL of GIFTED INDIVIDUALS like Judith, who could NEVER HAVE ACHIEVED the SAME SUCCESS as her BROTHER.

Summary 4 (3)

The paragraph EXPLORES the idea that a WOMAN with SHAKESPEARE'S GENIUS could NOT HAVE EXISTED in his TIME due to the OPPRESSIVE SOCIETAL NORMS that RESTRICTED WOMEN'S EDUCATION and EXPRESSION. While acknowledging the presence of talent among women, the author argues that ANY GIFTED WOMEN would have been THWARTED by the LIMITATIONS of her ERA, likely resulting in DESPAIR or MADNESS. The text also REFLECTS on the HISTORICAL TENDENCY for women to WRITE ANONYMOUSLY or UNDER MALE PSEUDONYMS, highlighting the SOCIETAL PRESSURE for women to REMAIN VEILED and UNRECOGNIZED, a pattern that CONTINUES to AFFECT women's LITERARY CONTRIBUTIONS.

Summary 5 (3)

The paragraph discusses the PROFOUND STRUGGLES FACED BY WOMEN with POETIC TALENT in the sixteenth century, EMPHASIZING that their CREATIVE POTENTIAL l was STIFLED by SOCIETAL CONDITIONS and INTERNAL CONFLICT. Unlike male writers, who could navigate their challenges with some degree of freedom and support, women encountered not just indifference but outright hostility toward their ambitions. The author reflects on how the LACK of a PERSONAL SPACE, financial independence, and societal encouragement made it almost impossible for women to engage in the act of creation, thereby rendering their genius invisible and unrecognized.

Summary 6 (3)

In this passage, the speaker ADDRESSES YOUNG WOMEN, urging them to RECOGNIZE their POTENTIAL and the HISTORICAL LIMITATIONS that have RESTRICTED WOMEN'S CONTRIBUTIONS to LITERATURE and SOCIETY. She acknowledges the SIGNIFICANT BURDENS women have borne but EMPHASIZES that OPPORTUNITIES for EDUCATION and INDEPENDENCE have INCREASED. The call to ACTION is to EMBRACE their CREATIVE POTENTIAL and PURSUE WRITING and EXPRESSION, invoking the IMAGINED FIGURE of Shakespeare's SISTER as a SYMBOL of LOST TALENT that STILL RESIDES within THEM. By cultivating their FREEDOM and DETERMINATION, they can RESURRECT that POETIC SPIRIT and MAKE MEANINGFUL CONTRIBUTIONS to the WORLD.

Problems characters face 3

- Societal Restrictions: Women face limitations imposed by societal norms and expectations, which dictate their roles as caretakers and homemakers rather than as creators. This lack of freedom stifles their artistic ambitions.

- Financial Dependence: Woolf emphasizes the importance of financial independence for women. Many female characters, both real and fictional, struggle with economic constraints that prevent them from having the time and space to write.

- Lack of Education: Historical barriers to education for women hinder their ability to develop their skills and voices. Woolf reflects on how women were often denied access to the same literary resources and education as men.

- Conflict Between Personal and Creative Life: The struggle to balance personal responsibilities, such as family and societal duties, with the desire to pursue artistic goals creates tension and conflict for women.

Are these problems solved? 3

Virginia Woolf does not provide straightforward solutions to the problems faced by women in literature.

Important statements 3

"it is unthinkable that any woman in Shakespeare's day should have had Shakespeare's genius. For genius like Shakespeare's is not born among laboring, uneducated, servile people."

- "his mother was an heiress—to the grammar school, where he may have learnt Latin—Ovid, Virgil and Horace—and the elements of grammar and logic. He was, it is well known, a wild boy who poached rabbits, perhaps shot a deer, and had, rather sooner than he should have done, to marry a woman in the neighborhood, who bore him a child rather quicker than was right. That escapade sent him to seek his fortune in London."

- "But for my part, I agree with the deceased bishop, if such he was—it is unthinkable that any woman in Shakespeare's day should have had Shakespeare's genius.

- "He also told a lady who applied to him for information that cats do not as a matter of fact go to heaven, though they have, he added, souls of a sort. How much thinking those old gentlemen used to save one! How the borders of ignorance shrank back at their approach! Cats do not go to heaven. Women cannot write the plays of Shakespeare."

Main themes 3

Women and Creativity, Financial Independence, Gender Inequality, Historical Erasure, identity and Self-Expression, The Nature of Genius, The Importance of Space, and The Interconnectedness of Life and Art.

Symbols 3

- A Room of One's Own: The titular symbol represents personal space, privacy, and autonomy necessary for women to write and create freely. It embodies the idea that women need their own physical and mental space to express themselves.

- Money: Financial independence symbolizes power and freedom. Woolf argues that having an income allows women to escape dependency on men and societal expectations, enabling them to pursue their artistic endeavors.

- The Garden: Gardens symbolize growth, creativity, and the nurturing of ideas. They represent a space where women can cultivate their thoughts and artistic expressions away from societal constraints.

- Books and Literature: Books symbolize knowledge, tradition, and the literary heritage from which women have been excluded. They also represent the power of written words to convey women's experiences and thoughts.

Contemporary Connections 3 (2)

- Women were not educated enough to write since they did not go to grammar school. They did not get the same education that Shakespeare got.

- The material is not nurtured by the social conditions; it is important to have a supportive environment and education.

- Women had to be chaste in the Victorian era because it would be viewed as immodest for women to produce work and selling it out to the public would be similar to prostitution.