A Married State
By Katherine Philips
A married state affords but little ease
The best of husbands are so hard to please.
This in wives’ careful faces you may see
Though they dissemble their misfortunes well.
A virgin state is crowned with much content;
It’s always happy as its innocence.
No blustering husbands to create your fears;
No pangs of childbirth to extort your tears;
No children’s cries to offend your ears;
Few worldly crosses to distract your prayers:
Thus are you freed from all the cares that do
Attend on matrimony and a husband too.
Therefore Madam, be advised by me
Turn, turn apostate to love’s levity,
Suppress wild nature if she dare rebel.
There’s no such thing as leading apes in hell.
Understanding “A Married State”: A Concise Summary
Katherine Philips’ thought-provoking poem, “A Married State,” published in 1646, offers a striking perspective on matrimony during the 17th century. The central idea of the poem challenges the conventional societal expectation that marriage inherently brings joy and fulfillment to women. Instead, the speaker argues that a single, “virgin state” offers far greater contentment and freedom. The poem vividly contrasts the perceived burdens of married life, such as the constant effort to please a husband, the physical and emotional toll of childbirth, and the demands of child-rearing, with the serene independence of an unmarried woman. Addressed to a “Madam,” the poem serves as a direct piece of advice, urging her to reject the frivolousness of romantic love and societal pressures in favor of personal happiness and autonomy. This work is particularly noteworthy for its proto-feminist stance, questioning the patriarchal norms prevalent in its era and exploring timeless themes of freedom, suffering, and the pursuit of individual happiness.
In-Depth Analysis of “A Married State”
The Opening Declaration: The Reality of Marriage
The poem opens with a powerful and direct assertion that immediately sets its critical tone regarding matrimony:
A married state affords but little ease
The best of husbands are so hard to please.
This declaration is not a gentle observation but a firm statement that marriage is more likely to bring hardship than happiness. The subsequent line reinforces this idea, suggesting that even in the most favorable circumstances, a wife must constantly strive to meet her husband’s expectations, a task presented as inherently difficult. The poem then reveals the hidden emotional labor involved:
This in wives’ careful faces you may see
Though they dissemble their misfortunes well.
The phrase “wives’ careful faces” suggests a facade, a composed exterior beneath which true feelings are concealed. To “dissemble” means to hide one’s true motives or feelings, indicating deep unhappiness and the societal pressure on women to maintain appearances, even when suffering internally.
Contrasting States: The Idealized Virginity Versus Marital Burdens
A core technique in “A Married State” involves a stark contrast between the “virgin state” and the “married state.” The poem idealizes unmarried life with lines such as:
A virgin state is crowned with much content;
It’s always happy as its innocence.
Here, happiness is intrinsically linked to freedom from responsibility and the absence of potential suffering. The word “crowned” elevates virginity, suggesting it is a state worthy of honor, respect, and inherent joy. This contrasts sharply with the anxieties and miseries of married life, which are enumerated with vivid detail:
No blustering husbands to create your fears;
No pangs of childbirth to extort your tears;
No children’s cries to offend your ears;
Few worldly crosses to distract your prayers:
These lines present a litany of potential miseries. The use of strong, evocative verbs like “blustering” and “extort” emphasizes the harsh realities Philips describes. The poem suggests that the choice is not merely about avoiding inconvenience but about escaping potential emotional and physical trauma, including the profound pain of childbirth and the relentless demands of child-rearing.
The Power of Negative Definition and Freedom
Philips effectively uses negative definition, listing what marriage lacks compared to virginity, to highlight the perceived sacrifices inherent in married life. The repeated “No” at the beginning of several lines creates a powerful rhythm and emphasizes the contrast. The absence of “fears,” “tears,” “cries,” and “crosses” paints a picture of serene freedom and peace. The line,
Few worldly crosses to distract your prayers:
is particularly insightful. It suggests that the demands and hardships of married life can interfere not only with personal comfort but also with a woman’s spiritual peace and her ability to connect with her faith, a significant concern in the 17th century.
The poem culminates this contrast by stating:
Thus are you freed from all the cares that do
Attend on matrimony and a husband too.
This couplet summarizes the ultimate benefit of remaining single: complete liberation from the myriad responsibilities and emotional burdens associated with both the institution of marriage and the figure of the husband.
The Bold Conclusion: A Call to Reject Convention
The poem concludes with a direct and audacious piece of advice, addressed to a specific “Madam”:
Therefore Madam, be advised by me
Turn, turn apostate to love’s levity,
Suppress wild nature if she dare rebel.
There’s no such thing as leading apes in hell.
