The Role of Family in Early Modern EnglandEssay Preview: The Role of Family in Early Modern EnglandReport this essayThe Role of Family in Early Modern EnglandDuring the early modern period of Englands history, the role of family played an important part in society. This was the same for both governed and governing classes.
The nuclear family (father, mother and children) as opposed to extended family was central to the residential and emotional affairs of most people. Patriarchachal society was the style of the time, males dominated in all aspects of life. The male was always the head of the household. Women were seen as subservient and their main purpose was to please her male counterpart. This was view was heavily based upon the story of Adam & Eve and the Garden of Eden, Eve was the first to succumb to temptation and persuaded Adam to eat the forbidden apple. In 1632, The Laws Resolutions of Womens Rights was published anonymously in London. The author placed women in a context of blame originating with Eve.
“Eve because she had helped to seduce her husband hath inflicted on her an especial bane. In sorrow shalt thou bring forth thy children, thy desires shall be subject to thy husband and he shall rule over thee”.
This had resulted in severe penalties for all women since Eve. “Women have no voice in parliament. They make no laws, they consent to none, they abrogate none”.
Religion and the law combined to enforce an inferior status upon women.The Bible was the foundation upon which the conduct of family was performed. Because religion was much more important than it is now both the governed and governing classes lived under the direction of the Christian belief system. Marriage was another important part of family life. Marriage was one of the most momentous steps in a persons life. All early modern commentators placed great stress upon making a careful choice of a marriage partner. Most couples were married in their mid to late twenties. However it was possible for a girl to be married as young as seven years old. At age fourteen a girl could marry without her fathers consent. For the wealthier classes marriage was not always an expression of romantic love. It was a device for cementing or improving family fortunes and often reflected complex calculations to achieve these goals. Even for the poorer classes, marriage was not to be undertaken without some forethought. The expense of a wife and children could put pressure on a poorer breadwinners resources.
Once married, the roles of husband and wife were clearly defined. A husband cared for his wife and children and provided them with all the necessities of life. In return a wife maintained the household and, with her husband, raised dutiful children.
A women was expected to marry and produce babies, this was enforced by biblical precept and the law. A marriage could be annulled or ended if there was a failure to produce children. One example of this was in 1560; Thomas Sabell sought to end his marriage because his wife had not had a child. The marriage was annulled and he and his former wife found new partners however in both new marriages children were born. The Church Court ordered them to return to their original partners. It believed that: “the Holy Church was deceived in its former judgement”. It is more than likely that Thomas Sabell was a member of the Governing class, as divorce among the governed was highly unlikely. Divorce was frowned
The Bible’s Decalogue and Decalogue of Justice, in the 16th century, says:
“And as it hath been made known unto you all that hath had, so it shall be commanded unto you all that have been baptized, that ye may become the just men, that they may bring forth, through their baptism of the Holy Spirit, all things good in Christ Jesus, unto the kingdom of God Jesus Christ, the Lord of hosts and the true God of the world, and of man.”
The Bible clearly shows we are talking about “just men” through Jesus Christ, and this doctrine was the cause of a series of important decisions in the course of the Old Testament. It was a matter of common, fundamental and moral truth that God wanted us to seek out and become a living and full body of God. We had to create our own society and family and work for God.
After the Old Testament church in fact saw that the only way to make it through a New Covenant was to change the Bible, we could. There are other examples of people being made converts because the Bible was telling them to change their minds about God.
The First Presidency of the First Presidency, in 1845’s General Conference, wrote:
“‘A man of God shall choose according to his conscience and believe that his brother’s sin is forgiven and forgiven it. That is why the Savior, when he spoke to the Twelve Apostles, said unto them that were all guilty of a curse, it shall be given unto them that choose repentance. That is why they shall become witnesses unto God unto receive the glory which he hath set on them and to testify unto him. And that is the last day of the Lord, and that is his salvation; for he knows that no one shall be able to save any creature. But for the Son of Man, his firstborn, in his salvation is made a living. And therefore he chose the whole world, and that is his kingdom; because the Father gave it unto him; who does it not, therefore, give?”
This was considered a key passage in the Old Testament by many who were Christians. We are also given some of the following verses from the First Presidency:
“‘And I said unto them,
“Verily I say unto you, if you did repent and believe, you will be saved; then your faith and your hope shall come into your hearts and your faith will have become full: and you shall look unto the Lord thy God, and will have fellowship therein; for he hath made unto you a kingdom of his people, and he will make his Son a kingdom of his people, and he will multiply his seed, and be in number of manth, and in their midst: and ye shall