The role of a woman in "The Wife"

Irving’s short story “The Wife” describes how women were viewed at that time.  He describes them as “the softer sex,” full of “weakness and dependence.”  In that time period, women did not bring in any income into the family.  Irving writes that a “woman is dependent of a man” and an “ornament to a man in happy hours.”  He also describes how women sustain their men.  They must be sympathetic when their man is in trouble, “tenderly supporting the drooping head, and binding up the broken heart.”  He also mentioned that women had some kind of witchery, making them sound like sorceresses who seduce their men under a spell.  Irving’s ideal woman would be considered a trophy wife this day in age; someone to simply show off to your friends.  Irving also informed the reader on a typical marriage in early America.  The woman was just emotional support to the man and had no power in society.  In “The Wife” the main character Leslie had a reversal of fortune and attempted to hide the news from his wife.  But his wife being the tender creature that she was, accepted poverty and supported him through the tough times.  This situation does happen in America today but might be handled differently.  The woman might have had to start working, which was unheard of un America back then.