The Subjection of Women · Character
Her Master
The husband whose legal absorption of his wife's property, earnings, children, and body makes him, in Mill's accounting, a more total master than any slaveholder.
supporting
Also known as her master, himself
First appearance: i
As a supporting figure in The Subjection of Women, Her Master is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.
The husband is described as the legal master of the wife, with power over her property and person.
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He is not a caricature of cruelty but the ordinary man the law arms with extraordinary power: to seize her wages, claim her children, compel her return, and demand the last familiarity regardless of her loathing. The…
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See Her Master in iCharacter Web
2 connectionsA slice of how Her Master sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.
Relationship types
- Social
- Psychological
Character groups
- Historical and Religious Authorities
- Protagonist
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Open in readerNarrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.
- Setup
- Breaking point
The emotional and psychological peak occurs when the narrator reveals the unexpected, empirical discovery that…
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Follow the arc while readingRelationships
- The Romans
social · ambivalent
Her Master is often discussed in relation to Roman legal and social structures that… How this plays out →
- Narrator
psychological · negative
Relationship notes
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See Her Master in iIn the story
Her Master appears across 2 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.
- Chapter II: The Marriage Contract and Legal Subordination
- Chapter IV: The Benefits of Equality and the Influence of Women
Chapter companion notes
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See Her Master in i