"For, as you well judge, a woman that is espos’d for a fortune, is yet a better barging if she dies; for then a man still enjoys what he did marry, the Money.’’
The quote from above is taken from the conversation Bevil Junior has with his father before he is to be married. During that conversation, Sir Bevil explains that marriages often carry benefits such as wealth and assets. In the case of marrying for money, wealth is kept, even after the death of a spouse. Bevil Junior argues that the companionship of a lover is actually more valuable than the wealth left behind. Seeing as Sir Bevil is a widower, Bevil Junior sees the loneliness that his father faces. Although his mother left a considerable wealth to his father, it does not compare to the love and companionship his mother once offered to his father.
This shows how for many of the characters in the play, marriage was often seen as a way to expand wealth. Characters such as Bevil Junior aim to change the idea around marriage, arguing that there is value in finding love. His views challenge the social norm to marry for wealth or status.
"There may be false who languish and complain,
But they who part with money never feign.’’
When Tom offers her a letter and money, she refuses to take them at first, claiming she is innocent and thus, can’t be affected by these attempts to take the letter to her mistress. After a while however, she does agree to take the letter, seeing the bag of money as a sure sign that her mistress is loved by Bevil Jr., seeing the money as a sign of love. In the time and community where the characters lived, it was unusual for someone to part willingly of money and this is a common knowledge for the servants as well. Phillis is surprised to see she is handed money and she becomes sure that Bevil Jr. has the purest intentions, considering how he does not back away from providing money as proof of his love.
"if there is so much in thus amour of his, that he denies upon my summons to marry, I have cause enough to be offended.’’
In the beginning of the play, Sir John Bevil discusses with his servant about his only son and about the possible marriage which was planned between the son and the heiress of a rich merchant. A few days before the weeding took place, Sir John witnessed an interesting interaction between his son and a poor girl, from which it became clear that the son had feelings for the unknown girl. This made Sir John experience fear, having already set a match for his son. What is more, as the day of the wedding drew nearer, the son refused to go and get married, disobeying his father. This quote shows just how much control the parents have over the lives of their children during the time when the play was written. The women were the ones who were expected to be the most obedient but something similar was expected from the sons as well. The parents had the last say in the lives of their children and more than often, the children had no other choice but to listen to them.
