Irving is very optimistic when it comes to the societal issues of early America. In “The Wife” He recognizes that being married is better than being single. He exclaims that women are remarkable creatures who “had been all weakness and dependence, and alive to every trivial roughness while treading the prosperous life” (p. 526) and then turn around and be supportive and strong for her husband in times of misfortune. He also goes into detail about how married men who go into misfortune come out a whole lot better than the single man, because they don’t have anyone to support him in his time of need. She is his rock when it comes to horrible times in fortune. All of this is also stating his thoughts about marriage. The husband is the supporter of the family and the woman is the supporter of the husband through hard times. He is also explaining here about what the ideal woman would be. She should be supportive of her husband no matter what happens and be happy no matter the circumstances and be strong for him when he needs strength and dependent on him when he needs her to be. In a way, I guess you could put it as; she needs to be what he needs her to be at times that he needs her to be it. Irving could be both belittling the woman and uplifting her, depending on the way you read his story.
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