Marriage as a Legitimacy of Social Orders in John Dryden's "Marriage a la Mode"

Marriage as a Legitimacy of Social Values in John Dryden's Marriage a-la Mode
The pastoral romance of Palmyra and Leonidas through the rusticity of village into the authoritative court of king Polydamas gives the harsh challenges to the self desire to quest the self destiny. But the terms and conventions of the court of Polydamas simply stand as the objection to the easy acceptance of marriage between Palmyra and Leonidas. Hence, here the marriage is used as the pure legitimacy of family lineage and power for the inception of peace and stability during 'Restoration Era, 1660 to 1780' (quoted in English Literature in Context 211) is a researchable issue.
Marriage is a socially accepted conventional idea of getting the generation forward. It's not only just reuniting of two souls and bodies but it’s a process of choosing correct and legitimate genealogical upbringings. Literary critic Maurice Ashley in an inline article argues that, "The ideal marriage began with the selection by the parents of the potential spouse." In the drama, this is exposed by Polydamas in the court when Leonidas and Palmyra are first brought before him. He says, "If from your hands/ your powers. I shall this day receive a daughter Argaleon, she is yours/ but if a son/ then Amalthea's love shall make him happy"(Act I, Sce.I 86).
As per the use of drama, it stands as the union of two opposing forces, sometimes antagonistic forces to reconciliation believe in marriage could solve the rivalry. So, it stands as the piece and stability of the state. More than that the drama unites the pastoral beauty with the courtly chaos and creates the new state of equilibrium. Literary critic Lawrence Stone in his online article argues that, "For over half a century, from the 1680s to 1740s the arranged marriage exclusively for interest, were practiced by the aristocracy." Here, in the drama, Polydamas has already made a plan to wed if he has  daughter then to Argalean but if a son then to Amalthea. But John Dryden has assaulted this notion of aristocratic marriage wittily.
Marriage after lots of chaos denotes the struggle of individuals in society to make their own choice. As the literary critic Antonio Fraser in her online article From the Weaker Vessel argues that, "Throughout the 17th century England, a girl might well have been forced into a marriage against her will by parental pressure and have herself there by robbed of her freedom." Polydamas forces Palmyra to marry Argaleon when he comes to know her as his own daughter. Polydamas commands," Argaleon, lead my daughter/as we go, I shall have time to give her my commands/ in which you are concerned" (Act III Sce. I, 109). When Palmyra was commanded to marry Argaleon by her newly found father Leonidas says that," The king can give no good merit to love" (109).
Society objects the naïve idea of individual. It objects their choice. The marriage shows the acceptance of earlier discontentment. Stone describes the state of married women of Restoration arguing that,"The most obvious method of breaking a marriage was to leave home. Most of this cruelty was a product of poverty brutality and alcohol." Here, the wife of Polydamas with her child and the queen flee away when they learn that he was returning from war. "And when his crimes had impudence enough/ to bear the eye of day/ Eubulus was fled, and with him bore away the queen/ his wife, now big with child, and much detesting/ her husband practices had willingly/accompanied their fright" (Act I. Sce. I 85). Now, fleeing away of Eudoxia from palace proves how much cruel and brutal was Polydamas which created fear even to his own wife.
How marriage is socially perceived notion by experienced and amateur is the question. Amateurs simply put it with love and lust but experienced put it with legitimacy of future. Sir George Saville in his online article Marquels of Halifax; Advice to Daughter argues that," Young women were seldom permitted to make their own choice, there modesty often forbidden them to refuse when their parents recommend, though their inward consent may not entirely go along with it." Here, in the drama Polydamas compels Palmyra to marry Argaleon.
Palmyra also starts to think of not going against her father. So, she asks Leonidas to request Polydamas for marrying her. "And is it thus,you quote Palymira's bed/ can see the murderer of her parent wed/ so much you well may give to love and me / to let my father awake" (Act IV Sce.4 124). She requests Leonidas to let her father leave if he really loves her. It shows how the daughters were attached to their parents though they have some kind of self desire for freedom. They could never freely betray their parents.
In the same article Saville argues that,"The root and the excuse of this injustice is the preservation of the family from any mixture which may bring blemish to them." It can be observed in the drama when Artemis; a court lady says to Amalthea about the quest of Polydamas to find the true heir of his kingdom. But actually instead of Polydamas, Sicily is itself in turmoil because it does not have legitimate king. So, ironically it reflects the state's quest for true legitimate king which was Leonidas. Artemis declares the truth about the inquisitiveness of Polydamas saying,"That this old king/ whom all the world thought childless/ should come to search the farthest parts old Sicily/in hope to find heir" (Act I Sce.I 84).
Without the correct legitimacy of marriage whole family lineage can be crushed. So, marriage is the inception for new era of peace and stability hinting the changes in perceived conventions. Adultery and emotional attachments were also the recurrent cultures of restoration. The adultry of Palamede and Rhodophil reflects the bawdiness and raucousness of the age especially among the aristocratic classes as argued by Natalie Zemon Davis and Aritte Fonge.
