Elopement: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 17:12, 29 November 2013

Literally: act of running away. In 18th-century Britain the term was used to refer to a couple that ran away and got married secretely without parental approval.

After the Hardwicke Marriage Act (1753), which contained very strict rules regarding marriage, elopements had to be directed abroad, usually to Scotland. The Act decreed that only marriages solemnised in a church and between those aged over 21 were recognised. If they were not 21 the couple needed parental consent. To avoid the law, it was necessary to get a special license from the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Inofficially, one could still elope. Most often couples crossed the border to the nearest Scottish village, Gretna Green. Among other popular Scottish border villages were Lamberton or Mordington. In Scotland marriage was legal at the age of 16. All the Scottish law required was that there were two witnesses to the marriage.

In Jane Austen’s novels elopements play a role, too. In her works, Austen shows the negative aspect of elopements. In Pride and Prejudice the elopement by Lydia and Wickham leads to drama and probably a bad marriage. Elopement was not well respected in society and considered to be an embarrassment for the family.

Sources:

"elopement." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2009. Merriam-Webster Online. 11 Dec. 2009 <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elopement>.

Klingel Ray, Joan. Jane Austen for Dummies. Indianapolis: Wiley Publishing, 2006.

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-To '''elope''' literally means to '''run away'''. In 18th century England this term was used to refer to a marriage that was conducted by a couple that fled secretly to a place, where the English law did not apply. Most often couples crossed the border to the nearest Scottish village, Gretna Green. Among other popular Scottish border villages were Lamberton or Mordington.
+Literally: act of running away. In 18th-century Britain the term was used to refer to a couple that ran away and got married secretely without parental approval.
-Elopement can be seen as a consequence of the Marriage Act, also called ''Lord Hardwicke’s Marriage Act'' passed in 1753. This act contained very strict rules regarding marriage. Only marriages solemnised in a church and between those aged over 21 were recognized. If they were not 21 the couple needed parental consent. To avoid the law, it was necessary to get either a special license from the Archbishop of Canterbury or to elope to Scotland.
+After the [[Hardwicke Marriage Act]] (1753), which contained very strict rules regarding marriage, elopements had to be directed abroad, usually to Scotland. The Act decreed that only marriages solemnised in a church and between those aged over 21 were recognised. If they were not 21 the couple needed parental consent. To avoid the law, it was necessary to get a special license from the Archbishop of Canterbury.
-In Scotland marriage was legal at the age of 16. All the Scottish law required was that there were two witnesses to the marriage. Usually the marriage was performed by the local blacksmith. That is why blacksmiths in Gretna Green were sometimes called “anvil priests”, because the anvil served as altar.
+Inofficially, one could still elope. Most often couples crossed the border to the nearest Scottish village, Gretna Green. Among other popular Scottish border villages were Lamberton or Mordington.  In Scotland marriage was legal at the age of 16. All the Scottish law required was that there were two witnesses to the marriage.
-In [[Jane Austen]]’s novels elopements play a role, too. In her works, Austen shows the negative aspect of elopements. In ''[[Pride and Prejudice]]'' the elopement by Lydia and Wickham leads to a bad marriage. Elopement was not well respected in society and considered to be an embarrassment for the family. Most often the eloping couple had no dowries or marriage settlements as financial support.
+In [[Jane Austen]]’s novels elopements play a role, too. In her works, Austen shows the negative aspect of elopements. In ''[[Pride and Prejudice]]'' the elopement by Lydia and Wickham leads to drama and probably a bad marriage. Elopement was not well respected in society and considered to be an embarrassment for the family.
-'''
-Sources:'''
-Balkovek, Corin. “The Marriage Act of 1753”. British Enlightenment Class Project. 2004. 11 Dec.2009.<http://www.humboldt.edu/~jbd2/Eng350/MarriageCD/website/Marriage.htm>.
+Sources:
 "elopement." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2009. Merriam-Webster Online. 11 Dec.	2009 <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elopement>.
 Klingel Ray, Joan. ''Jane Austen for Dummies''. Indianapolis: Wiley Publishing, 2006.