Divorce
Was Divorce Common?
No.
Why were marriages taken so seriously?
Because they were meant to be lifelong relationships which tied two families together.
How was love involved in upper class marriages?
It wasn't, except maybe as a bonus later on.
If marriages were to be arranged in lower classes, who was it by?
Typically by the nobles, though their family may have also been involved.
How was divorce perceived?
It was deeply Stigmatized and very negatively perceived.
What benefits were there to marriage between families?
It improved social, political, and economic status.
Who decided marriages?
It would usually be left to your parents, or people higher up in your family.
Did people follow any marriage traditions in the lower classes?
Not really, and if so, there were way less than in the upper class.
What evidence would one need to divorce someone?
You would need evidence of adultery, and if you were a woman, evidence of cruelty as well.
Did Marriages happen between the different classes (upper and lower)?
No
How were marriages decided and how did they proceed?
Most marriages were arranged between families, sometimes many years in advance.
Why was divorce inaccessible to those in the lower class?
It was too expensive.
What would happen to people who divorced?
They would have severely damaged reputations and would most likely never marry again.
How would marriage partners show their relationship publically?
They would show that they were happy and kind to each other, and show that their relationship was stable.
How would people be treated after divorce?
They would be excluded from social groups and would essentially be bullied in high society.
Why were marriages take just as seriously in the lower class as they were in the upper class?
What are two reasons people avoided Divorce?
-It was expensive
-It had a long legal process
-It had a very negative reputation
-It ruined both divorcees' reputations.
Why would people willingly accept marriage with someone they previously didn't know?
Because if they didn't, they would face lots of backlash towards their reputation, and their family would be very displeased with them.
What was marriage seen as to people in the high class?
It was seen as a business relationship, and something to improve relations between families to improve political and economic status.
How did marriage change during the Victorian Era for lower class people? If so, how?
It became more focused on love rather than forming relationships with families.