Ann Eliza's rebellion on polygamy system in David Ebershoff's the 19th wife.

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Ann Eliza’s Rebellion on Polygamy System in David Ebershoff’s

The 19th Wife

A THESIS

Submitted as a Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Sarjana Degree of English Department Faculty of Arts and Humanities State Islamic University

of Sunan Ampel Surabaya

By:

Riska Dwilestari

Reg. Number: A73213125

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

FACULTY OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES

STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY SUNAN AMPEL SURABAYA

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ABSTRACT

Dwilestari, Riska. 2017. Ann Eliza’s Rebellion on Polygamy System in David Ebershoff’s The 19th Wife. English Department. Faculty of Arts and Humanities. State Islamic University of Sunan Ampel Surabaya.

Advisor: Wahju Kusumajanti, M. Hum.

This thesis attempts to analyze David Ebershoff’s novel which concern with feminism issue represents in The 19th Wife. In order to take the point of this study, it focuses on the analysis of Ann Eliza’s life as the main character in the novel. The writer analyze this novel about her motives of her rebellion and also the action of her fight against the polygamy law suppression. Ann Eliza born as a Mormon and due to she can not reject the law of the Mormon. But, she opposed her family, her Prophets, and people around her to change the polygamy law and search of freedom to her and all of women in Mormon.

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INTISARI

Dwilestari, Riska. 2017. Ann Eliza’s Rebellion on Polygamy System in David Ebershoff’s The 19th Wife. Jurusan Sastra Inggris. Fakultas Adab dan Humaniora. Universitas Islam Negeri Sunan Ampel Surabaya.

Dosen Pembimbing: Wahju Kusumajanti, M. Hum.

Skripsi ini mencoba untuk menganalisa novel karya David Ebershoff yang berkaitan dengan isu feminisme yang dihadirkan di The 19th Wife. Untuk menunjukkan permasalahan pada studi ini, studi ini fokus pada analisis kehidupan Ann Eliza sebagai karakter utama pada novel. Penulis menaganalisa novel tentang beberapa motif tentang permberontakannya dan juga aksi pertentangan melawan tekanan hukum poligami. Ann Eliza sejak lahir sudah menjadi bagian Mormon dan karena itu dia tidak dapat menolak hukum Mormon. Tapi, dia berani menentang keluarganya, nabinya, dan orang-orang di sekitarnya untuk mengubah hukum poligami dan mencari kebebasan untuk dirinya dan juga semua perempuan Mormon.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Inside Cover Page...i

Inside Title Page...ii

Declaration Page...iii

Dedication Page...iv

Motto...v

Advisor’s Approval Page...vi

Examiner’s Approval Page...vii

Acknowledgement...viii

Table of Contents...x

Abstract...xiii

Intisari...xiv

CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION...1

1.1. Background of the Study...1

1.2. Statement of the Problems...6

1.3. Objective of the Study...7

1.4. Significance of the Study...7

1.5. Scope and Limitation...8

1.6. Method of the Study...8

1.7. Definition of Key Terms...9

CHAPTER II REVIEW OF THE RELATED LITERATURE...10

2.1. Theoretical Framework...10

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2.1.2. Liberal Feminism...14

2.1.3. New Criticism...16

2.1.3.1. Character...17

2.1.3.2. Characterization...18

2.2. Review of Previous Study...19

CHAPTER III ANALYSIS...22

3.1. Ann Eliza’s Characterization...22

3.1.1. Stubborn...22

3.1.2. Caring ...25

3.1.3. Dauntless...25

3.1.4. Optimistic...27

3.2. Ann Eliza’s Motives to Lead the Rebellion...28

3.2.1. Before Marriage...28

3.2.2. After Marriage...30

3.2.2.1. Factor of Needs...30

3.2.2.1.1. Psychic Needs...30

3.2.1.1.2. Physical Needs...31

3.2.2. Search of Freedom...33

3.3. Fight Against the Polygamy Suppression...35

3.3.1. Being First Mormon Lady who Rebel the Law...36

3.3.2. Oration...43

3.3.3. Contributed to Change the Polygamy Law in America...45

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WORK CITED...52

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D w i l e s t a r i |1

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background of the Study

Polygamy has been practiced for many centuries from all over the

world. Polygamy means multiple spouses, where a man can have many wives.

In other cases, wealthy men accumulated many wives to produce more sons.

It was very common for kings and other royalties to have many wives, both

as a way to make alliances with other states or noble families and to ensure

that they would have plenty of heirs (Coontz 1). Plural marriage has been

found in many countries, such as East Africa, North Vietnam, North America,

and also happened in Islamic culture. There are some explanation about the

polygamy system that is allowed in some countries, even under its civil law

and part of the religion or culture;

Tanzania is one of the few countries where polygamy is still widely

practiced. Although Tanzanians may receive full legal recognition for a

polygamous marriage through the Law of Marriage Act (LMA), polygamy is

being transformed to include other, unofficial relationships, whereby men

marry one woman by legal law and also form extra-legal domestic and sexual

unions with other women. The existence of polygamy also has been practiced

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suggested to increase social standing and there will be more children who can

be used for labor. (Howland and Koenen 38).

