Gender

Question 1

‘use my wedding ring….did vow never to part with it/But to my second husband’

Answer 1

The Duchess’ offering of the ring is overtly suggestive of marriage, assuming a masculine social position by feigning to conform to traditional convention (that of which the male proposes).

Question 2

‘raise yourself….my hand to help you’ and AO3

Answer 2

Within the 17th Century, and still today, a woman was condemned for possessing sexual passion, as opposed to a male who was ultimately expected to occupy such desires, signifying that she welcomes her traits of masculinity.

Question 3

‘by
vent’ring higher
then my Lot’

Answer 3

By ‘fate’, Eve is referencing her position in society as a woman, and the perils of unequal opportunity. She longs for a life more opportunistic and rewarding than what she has been allotted, a life ‘more perfect’, suggesting that before The Fall, the ‘perfect’ world was only wholesome in accordance to the likes of man.