The Role of Marriage in 18th Century France: Society and Social Status

This essay examines the role of marriage in 18th-century French society, focusing on its impact on social status and economic factors. It analyzes the marriage of Jacques Rolland and Marie Louise Cruchon to illustrate the prevailing social norms and the use of marriage as a tool for social and economic advancement. The essay discusses how marriage was viewed as a means to establish a good social standing, maintain family image, and secure financial stability. It contrasts the idealized view of marriage with the reality of arranged alliances and the societal pressures that shaped marital relationships. The analysis considers the socio-economic forces at play and the challenges of single life, highlighting the importance placed on marriage and family in 18th-century France. Desklib provides access to this and many other solved assignments for students.

Running head: HISTORY
18th century society in France
Name of the student
Name of the university
Author note

1HISTORY
Introduction
The industrial revolution was seemed to creep in the eighteenth century in France.
The individuals earlier then this lived in the country side and they made their living through
farming. Later there was a shift of the people from the countryside to the towns and the
individuals got involved in works like mining and manufacturing industries. It was observed
that owing lands was considered to be a sign of wealth. The century witnessed the influence
of the politics that were held in the hands of the rich landowners and there was a line
difference between the rich and the poor. All the attractions remained in the town and the
people made their journey to town to become socially famous or to make huge income.
Marriage was considered to be the most serious part of life. Every individual was considered
to be noble if they got indulged in a marriage relationship. In order to explain the life of an
individual in the eighteenth-century France, the aspect of marriage has been highlighted in
the essay. To explain it in a more vast sense the essay of Christopher has been taken into
account. The marriage relationship of Marie and Rolland has been taken into account in order
to understand the scenario that prevailed in France and the way every individual was judged.
It is considered to be fake to some extent and every aspect of the marriage is left without any
charm1. In order to understand the scenario more appropriately the crimes of Louis Davory
has been considered in the essay.
Discussion
Marriage is an institution in itself that has been used as a tool to establish a good
social status in the society. The colonial society and the characteristics of the same have been
1 Young, Paul J. Seducing the Eighteenth-Century French Reader: Reading, Writing, and the Question of
Pleasure. Routledge, 2016.

2HISTORY
portrayed in the essay of Christopher. The concept of marriage was considered to be the point
of focus in the essay. Marriage has been considered to be the union of two different
individuals and the other aspects related to marriage are supposed to occur only behind the
doors. The other shade of the marriage consists of the idea that the vows are taken in front of
the society in a particular social framework. Marriage is always judged from the vision of the
society. The social consequences are attached with the marriage. It has a flat concept2. The
colonial 18th century society in France consists that marriage rewarded the individuals with
certain designation. It awarded the designation of husband to the man and the designation of
wife to a woman. There were certain set of rules that were imposed on the husbands as well
as the wife. The rules sometimes turned out to be compulsion. The husband was expected to
indulge himself in earning and feed his family. He was considered to be the bread winner of
the family and be responsible for the financial stability of the family. The wives on the other
hand were expected to be submissive to her husband. They were expected to maintain the
household duties and be answerable to their husband. The wives were supposed to manage
the household works and they were solely responsible for the internal affairs of the house3.
It was judged from the angle of the the societal thoughts. The idea of the marriage
was served as the background of analyzing the marital relationship between Jacques and
Marie. The marriage was absolutely an alliance. The marriage was a fake one, which was
done to maintain the social status. The protagonist was aware of the fact that his activity was
making him famous in the town of Louisebourge4. He had this idea that if he married
someone from a local family he would be able to flourish himself as a businessperson. This is
2 Woolf, Stuart. The poor in Western Europe in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Routledge, 2016.
3 Mosse, George. The culture of Western Europe: the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Routledge, 2018.
4 Locklin, Nancy. Women's work and identity in eighteenth-century Brittany. Routledge, 2016.

3HISTORY
the reason of marrying Marie. This scenario already prevailed in France. The other characters
in the essay like Novice merchant Blaise Lagoanere married the eldest daughter of a wealthy
employer Michael Daccarette who had good number of clients. The good reputation was a
matter of concern in france. Rolland tried to make a good social circle in France and tried to
be renowned in the social spheres in France. They tried to acquire a good appearance in the
social strata of France and they were successful to some extent. Later in the essay, it was
however found that this made them unsuccessful to some level. It did not last for a longer
time. The pretension could not last till the end. The point that needs to be considered in this
context is the fact that with the fall of the social status the image of the person was ruined.
This was the prevailing idea in France5.
The socio-economic forces forged into the union of the Rolland the Cruchon at
Louisebourg. The intention behind it was the formation of New France. The concept was
single life was something that was completely denied in France. The people of France
avoided this idea. They believed that marriage could give a partner for the lifetime. It was a
matter that was to be considered on a serious note. This was not a matter that could be taken
casually. It was considered that marriage could let the people to fight against all the odds and
it could give the strength to live a good and a healthy life. In other words this can be
commented that marriage was an idea that was a necessary part of life and having children
was another part that was treated as a necessary thing. Marriage and children therefore was
held to be an important concept. This is the reason to fulfill the requirements of the society
and to be held as a social human being Rolland married a logical girl who proved to be
beneficial for him6.
5 Cunningham, Hugh. Children and childhood in western society since 1500. Routledge, 2014
6 Bevis, Richard W. English Drama: Restoration and Eighteenth Century 1660-1789. Routledge, 2014.