Palamade's speech in Act I Scene I shows the adultery when he says,"I have a strange king of mistress in court, besides her I am to marry another courtly woman." It shows how the aristocratic culture was getting contaminated. It hints that aristocratic people were too much suppressed of their limitations by socio cultural norms and values. It has constrained them to act freely in society and to hide their sexual desire. So, it shows the moral and sexual experimentation in Restoration.
Stone argues that,"Marriage during Restoration was a contract, with mutual rights and obligations whose nature could be debated endlessly." Here, in the drama also the marriage can be seen as obligations. Palmyra was obliged to marry Argaleon. Polydamas commands his intentions that he has already decided if he has a daughter, she would be married to Argaleon for he is to gain more courtly power. Similary, if he is to have a son he would be married to Amalthea which would make her happy (Act I Sce. I 86). So, it seems as if he has made some kind of contract for marriage.
According to an online article posted in examplessay.com, it is narrated that," Drama seeks to convey a representation of life. It contains heroic tragedy and tears or humour, witness an upper classes."  We can find lots of humour and comedy in sub plots. They come through the dialogues of Palamade, Rhodophil, Doralice and Melantha. It is expressed in the speeches of Doralice. In Act I Scene I she replies Palamede in a very comic way. When he asked whether she is married or not. She replies," Yes, married to a gentleman; young handsome, rich, valiant and with all the good qualities that will make you despair and hang yourself" (Act I Sce. I 81). So, the farures of humour and comedy can be noticed as one of the salient features of restoration drama.
Similarly, we can also see many female characters used in the drama as the remark of Restoration. The drama starts with female role, Belizo. There are altogether seven lady characters. So, ladies are also given the place. In the speech of Rhodophil, we can see the discontent of married husband when he replies to Palamede's question about his wife," Ask those, who have smelt to a strong perfume two years together, what's the scent" (Act I Sce.I 82).
The smell of same perfume for two years shows that he is fade up with his married life. So, the whole scenario of sub-plot tells us how the marriage was taken as a restraint of sexual and personal freedom. Courtiers and royal members want to break this restriction but no matter they never prefer interclass marriage.
According to cyberpal.com," Restoration age was characterized by a sense of loss and cultural disillusion coupled with force to restore social stability and cohesion." Dryden here, also presents how the notion of spiritual and pure marriage was under degradation during Restoration. Through the marriage life of Rhodophil and Doralice, the playwright gives us the loss of stability, faith and love in married life. Being a married woman Doralice freely makes extra marital affair with Palamede. In the Act III Scene I she says, "For men the problem is wife is same, for wife problem is husband is not same" (101).
Litrary critic Birdsall in an online article writes that," Marriage was seen as restrictions, all the more since were divorces were practically impossible to obtain". It also implies the sense that for aristocratic people, values of marriage was intense to bear and they want to change in their personal freedom but breaking lineage was suppose to bring chaos.
When in 1649 Charles II was exiled and England was ruled by Cromwell upto 1660, England suffered through various political turmoil because the legitimacy was upon the person outside the lineage. England was indulged in the two decades long civil wars. There was the intervention of army on the parliament. But after the restoration of Charles second, all problems seemed to be settled (English Literature in Context 220). It proves how the linearity and legitimacy was taken as a vital issue in Restoration play, so, to establish the peace and stability legitimacy needed to be restored in England.
Hence, through the correct legitimacy of marriage between Palmyra and Leonidas, the playwright presents the ideas that marriage is not just the pastoral romance but it is the inception of social law and orders. The last acceptance of Leonidas as a rightful prince restores the chain of legacy. Polydamas accepts the legitimacy of Leonidas and their marriage as a socially valid order because Palmyra also comes to be a court lady. He gives her hand to Leonidas as a symbol of acceptable marriage and says, "The gods, and my Palmyra make you happy/ as you make me" (Act V Sce. I 136).







Works Cited
Dryden, John. "Marriage a La Mode." British and American Drama. Comp. CDE,TU.Kirtipur: TU Books. 73-139. Print.
Poplawsky, Paul, ed. English Literature in Context. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2010. 211-301. Print.
Ashley, Maurice. "Love and Marriage in Seventeenth Century England." History Today. 10.1(1960): n.pag. Web. 7 July 2016.
Stone, Lawrence. "From road to Divorce: England 1530-1987.Prov.Marquerite Connor. Attitudes to Marriage in Restoration Drama. Web. 7 July 2016. http://www.english.fju.edu.tw/
Fraser, Antonia. "From the Weaker Vessel: Women Lot in Seventeenth Century England." Attitudes to Marriage in Restoration Drama. Web. 7 July 2016.
Saville, George. "Marquels of Halifax: Advice to Daughter." Attitudes to Marriage in Restoration Drama. Web. 7 July 2016.
ExampleEssay.com. Web. 7 July 2016.http://www.exampleessay.com/viewpaper/
"Love and Marriage in Restoration Comedies." Cyberpal.com. Web. 7 July 2016.<http://www.cyberpal.com/shir/site/restore2/>