The phrase “Turn, turn apostate to love’s levity” is a powerful call to action. An “apostate” is someone who abandons a religious or political belief. Here, it implies a rejection of conventional expectations regarding marriage and a deliberate turning away from societal norms that champion romantic love. “Love’s levity” suggests the frivolousness or superficiality of romantic pursuits, implying that serious considerations of personal well-being should outweigh fleeting emotional impulses. The speaker advises the “Madam” to “Suppress wild nature if she dare rebel,” suggesting that any natural inclination towards love or marriage should be actively resisted for the sake of greater contentment.
The final line, “There’s no such thing as leading apes in hell,” is enigmatic and has been subject to various interpretations. It is often understood as a proverbial warning against attempting to control or dominate the uncontrollable, or perhaps a caution against engaging in futile, thankless, or ultimately destructive endeavors. In the context of the poem, it could imply that trying to manage the inherent difficulties of marriage or a demanding husband is as impossible and fruitless as trying to lead irrational creatures in a place of torment, thus reinforcing the advice to avoid such a state altogether.
Literary and Poetic Devices in “A Married State”
Assonance and Consonance for Musicality
Katherine Philips skillfully employs sound devices to enhance the poem’s musicality and memorability. Assonance, the repetition of vowel sounds within non-rhyming words, can be observed in phrases like “best of husbands” and “few worldly crosses,” contributing to a flowing sound. Consonance, the repetition of consonant sounds, is evident in lines such as “Turn, turn apostate to love’s levity,” where the repeated “t” sounds create a rhythmic emphasis and reinforce the forceful advice.
Anaphora and Emphasis
One of the most striking poetic devices in “A Married State” is anaphora, the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or lines. The repeated “No” at the start of several lines powerfully emphasizes the contrast between the burdens of marriage and the freedom of unmarried life:
No blustering husbands to create your fears;
No pangs of childbirth to extort your tears;
No children’s cries to offend your ears;
This technique creates a strong, almost chant-like rhythm, underscoring the speaker’s argument and making the list of marital disadvantages highly impactful.
Imagery and Sensory Detail
While the poem is largely argumentative, Philips uses vivid imagery and sensory details to evoke specific emotions and make the hardships of marriage palpable. Phrases such as “pangs of childbirth” appeal directly to the reader’s sense of pain and physical suffering, while “children’s cries to offend your ears” engages the auditory sense, creating a vivid and unsettling picture of the relentless demands of married life and motherhood.
Enjambment and Flow
Enjambment, the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next without a pause, is used subtly throughout the poem to create a sense of flow and prevent the lines from feeling overly segmented. For example, the opening couplet uses enjambment, seamlessly connecting the idea of a difficult married state with the specific difficulty of pleasing a husband:
A married state affords but little ease
The best of husbands are so hard to please.
This technique allows the argument to unfold naturally and continuously.
Couplet Structure and Rhyme
The poem is structured entirely in rhyming couplets, a common and popular poetic form in the 17th century. The consistent AABB rhyme scheme creates a sense of order, predictability, and musicality, making the poem easy to follow and remember. The rhymes are generally effective and reinforce the overall message, lending a sense of completeness and authority to each pair of lines.
Key Quotes for Discussion and Analysis
A married state affords but little ease
The best of husbands are so hard to please.
This in wives’ careful faces you may see
Though they dissemble their misfortunes well.
This opening stanza encapsulates the poem’s central argument. It is a powerful statement about the potential unhappiness inherent in married life and highlights the significant societal pressure on women to conceal their true feelings and maintain a facade of contentment.
A virgin state is crowned with much content;
It’s always happy as its innocence.
This couplet presents the idealized alternative to marriage. It romanticizes freedom and innocence, portraying the unmarried state as one of inherent joy and peace, thereby underscoring the perceived sacrifices and burdens associated with married life.
Therefore Madam, be advised by me
Turn, turn apostate to love’s levity.
This concluding couplet serves as a direct and bold call to action. It offers unconventional advice for a woman living in the 17th century, urging her to prioritize her own happiness and autonomy over societal expectations and the often superficial allure of romantic love.
The Enduring Wisdom of “A Married State”
“A Married State” by Katherine Philips remains a powerful and relevant poem, offering a candid glimpse into the challenges faced by women in the 17th century and beyond. Its sharp critique of marital expectations and its celebration of female autonomy resonate deeply, making it a vital piece for understanding historical perspectives on gender roles and personal freedom. By exploring the poem’s summary, detailed analysis, and the rich tapestry of literary devices employed, readers can gain a profound appreciation for Philips’s courage and insight. This poem encourages us to reflect on societal pressures, personal choices, and the timeless pursuit of genuine contentment, proving its enduring value for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of human relationships and individual liberty.