charles and emma
I'm learning about Darwin for Anthropology right now. I've heard bits and pieces about his marriage to Emma Darwin, but awww... I know this sounds really weird, but I think Charles and Emma are one of my favorite couples right now. I just think it's really cute, from beginning to end.
Apparently before marrying Emma, Charles had written a list of reasons why and why not to marry - under "to not marry" were the reasons "children", "can't travel", "less money for books" and "terrible loss of time". Under "marry" were "more money for books" and "better than a dog, anyhow".
But then if I married tomorrow: there would be an infinity of trouble & expense in getting & furnishing a house,-fighting about no Society-morning calls-awkwardness-loss of time every day.
But then obviously he got married to Emma, and they had a really loving relationship. At their wedding, he said this:
"Excuse this much egotism, I give it to you, because I think you will humanise me, and soon teach me there is greater happiness, than building theories and accumulating facts in silence and solitude."
They had a very good marriage. They compromised a lot - Charles was of course a man of science, but Emma was a woman of the Unitarian church and was very religious. According to the first article I read about Charles and Emma, he would wait outside of the church while she was inside, praying for him.
So the dance of a married couple had begun. She [Emma] played the piano for him [Charles], and though he had a tin ear, he listened with enjoyment and love. He put up with her sloppiness; she understood his need for long hours at work. She agreed to go to fewer parties and dinners since he did not like them. He went to the theater with her, and to church.
From the quotes I was able to find about the two of them... Charles had so many nice things to say to his wife. He is always complimenting her for her kindness and her wisdom, almost in a sort of poetic way.
She has been my wise adviser and cheerful comforter throughout life, which without her would have been during a very long period a miserable one from ill-health. She has earned the love and admiration of every soul near her.
And I found this one quote from Emma, which I think speaks enough for itself:
Everything that concerns you concerns me and I should be most unhappy if I thought we did not belong to each other for ever.
It just seems like such a kind and loving relationship to me... They had ten children, all whom they took care of very well.
Charles loved Emma to his death... and I think that's just the kind of love we should admire.
And as he slipped away, he told her, "Remember what a good wife you have been to me." Emma held Charles in her arms as he died.
sources: 1 2 3 4
Apparently before marrying Emma, Charles had written a list of reasons why and why not to marry - under "to not marry" were the reasons "children", "can't travel", "less money for books" and "terrible loss of time". Under "marry" were "more money for books" and "better than a dog, anyhow".
But then if I married tomorrow: there would be an infinity of trouble & expense in getting & furnishing a house,-fighting about no Society-morning calls-awkwardness-loss of time every day.
But then obviously he got married to Emma, and they had a really loving relationship. At their wedding, he said this:
"Excuse this much egotism, I give it to you, because I think you will humanise me, and soon teach me there is greater happiness, than building theories and accumulating facts in silence and solitude."
They had a very good marriage. They compromised a lot - Charles was of course a man of science, but Emma was a woman of the Unitarian church and was very religious. According to the first article I read about Charles and Emma, he would wait outside of the church while she was inside, praying for him.
So the dance of a married couple had begun. She [Emma] played the piano for him [Charles], and though he had a tin ear, he listened with enjoyment and love. He put up with her sloppiness; she understood his need for long hours at work. She agreed to go to fewer parties and dinners since he did not like them. He went to the theater with her, and to church.
From the quotes I was able to find about the two of them... Charles had so many nice things to say to his wife. He is always complimenting her for her kindness and her wisdom, almost in a sort of poetic way.
She has been my wise adviser and cheerful comforter throughout life, which without her would have been during a very long period a miserable one from ill-health. She has earned the love and admiration of every soul near her.
And I found this one quote from Emma, which I think speaks enough for itself:
Everything that concerns you concerns me and I should be most unhappy if I thought we did not belong to each other for ever.
It just seems like such a kind and loving relationship to me... They had ten children, all whom they took care of very well.
Charles loved Emma to his death... and I think that's just the kind of love we should admire.
And as he slipped away, he told her, "Remember what a good wife you have been to me." Emma held Charles in her arms as he died.
sources: 1 2 3 4