The next country is Vietnam. Vietnam is different with the other

countries. Women do polyandry. Polyandry means that a woman can marry

with more than a man. In the Vietnam War, many men from North Vietnam

lost their lives and these women decided to enter plural marriages in order to

be able to have children (39).

Polygamy is also happened in middle east countries. A man is allowed

to have up to four wives, but each wife must get equal rights from the others.

Polygamy is only allowed in Islamic cultures if the first wife get ill or many

men die and the population will be decreased. For a man who is not be able

to treat each wife equally, he is not be able to do this then he is allowed only

to have one wife (39)

In the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, polygamy was legal law in

ancient China. It was believed that dying without leaving an heir was a

mortal sin. A man would marry many wives if the first wife is died, he would

replace her with another wife (40).

Polygamy has existed in the United States for almost two centuries

and has often been associated with the Mormon religion. Polygamy did not

become a part of the Mormon religion until 1843, when Joseph Smith, the

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The controversial polygamy happened in Salt Lake City, Utah. The

Mormons are an exceptional case of polygamy being adopted in an

industrializing society. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

(LDS) began in 1830 with a revelation about the role of Jesus in the New

World. The Early Mormons condemned much of nineteenth century

Christianity as a corruption of the true church, and sought to return to a purer

faith, one which harkened back to God's ancient law. (Journal of Mormon, 2).

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the LDS Church or,

informally, the Mormon Church) is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Polygamy (more specifically, polygyny, called plural

marriage by Mormons in the 19th century or the Principle by

modern fundamentalist practitioners of polygamy) was taught by leaders

of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), Joseph

Smith, and then his position was replaced by Brigham Young, for more than

half of the 19th century and practiced publicly from 1852 to 1890 by between

20 and 30 percent of Latter-day Saint families (3). The researcher will focus

on Ann Eliza’s struggle onMormon Church law and become the focus on

this study because there are so many movements happened that led by Ann.

Literature has a relation with human life. It has values that concern

with society. Literary texts are assumed to be ideological in the sense that

they cannot give us knowledge of the social formation but they give us

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bringing to bear on it ways of thinking learned through education to be

appropriate to the reading of a novel (Carter 18). Every person has

imaginative thought in their minds. It can give the depth inspiration about

what that we have known in this world (Borges 18). So, literature can give

inspiration and meaningful for every person that write or read the literary

works.

Nonfiction and fiction are genre on literary works. Nonfiction works

are written form that relates data and factual. It really happens and does not

relate to the imagination of the author. It consists of journals, biography,

scientific articles, etc. Fiction works are written from imagination, invention,

something unreal of the author. Novel, short story, poem, drama, fairytale,

etc. (Gutkind 8).

One of literary works is novel. It is fictional prose narrative and

having plot that is extended by the characters, speech, and action. The genre

of novel are horror, adventure, romantic, tragedy, historical, etc. (Eagleton

52). By reading novel, the readers can enjoy and also fulfill their emotional

needs.

The autobiography of polygamy in English literature was written by

Ann Eliza in her first published autobiography entitled Wife No. 19. She

wrote the autobiography on Summer 1874. She spoke out and wrote her

experience about plural marriage (Ebershoff 5). The story of a life in bondage,

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sacrifices and sufferings of women in polygamy, by Brigham Young’s

apostate wife. Her autobiography can be reflection on society. Therefore,

literary works represent real life of it. There are many authors who cover

their conditional surroundings into their works. So, it has very close relation

between one literary works and the era when it is made (Eagleton 329).

The 19th Wifeis written by David Ebershoff. Ebershoff exposes

women’s factual experience throughout Ann Eliza’s movement in nineteenth

century and also the adventure of Jordan Scott to reveal that her mother who

is accused killing her husband. David wrote theThe 19th Wifenovel and

published thenovel in 2008. The novel tells about the women’s right to speak

up and get freedom from polygamy.

The polygamy system discussed in the novel happened in Mormon

Church. It was led by Joseph Smith. The Mormon secretly introduced the

practice in 1841. The Mormon Church has own Prophet. His name is Joseph

Smith. One of his vision that he claimed polygamy vision directly from God.

He had many wives. They must have more than one wife. For man who did

monogamy, he must get punishment from Joseph and claimed that he

obstructed the message from God (Ebershoff 48) . Joseph Smith Jr. died on

1844, June 27 . He was shooted with a gun when he went to Carthage. Then,

Brigham Young replaced his place for the Prophet. Brigham Young

continued polygamy sistem that declared from Joseph Smith Jr. era. He did

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The most conservative estimate of Brigham’s total number of wives at

the time of his death (August 29, 1877) is nineteen. His last wife is Ann Eliza.

