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About this quote

What does it mean?
Bierce portrays marriage as an unequal community of a master, mistress, and two slaves.
In plain terms
Marriage is described as a system with power imbalance and bondage.
What can you take from it?
It critiques marriage as a trap rather than a partnership.

Where it applies

  • feminist critique
  • social commentary
  • writing fiction

Putting it to work

  • discussing relationships
  • analyzing history
  • writing satire

Questions to consider

  • What makes a good marriage?
  • How has marriage changed?

Another view

Modern marriages often strive for equality and mutual consent.

More from Ambrose Bierce

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