- What does it mean to get married? Why do it? Why not do it?
Come up with specific evidence from the readings – primary and secondary – that helps to explain the expectations the following people might have about marriage: Why would they want to marry? Why did or didn’t they choose to marry?
Sarah – slave of Sarah Slaughter
Eunice Davis
Eliza WhartonSamuel Huggins
Peter Sanford
Fortunatus
What are the legal and extra-legal options? In practical terms, what do the laws mean for John and Eunice Davis, or for Peter Sanford and Eliza Wharton? What would happen to each if they were to try to get a divorce? If they don’t? How is this similar to or different from today?
Eunice Davis
John Davis
Peter Sanford
Eliza Wharton
- Imagine you were friends and/or legal advisors to characters in the Coquette.
What advice would you give the following characters? Could the novel end differently?
- Group 1: Eliza Wharton
- Group 2: Peter Sanford
- Group 3: Nancy Laurence Sanford (Peter's wife)