# To Please His Wife explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Thomas Hardy.

## What happens

A story about a man who makes a series of decisions to satisfy his wife's desires, leading to unforeseen consequences and moral dilemmas.

## Themes in this chapter

### Sacrifice and Duty

Shadrach sacrifices his own happiness and safety to fulfill his wife's ambitions.

### Gender Roles and Women's Agency

Joanna exerts influence over her husband's actions, challenging traditional passive female roles.

## Character check-ins

### Shadrach Jolliffe

A sea captain who returns home and marries, then goes to sea again to please his wife.

### Joanna Phippard

The woman Shadrach marries; she is ambitious and pushes her husband to seek fortune at sea.

### Milly Richards

A gentle woman who loves Shadrach but is set aside for Joanna.

## Key lines

> To Please His Wife

In order to satisfy his spouse's wishes.

_The title encapsulates the central motivation of the protagonist._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters/to-please-his-wife
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_53_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_53_se/chapters