A wife is a married woman; woman who has a husband; a man’s partner in marriage. (Oxford Dictionary) Is this surface definition of “wife” in actuality means to the husband and also the wife herself? Every married man wishes to have a good wife. Many people advice the new bride to be a good wife to her husband. But what are the makings of a good wife? Many women don’t know about it. But most of these qualities of a good wife are already ingrained in a woman and the rest can be developed. Good wife devotes herself to the husband, loving caring of her husband, and very dependent on husband. Wife is a husband soul-mate, husband’s most intimate woman. First of all, good wife devotes herself the whole life to her husband and family and for the husband she willing to pay all of herself but she shouldn’t be a slave and let you order about. But still, in this modern society, there is some country a wife’s a slave to her husband legally, such as Saudi Arabia. Nevertheless, wives have their rights, feelings and obligations. Husband is not ought to had wife at his beck and call as a servant. In additional, wife help the husband pass through the generation. Suffer a lot during the time of pregnancy and also the painful in travail, later then facing a lot of difficulty on raising children. According to the short story of “Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl, the husband Mr. Patrick Maloney often does not think about his wife Mrs. Mary Maloney’s feelings and he is rather controlling over her. He says things forcefully to Mary, for example, “sit down” and “Listen”. And ended up, Mary is timid and for sure she will complete Patrick told or it can say as command. (Dahl) A good wife will devotes herself to the husband and also respect to her husband however, husbands shouldn’t think or feel that whatever the wife do are inevitable or necessary. Next, good wife is also loves caring on her husband with no complaints. And also wife will attentive to know everything about his husband, such like his habits. Ms. Mary is an ordinary and typical wife who’s extremely willing to please her husband. All over the opening part of the story “Lamb to the Slaughter” Mrs. Mary will do anything Mr. Patrick says, and showing that she has a great love for him. Mary waiting her husband to return home from work, then Patrick is back, she kissed him and thoughtful greetings about him, and wanting to prepare supper for him. At six months pregnant she is the one should be resting, but instead she is walking around just to try to please her husband. Mary looks obsessed with pleasing her husband; she cares a dreadful lot for him and she loves towards him. For instance, “Tired Darling?” “Darling, shall I get your slippers?” and etc. Also at the moment, she is obviously knows Patrick well as she has intuition that something is in the wrong when Patrick comes home after work. (Dahl) Good wife will spend time to understand what husband need and considerate about husband feeling also daily life for prepare herself to serve the husband well. Finally, good wife will be dependent on her husband. A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend. A successful woman is one who can find such a man. (Tuner) Although today’s society, women are independence, yet there are still a lot of women are relying on their husband. Maybe there are some are financial dependence, however today’s women have lots of jobs opportunity and ability to earn money, still women have emotional dependence or sustenance to their husband. As “Lamb to the Slaughter” was set around 1950s, Mrs. Mary is a stereotypical housewife, and very dependent on her husband, her relationships with her husband Patrick is almost as a sunbather feel the sun. Financial dependence on husband and also her world center is on him. So, when her husband breaks news to her likely about to leave her, she was shock and never imagines there is one day she will live without her husband. Case in point, “When she walked across the room she couldn’t feel her feet touching the floor. She couldn’t feel anything at all- except a slight nausea and a desire to vomit.” (Dahl) She was upset his leaving and worry about their unborn baby. Good wife, sometimes appropriate to relying on husband, it makes husband has a sense of superiority. In conclusion, good wife is devotes herself to her husband, loving caring to her husband, and also dependent on her husband. Maybe these are meant to be a good wife to some husband, but not truly meant to the wife. As different person has their own opinion and idea wife. Yet, behind every successful man is a woman, behind her is his wife. For a wife, husband is so important on family and also important to the wife. So, husband must appreciate and cherish the wife.
Work Cited:
Dahl, Roald. Collected Stories. N.p. Random House, 17 Oct, 2006. Print.
Tuner, Luna. “Wife Quotes and Sayings”.Sayings and Quotes. http://www.sayings-quotes.com/wife_quotes/. 10 Dec. 2011
“Wife.” Oxford English-Chinese Reader’s Dictionary. 16th ed. 1998.
Cited: Dahl, Roald. Collected Stories. N.p. Random House, 17 Oct, 2006. Print.
Tuner, Luna. “Wife Quotes and Sayings”.Sayings and Quotes. http://www.sayings-quotes.com/wife_quotes/. 10 Dec. 2011
“Wife.” Oxford English-Chinese Reader’s Dictionary. 16th ed. 1998.