As the MARKET goes wives must sell

Insights

Pragmatism in Marriage

The proverb's primary metaphorical meaning is a cynical commentary on the institution of marriage, portraying it as a marketplace where women ('wives') must secure a husband ('sell') when the opportunity is available, as their desirability may be temporary.

Seizing Opportunity

It serves as a warning about seizing fleeting opportunities. Just as a market fluctuates, so do life's chances. One must act decisively when conditions are favorable, or risk losing the opportunity altogether.

Conformity to Social Norms

The proverb underscores a theme of conforming to external pressures. A woman's choice is not her own; it is dictated by the 'market'—social expectations, the availability of suitors, and her perceived value—implying a lack of personal agency.

Time and Diminishing Value

It highlights the perceived diminishing value associated with aging, particularly for women. The advice to 'sell' while the market is good is a stark reminder that youth and beauty were considered perishable commodities in the context of marriage.

The Marriage Market

This proverb provides a window into the transactional nature of marriage in early modern Europe, where a woman's social and economic security was often contingent on securing a husband. Her value in this 'market' was frequently tied to youth, beauty, and dowry, all of which could be seen as perishable assets.

Commodification of Women

The proverb reflects a patriarchal worldview that commodifies women, reducing their agency to a single economic decision: to 'sell' themselves in marriage at the opportune moment. The language used in the quotations, such as 'vendible' and 'penniworth', reinforces this objectification.

Psychology of Scarcity

The underlying psychological pressure is one of urgency and scarcity. It suggests that a woman's desirability is fleeting and that she must act pragmatically, often suppressing personal desire for the sake of security, before her 'market value' declines.

Literary and Social Commentary

Shakespeare's use in 'As You Like It'—'Sell when you can! you are not for all markets'—is a piece of sharp, worldly advice that cuts through the play's romantic themes, highlighting the often-brutal pragmatism required of women in matters of love and marriage.

Rhetorical Devices

Extended Metaphor

The entire proverb functions as an extended metaphor, equating the social dynamics of courtship and marriage with the transactional, impersonal nature of a commercial market.

Economic Diction

The use of economic terms like 'market', 'sell', and 'vendible' to discuss women and marriage creates a powerful, if unsettling, sense of commodification.

Imperative Mood

The phrase 'must sell' functions as a strong imperative, framing the act of marriage not as a choice but as a social and economic necessity, thereby emphasizing the pressure on women.