Love and Courtship in Federalist America Essay Example for Free

Love and Courtship in Federalist America EssayThe courtships and marriages of Theodore Sedgwick and of his seven children span the American Revolution and the too soon republic, with Theodore first marrying in 1767/68, his children being born between 1775 and 1791, and all except Catharine marrying by their thirties. In some ways, Kensleas findings be unsurprising, as arranged marriages gave way to psyche choice Sedgwick arranged his eldest daughters marriages in 1797 and 1801, while his sons enjoyed love matches within a decade. But Kensleas focus on the family adds a new di mension young-begetting(prenominal) influence in arranging young womens marriages apparently extended beyond fathers to brothers. Professing so much pride and pleasure in contemplating her worth, that I exigency the world to know what a sister I possess (45), Theodore II insisted Frances marry Ebenezer Watson, whom she did non love. When Watson turned out to be physically abusive, Francess brothers ag ain play a significant role by using their influence on her husbands business as a way to control him and offering their homes as a refuge.Just as brothers influenced their sisters marriages, peers played a significant role in love matches in both cases, courtship took place in a group context. Even when love superseded paternal choice, siblings made clear that marriage to someone was necessary as Catharine Sedgwick asked her equivocating brother, What are you doing? Sucking your thumbs, and building castles while all the birds of the rail line are building their nests (110). Friends were equally important in shaping courtship. The wonderfully named Friendliesa group of single and married Boston women in their twentiesnot only furnishd the younger Sedgwicks with potential wives, but advised them on how to choose well.Kenslea demonstrates that marrying for love by no means simplified choice instead, both men and women employed badinage as a way of ascertaining intent without commi tting themselves, and alliances shifted so quickly that the Sedgwick men seem to have courted all the Friendlies at once. Such dizzingly labyrinthian manful/female relations (119)replete with wit, romantic potential, and power playssuggest parallels to the mixed groups Catharine Allgor discovered in the early republics political salons (103). At least during courtship, male/female spheres had remarkably porous boundaries, and Kenslea finds the beginnings of the domestication of virtue (169) in the early republic, as personalhappiness succeeded public good.As couples became engaged, they retreated from friends and family and developed relationships Kenslea finds uniform to those Karen Lystra discovered among Victorians two decades later. In Harry Sedgwick and Jane Minots engagement of 1816-17, they quit badinage for candor, tested their relationship with a year long separation as Sedgwick open himself financially, and created new selves by employing letters as a form of physical contact and ritual celebration of their love (131). Like Lystra, Kenslea finds fluidity of gender roles (155), with Jane complimenting Harry, you are the nearest to a woman in your feelings of any man I know (144). The Sedgwick manuscripts, however, allow Kenslea to examine such courtships through siblings and parents eyes, rather than only from the couples perspective.If the Sedgwicks provide much evidence of family and friends roles in court- ship and the erosion of distinct gender roles, they also suggest the limits of change. The Sedgwicks occupied a narrow cut of societyFederalist, Unitarian, and amphetamine classbut male privilege framed their lives.