Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Semester of Degree Completion

1977

Thesis Director

Charles Switzer

Abstract

Over one-half of Howells' novels are concerned with marriage and courtship. Like many other aspects of his thinking, Howells' ideas of marriage were influenced by the teachings of Emmanuel Swedenborg, an eighteenth century Swedish scientist and theologian. The bulk of Swedenborg's teachings regarding marriage are found in his The Delights of Wisdom Concerning Conjugial Love, published in 1768. Howells showed the influence of Swedenborgianism on the marriages in his novels in three major areas: the actual marriages in his novels, matters relating to marriage, and marital failures.

An important element in Swedenborgianism is the belief in marriages in heaven. Although Howells had his personal doubts, regarding this, passages from A Foregone Conclusion, The Shadow of a Dream, and Their Wedding Journey voice the possibility that Swedenborg's concept could be true. Howells presented many marriages in his novels which met Swedenborg's criteria for truly conjugial relationships. Some of these marriages were the Marches, the Colvilles in Indian Summer, the Laphams, and the Pinneys in The Quality of Mercy. Marriages in Howells' novels seem to be conjugial if the partners do not seek selfish sexual gratification, if the partners fulfill their respective conjugial duties, and if the partners realize that marriage will change their lives.

Matters having a close relation to and a great effect upon conjugial relationships are love of infants, betrothals, second marriages, and appearances of conjugial love. Although children play minor roles in most of his novels, in Indian Summer and A Modern Instance, children were used by Howells to reflect the actions of adults. Betrothals were the first steps for couples entering conjugial relationships. During this time the couple should seek the advice of parents and should refrain from sexual activity. In novels such as The Minister's Charge and The Rise of Silas Lapham where sexual activity was suggested, the marriages did not occur. Of the few repeated marriages in Howells' novels, the marriage of Colville and Lina Bowen seems to be the most influenced by Swedenborgianism. In some cases couples who appeared to share conjugial love actually did not; such marriages were the Redfields in The Leatherwood God and the Northwicks in The Quality of Mercy.

Of the causes of marital failure cited by Swedenborg, Howells used three extensively: religion, differences in social status, and differences in age. The deterioration of the Hubbards' marriage in A Modern Instance parallels the religious deterioration in New England. The marriage in A Chance Acquaintance does not occur because Arbuton thinks Kitty is beneath him socially. Colville and Imogene Graham do not marry in Indian Summer because of the disparity in their ages.

The most important conclusion made by Howells about marriage is that love is not enough. Nonetheless, a marriage cannot exist without love. In a conjugial relationship partners accept each other realistically. April Hopes relates the courtship of a couple whose marriage is destined to fail because the partners cannot accept each other as they are. Marriage is real in Howells' novels; it is not the end of a romance, but the beginning of a life together.

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