The harshness of 19th century lifestyle for females, seen through the eyes of a young bride. Margery Blake is definitely nothing but a pawn in family affairs, and her relationship is seen as a good match. Margery has no power, no voice, no control over her lifestyle, and endures her husband’s privileges to her body, to be able to produce an heir. Margery shortly realises ‘husband’ is merely another name for owner, beater, brute, bully, wicked, but she finds friendships in the unlikeliest of locations. Her only power is writing her thoughts down in a secret journal, and Margery will find that there surely is more alive than hate. Like can be the strongest emotion.