Arden of Faversham
Comments(3) In the play Arden of Faversham, Alice who married to her husband based upon her parents’ order. Her parents believed their arrangements were the best to her and they were the only persons who had the authority to do so. Alice was not happy about it just because her marriage was not based upon her own will. She married to her husband Thomas Arden was solely because her parents wanted her to. Did she love her husband? Perhaps she did but not faithfully. She had an affair with Mosby to show her rebellion to her parents’ decision. The author’s purpose was to make the other parents aware and warned them what the consequences would be if they did what Alice’s parents did.
In addition, Thomas Arden often insulted Mosby because he was a clothes repairer. He was in a lower social class while Thomas Arden was in the higher social class. In this play, Mosby had said repeatedly that he would revenge. Also, he jealous Thomas Arden because he was in a better position; Arden could have anything he wanted but he could not. Mosby was hoping that if he could get rid of Arden, he could take over his place and replace him. He already had the love of his wife, Alice; he was hoping that if he could replace Arden, he could be as wealthy and popular as he was. However, on page 454, Scene 8, line 59, Alice said, “It is not love that loves to murder love.” Alice had a conflict within herself: Alice had feeling with her husband and she did not want to kill Arden; but she did not want to be controlled by her parents because this was not what she wanted. That’s why she conspired with Mosby and killed her husband. They neglected human rights and taken away Arden’s freedom to live. Finally, the legal system did not allow them and they were caught by the government. Both Mosby and Alice were penalized by the law and executed.
In your post above you imply that Alice loved her husband and kind of had an affair with Mosby in spite of her parents who forced to marry Arden. I just find that a little hard to believe that her parents would want to compromise the social status and have her daughter marry someone of a lower class. We did establish in class that Alice had higher social status than Arden, so I am surprised that her parents would want to compromise that. I also dont believe she loved Arden as much, since she wanted him dead. Even though I do believe it is possible to love someone and not be completely faitfull to them, however wishing them dead is a whole another story. Once you wish someone dead it implies you never want to see them again, and I dont think Alice loved Arden at all, since she continuously plotted to kill him. I believe she did not care for him one bit, she didnt value his opinions, she wasnt interested in what he felt or said.. Her love to Mosby might have been a simple excape from her life that was lacking love and affection.
In response to Anita’s response to my blog posting, there are several reasons I believe why Alice’s parents permitted her married to Arden. First of all, Arden is a nobleman, just like Alice’s step-father, Arden is on the same or similar social level with him. They interact with the people in the same social group and socialize with the people on the same or similar level. They probably have heard about their names before they met or even know each other.
Second of all, although man is the head of the family, woman is his neck who can turn the head. When Arden asked for the permission from Alice’s parents to marry her, he probably brought a lot of gifts, gold and jewelry to bribe them, especially to her mother because those are women’s favorite.
Third of all, probably there are only Arden and Mosby available in that neighborhood at that time; may be there are some other young men available in other countries in far distance as well but Alice’s parents do not want her to leave them. Since Arden is on the same or similar social level of Alice’s step-father, and Mosby is on the lowest level; and Arden also bribe her parents. In the old time, parents usually have the authority to make the decision for their children. That’s why they decided to let Alice married Arden.
Since Alice married to Arden is to comply with her parents’ order but not on her own will, she totally objects this marriage and her husband. She somehow started a relationship with Mosby to show her rebellion to this marriage and her parents’ decision. Although almost everyone in the town know she has an affair with Mosby and they appear together on the street, she decline her relationship with Mosby to her husband and her husband on the other hand does not reveal that to save her reputation because of her step-father’s name and social status.
I also agree with Anita that “Her love to Mosby might have been a simple escape from her life that was lacking love and affection.” This could be true. She probably tried to look for someone with reputation and social status but those people know her father and Arden well and they do not want to destroy their names too. That’s why they did not hook up with her.
Is it possible that Alice family wanted her to marry Arden not because of his title but because of his money? I believe that maybe her family may have just had a title and no money so they need money to help insure what there family once was. But overall I agree about the rebellion and that would make sense for Alice’s motive to have an affair with Mosby.