Question

What does line 12, "Her slaves become her sovereign now," suggest the speaker in the poem believes? A Women who once controlled their lovers end up only being able to control their slaves. B Lovers who once did what women say, eventually become controlling husbands. C Husbands pretend to love their wives, but really they marry a woman for her riches. D Men treat women no better than they treat their slaves.

Answer 1

Answer:

Line 12 suggests that:

B Lovers who once did what women say, eventually become controlling husbands.

Explanation:

The line we are analyzing here was taken from the poem "Verses Written by a Young Lady, on Women Born to Be Controll'd!" Let's take a look at the context:

The tyrant husband next appears,  

With awful and contracted brow;  

No more a lover’s form he wears:  

Her slaves become her sovereign now

According to the poem, a man who is in love with a woman will do anything to please her. He will appeal to her heart, make her feel loved and cherished. However, upon marrying her, he is no longer willing to work hard for her affection. Having secured her, he is now her owner, her boss, and will make sure to treat her in a way that makes that very clear. This poem, written by an anonymous writer, expresses the awful fate of women - destined to be subservient to someone, be it a father, a brother, or a husband. Never free, never her own boss.