4HISTORY
Social standing in New France demonstrated the perception of marriage and how it was
considered in the then society. In several parts of the society, the perspective of marriage was
just considered to be a private domestic act. The institution of marriage is being considered
from a large point of view. However, the essay mainly focuses on the social aspect by taking
into consideration the marriage of Jacques Rolland and Marie Louise Cruchon, which gives a
clear view of the then society of New France. Jacques Rolland was a businessman who tried
to establish his new venture at a new place7.
On the contrary, Therese Boudier Cruchon, mother of Marie Louise Cruchon’s
mother was actually trying to maintain a social standing for the family. After the death of her
husband, Therese Boudier Cruchon and her kids had to struggle for life. They had to live on
the meager income and however, she managed to present a deceptive outlook of their family.
This struggle of holding a fake image did not last long8. In a social gathering, the family got
introduced to Jacques Rolland, where Therese tried to build a relationship with him.
The whole situation took a new turn, when Jacques Rolland ended up marrying her
eldest daughter that is Marie Louise Cruchon. However, it is being mentioned that Rolland
was neither a civil officer nor a military officer. He married a local girl in order to set up his
new venture over there. This marriage was kind of an alliance9. Therefore, the socio and
economic forces which came into play was typical for the place. Allan Greer mentioned
7 Tackett, Timothy. Religion, revolution, and regional culture in eighteenth-century France: the ecclesiastical
oath of 1791. Princeton University Press, 2014.
8 Schwartz, Robert M. Policing the poor in eighteenth-century France. UNC Press Books, 2017.
9 Hammersley, Rachel. The English Republican Tradition and Eighteenth-century France: Between the Ancients
and the Moderns. Oxford University Press, 2013.

5HISTORY
about the social history of New France, in his book, titled ‘The People of New France’. The
book presented a similar image just like the marriage which took place in the then society of
France10.
Greer in his book, suggested that the arrange marriages were the concepts, which the
society never even heard of. He stated that it will be more beneficial for the society if the
individuals find out their counterparts and set up a household. In his book, he also mentioned
about the challenges one has to face, while leading a single life11. The individuals of New
France always avoided singlehood and completely believed that being single is a challenging
job. They had a notion that nobody can stay single or alone forever, as individualism haunts
people. They took weddings and marriages very seriously12.
Conclusion
To conclude, the marriage institutions have a major impact on the societal
consequences. The conception of marriage is regarded as a private matter in the North
America, which should reside behind the four walls. Moreover, majority of the men thought
that by marrying, they are becoming the bread owner of the house. From the story of Marie
Louis Cruchon and Jacques Rolland, it can be said that marriages of the then society was
more related to business. Jacques Rolland had huge sense of business and thus he ended up
marrying Marie. The essential characteristics of eighteenth century New France is deeply
rooted inside the socio and economic factors.
10 Mackrell, John Quentin Colborne. The attack on Feudalism in eighteenth-century France. Routledge, 2013.
11 Quimby, Robert S. The Background of Napoleonic Warfare: the theory of military tactics in eighteenth-
century France. Pickle Partners Publishing, 2015.
12 Crouzet, François. "England and France in the Eighteenth Century: A Comparative Analysis Two Economic
Growths." In The Causes of the Industrial Revolution in England, pp. 139-174. Routledge, 2017.

6HISTORY

7HISTORY
References
Bevis, Richard W. English Drama: Restoration and Eighteenth Century 1660-1789.
Routledge, 2014.
Crouzet, François. "England and France in the Eighteenth Century: A Comparative Analysis
Two Economic Growths." In The Causes of the Industrial Revolution in England, pp. 139-
174. Routledge, 2017.
Cunningham, Hugh. Children and childhood in western society since 1500. Routledge, 2014.
Hammersley, Rachel. The English Republican Tradition and Eighteenth-century France:
Between the Ancients and the Moderns. Oxford University Press, 2013.
Locklin, Nancy. Women's work and identity in eighteenth-century Brittany. Routledge, 2016.
Mackrell, John Quentin Colborne. The attack on Feudalism in eighteenth-century France.
Routledge, 2013.
Mosse, George. The culture of Western Europe: the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Routledge, 2018.
Quimby, Robert S. The Background of Napoleonic Warfare: the theory of military tactics in
eighteenth-century France. Pickle Partners Publishing, 2015.
Schwartz, Robert M. Policing the poor in eighteenth-century France. UNC Press Books,
2017.
Tackett, Timothy. Religion, revolution, and regional culture in eighteenth-century France: the
ecclesiastical oath of 1791. Princeton University Press, 2014.

8HISTORY
Woolf, Stuart. The poor in Western Europe in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Routledge, 2016.
Young, Paul J. Seducing the Eighteenth-Century French Reader: Reading, Writing, and the
Question of Pleasure. Routledge, 2016.