A Married State
by Katherine Philips
A married state affords but little ease:
The best of husbands are so hard to please
This in wifes Carefull faces you may spell, *archaic
meaning:
Tho they desemble their misfortunes well mournful/sad
Avirgin state is crown'd with much content, juxtaposition
It's allways happy as it's innocent
‘Carefull/content
No Blustering husbands to create your fears,
No pangs of child birth to extort your tears,
No children's crys for to offend your ears,
Few worldly crosses to distract your prayers
*ref:phrase’cross
Thus are you freed from all the cares that do to bear’
Attend on matrymony and a husband too.
Therefore, madam, be advised by me:
Turn, turn apostate to love's Levity. *anaphora
Supress wild nature if she dare rebell,
There's no such thing as leading Apes in hell. *archaic
phrase=unmarried women
A Married State was written by Katherine Philips, an Anglo-
Welsh royalist poet, translator, and woman of letters.
The poem is known as a realism poem and was published in
1646. The subject-matter of the poem concerns the
difficulties a woman faces when she starts her journey after
marriage. The speaker highlights how life takes a dramatic
turn once a woman enters into the ‘state’ of marriage. The
, stark contrast between free and married life and a realistic
description of the responsibilities a woman shares after
marriage is what lends this poem its poignancy. The use of
the word ‘state’ connotes a static existence that does not
evolve or develop. It connotes stagnation and lack of
individuality. This contrasts with the happiness that
abstaining from marriage brings. By remaining in the “virgin
state” you are destined to be “content”, “happy” and
“innocent”.
Katherine began most of her writing after she married,
however, some believe that she may have written “A Married
State” prior to her marriage to James. In this poem, she
gives an account of her stance upon the ‘married state’ and
she warns readers not to marry which was an unconventional
and controversial view at the time—especially as voiced by a
woman. The use of the word ‘state’ erodes all notions of love
and romance as it has connotations of being in a static mode
of no compromise. The word state can be synonymous with
‘frame of mind’; ‘condition’ ‘attitude’, ‘demeanour’ all of
which reinforce the notion that being married will put you in
a different mindset. Once married you will have “little ease”
whereas the unmarried will be “crown’d with much content”.
The metaphoric crowning with content conjures up images of
regality and superiority, and of looking down upon those who
do not have this status. To be unmarried is to reign superior
to those blighted with the institution of marriage. The use of
personification, “A virgin state is crowned with much
content;/It’s always happy as it’s innocent” has the effect of
conferring upon the unmarried state a sense of it having an
advantage over the static ‘married state’. Personification
gives the ‘virgin state’ an aliveness that the ‘married state’
does not have.
The direct address of “Therefore madam” encapsulates
the cautionary message of this poem It is a plea for women
by Katherine Philips
A married state affords but little ease:
The best of husbands are so hard to please
This in wifes Carefull faces you may spell, *archaic
meaning:
Tho they desemble their misfortunes well mournful/sad
Avirgin state is crown'd with much content, juxtaposition
It's allways happy as it's innocent
‘Carefull/content
No Blustering husbands to create your fears,
No pangs of child birth to extort your tears,
No children's crys for to offend your ears,
Few worldly crosses to distract your prayers
*ref:phrase’cross
Thus are you freed from all the cares that do to bear’
Attend on matrymony and a husband too.
Therefore, madam, be advised by me:
Turn, turn apostate to love's Levity. *anaphora
Supress wild nature if she dare rebell,
There's no such thing as leading Apes in hell. *archaic
phrase=unmarried women
A Married State was written by Katherine Philips, an Anglo-
Welsh royalist poet, translator, and woman of letters.
The poem is known as a realism poem and was published in
1646. The subject-matter of the poem concerns the
difficulties a woman faces when she starts her journey after
marriage. The speaker highlights how life takes a dramatic
turn once a woman enters into the ‘state’ of marriage. The
, stark contrast between free and married life and a realistic
description of the responsibilities a woman shares after
marriage is what lends this poem its poignancy. The use of
the word ‘state’ connotes a static existence that does not
evolve or develop. It connotes stagnation and lack of
individuality. This contrasts with the happiness that
abstaining from marriage brings. By remaining in the “virgin
state” you are destined to be “content”, “happy” and
“innocent”.
Katherine began most of her writing after she married,
however, some believe that she may have written “A Married
State” prior to her marriage to James. In this poem, she
gives an account of her stance upon the ‘married state’ and
she warns readers not to marry which was an unconventional
and controversial view at the time—especially as voiced by a
woman. The use of the word ‘state’ erodes all notions of love
and romance as it has connotations of being in a static mode
of no compromise. The word state can be synonymous with
‘frame of mind’; ‘condition’ ‘attitude’, ‘demeanour’ all of
which reinforce the notion that being married will put you in
a different mindset. Once married you will have “little ease”
whereas the unmarried will be “crown’d with much content”.
The metaphoric crowning with content conjures up images of
regality and superiority, and of looking down upon those who
do not have this status. To be unmarried is to reign superior
to those blighted with the institution of marriage. The use of
personification, “A virgin state is crowned with much
content;/It’s always happy as it’s innocent” has the effect of
conferring upon the unmarried state a sense of it having an
advantage over the static ‘married state’. Personification
gives the ‘virgin state’ an aliveness that the ‘married state’
does not have.
The direct address of “Therefore madam” encapsulates
the cautionary message of this poem It is a plea for women
