"I
released myself from one cruel servitude, and in the course of a few
months, entered into another for life, by marrying a young man who
fell in love with me for my dancing." (Ashbridge 14)
- Elizabeth Ashbridge
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Analysis
Like moving from one terrible job to another, no hope is insight to
relax; there's almost no hope to live with arms wide open. Her
confession springs to life an analogy, as if she were bound to an
employer; her male employer loved her as an employee because he "fell
in love" with her respect to authority. Ashbridge's loss of
"self" regurgitates the constant reminder that 18th
century women have little agency in relation to men. In the 21st
century, agency is still a challenge to women.
~ Aaron Kennell
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