Gender Roles and Marriage

Marriage is depicted as a restrictive or transactional institution, with Nora trapped in a cold marriage to an older man, Sarah Casey seeking marriage for social respectability, and women often left to manage households and grief alone.

Sarah pushes for marriage while Michael resists, reflecting traditional gender expectations. Sarah's threat to leave for a richer tinker underscores the transactional nature of relationships in their social context.

Sarah's desire for a formal marriage is challenged by Mary's cynical view that marriage brings no relief from women's suffering, highlighting tensions between traditional expectations and practical realities.