Meaning & Analysis
A man's greatest success or his most profound failure in life is determined by the woman he marries.
Insights
Marriage as the Ultimate Gamble
Marriage is portrayed as the ultimate gamble a man can take. The outcome is depicted as binary and extreme—either immense prosperity and happiness or complete ruin, with no middle ground.
Determinant of Male Destiny
The proverb suggests that a wife is the primary determinant of a man's destiny. Her character and actions are seen as the pivotal force that will either elevate him to greatness or lead to his utter demise.
Reflection of a Man's Judgment
The choice of a wife is implicitly presented as the ultimate test of a man's judgment. A good wife is the 'fortune' earned through wisdom, while a bad wife is the 'worst' outcome resulting from his own folly.
Patriarchal Worldview
This proverb reflects a patriarchal worldview where a man's success was seen as critically dependent on his wife's character and domestic management. She was not merely a companion but the foundation of his social and financial standing, making the choice of a spouse the most significant investment in his life's fortune.
Psychological Stakes of Marriage
The proverb encapsulates the profound anxiety and perceived risk associated with marriage from a male perspective. By framing the wife's influence in such absolute terms, it highlights a psychological dependency and the belief that a man's destiny is irrevocably tied to his partner's virtue or vice.
Archetype of the Influential Wife
The sentiment is a recurring theme in literature and folklore, where wives are often depicted as either the source of a hero's strength and prosperity or the architects of his tragic downfall. This trope underscores a long-standing cultural narrative about the transformative power of a marital partner.
Rhetorical Devices
Antithesis
The proverb uses the stark contrast between 'best fortune' and 'worst' to create a powerful and memorable dichotomy, emphasizing the high stakes of choosing a wife.
Hyperbole
By framing the outcome as the absolute 'best' or 'worst' fortune, the proverb uses exaggeration to underscore the immense and life-altering impact of marriage.
Aphorism
The proverb functions as a definitive, sweeping statement on the nature of marriage, presenting a subjective belief as an objective truth.
Transcription
Quotations
For a Wife is the best or the worst fortune that can betide a man thro'out the whole train of his life.
Cross References
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
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