Poem Analysis: Marriage by Marianne Moore

“Marriage” Marianne Moore is undoubtedly an interesting feminist lady. In accordance with an article written by David Bergman, her feminism seems to be different from other women in the fact that she does not necessarily seem to promote the idea that the woman can “have it all.” She seems to believe that a person needs to focus themselves on one specific thing and not spread themselves too thin. It is better for society for them to be the best wife or mother or the best intellectual career woman, and that having both is unrealistic. Marianne Moore’s poem “Marriage” can be read to reflect this view point. In his article “Marianne Moore and the Problem of ‘Marriage’,” David Bergman describes Marianne Moore’s position as a feminist and her views on marriage. Bergman clarifies the idea that Moore did not think it was beneficial to society for women to take on too many roles.
Bergman mentions a quote from Moore clearly stating, “Good children are not the product of mothers who prefer money and fame to the well-being of their families” (Bergman, 1). One can conclude that this implies Moore’s feelings are that the best intention for our society is that if a woman is going to have children she should put everything she has into raising them and give them the proper upbringing that will make them the best person they can become. This statement suggests that the only way a woman can accomplish this is if she sacrifices a career and dedicates her full life to raising a child and providing the proper family life for that child. However, Moore does not feel that a woman should be subjected to being predestined to be perfect housewives and mothers. As Bergman states, Moore goes on to say “we dare not regress by suppressing intelligence or forbidding women to be useful” x (Bergman, 241). Moore seems to be saying that women have choices. They can choose whether they want to be fully committed to being a wife and mother, or if they want to fully indulge themselves into