Epistle from Mrs. Yonge to Her Husband

Reading the poem, Epistle from Mrs. Yonge to her Husband, written by Lady Mary Wortley Montague, I sensed the same frustrations from reading, The Awakening written by Kate Chopin. 

Within, Epistle from Mrs. Yonge to Her Husband, you can sense animosity within her voice, almost a jealousy for being what she refers to as “the weak submissive sex”. This reminded me a lot of The Awakening because throughout the story the main character, Edna, has the same struggles. In both stories, the women have what seems to be an affair and are pained by the societal expectations to be the “perfect wife”. Throughout history, women have been looked down upon and many times shunned for having an affair. While I do not know Mrs. Yonges background, I know Edna married into high society. If anyone had found out Edna had an affair, she would lose everything, leading to what I believe was the reason for her suicide. I believe in a sense, Edna did not want any pity similar to Mrs. Yonge, which is why she committed suicide rather than living out her consequences. Throughout both stories, both women question why women don't have the same rights as men. When Lady Mary Wortley Montague wrote, “had heaven designed us trials so severe, It would have formed our tempers then to bear”, I believe that she was questioning the hierarchy of society. I find it so sad that women had to go through life with thoughts like these. Both women in these stories struggled through their marriage and tried to find happiness, to only be met with more pain. 

Through many poems and novels, we are reminded not only how far we have come, but also how far we still have to go as women.