There were many speculation that Joseph Smith and Brigham Young had sex

with some women that were not his legal wife. The distinction between wife

and lover, a lover is the one that have relationship without legal commitment

and the wife is the one had every legal right to her legal husband; happiness,

property, wealth, etc that everything from her husband (80).

Ann Eliza did not want to marry with the polygamy-man. She had

such a traumatic about polygamy when her ex husband tried to marry with

the other women. She promised not to get marry with polygamy-man again.

But her brother, Gilbert, had debt to Brigham. He could not payback his debt

because his income is low. Brigham offered option to him. He would be free

from his debt if he persuaded Ann to marrry him. Ann could not reject

Gilbert’s offering because she wanted to help out him. The rebellion began

after she got married with him (286)

However, that struggle of Ann Eliza looks interesting to discuss. She

decides to do rebellion and keeps struggling even it is so hard do that only by

herself. By giving the literary background, the researcher is really interested in

novel and analyzes more deeply the woman struggle represented by Ann Eliza

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1.2. Statement of the Problems

Based on the background of the study explained above, the researcher is

interested in analyzing the problems, which are formulated as follows;

1. How is Ann Eliza’s characterization?

2. What is the motive of Ann Eliza to lead the rebellion of polygamy in

Mormon Church?

3. How does Ann Eliza fight against the polygamy suppression from her

husband?

1.3. Objective of the Study

Reffering to the previous problems statements, the objective of the study

are formulated as follows;

1. To describe the characterization of Ann Eliza

2. To find out the motive that lead Ann Eliza to fight the polygamy law

in Mormon Church.

3. To describe the fight of Ann Eliza as the-nineteenth-wife against the

suppression.

1.4. Significance of the Study

This study aims that it enriches the readers development of knowledge

about literature field, especially related to the feminist literary criticism.

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the readers are expected to comprehend about feminism, especially for the

readers who know more about the study of woman throughout literature. For

the readers, with reading this further research, they can take the advantages

applied for their real life, how the way Ann Eliza gives her reaction and her

rebellion toward polygamy system that happened in Mormon Church and the

readers can take the reflection of movement by Ann Eliza to solve her

problems. Furthermore, the writer hopes that this research can be a helpful

reference for the others especially for English Literature student who wants

to read or for the further research.

1.5. Scope and Limitation

This research aims to analysis the novelThe 19th Wifeby David

Ebershoff. The researcher focuses on main female character, Ann Eliza, who

is one of victims of polygamy, she is the nineteenth wife of Brigham Young,

and after that she spoke up against her husband and the system that make

women get suppression from law of Mormon Church. Also, the writer

focuses for Ann Eliza’s struggle to get freedom.

1.6. Method of the Study

This research is library based. Therefore the researcher makes good

use of some books including the novel itself as the primary source, articles,

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mainly uses descriptive-analytical method. The researcher collects data

through following steps;

1. Reading the novel to get the data

2. Selecting and collecting the data in form of narration and

conversation from the novel related to the issue

3. The collected data is being analyzed based on the statement problems

and then each point is analyzed using Liberal Feminism and New

Criticism theory

4. Making conclusion based on the result of data analysis.

1.7. Definition of Key Terms

Rebellion : Resistance to or defiance of any authority, control, or

tradition.

Polygamy : The practice of taking more than one spouse. Men

accumulated many wives to produce more sons.

System : A set of interacting or interdependent component parts

forming a complex or intricate whole.

Barbarism : A barbarous act; something belonging to or befitting a

barbarous condition. An idea, act, or expression that in form or

use offends against contemporary standards of good taste or

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Psychic : Relating to the human soul or mind; mental (opposed to

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CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF THE RELATED LITERATURE

2.1. Theoretical Framework

This chapter contains some theories and related studies uses to support

and analyze about Ann Eliza’s movement as the main character inThe 19th

Wife.Thus, there is some information in the form of points in this chapter.

2.1.1. Feminist Literary Criticism

There are many definitions of feminism and some disagreement

concerning a specific definition, there is agreement on two core principles

underlying any concept of feminism. First, feminism concerns equality and

justice for all women, and it seeks to eliminate systems of inequality and

injustice in all aspects of women’s lives. Because feminism is politics of

equality, it anticipates a future that guarantees human dignity and equality

for all people, women, and men. Second, feminism is inclusive and affirming

of women. Feminism is a personal perspective as well as a political theory

and social movement. (Shaw 11)

According to Humm, feminism is a discourse that involves many

kinds of movements, theories, and philosophies that are concerned with the

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for those ideas in order to make women get protection from violence and

harassment (Humm 278). This idea has been strengthened by the opinion of

Bell Hooks, feminism is a movement to end sexism, sexist exploitation, and

oppression (Shaw 40).

Feminism, though at one in holding that women’s lot is in need of

improvement, disagree about the sources and nature of women’s

disadvantage and about the means by which matters may be put right.

Further, as Alison Jaggar has noted, these political disagreements amongst

feminists arise from divergent assumptions about human nature, about the

nature of men and women respectively, and about the prerequisites for

human flourishing. Traditionally most feminists, relying on a growing body

of empirical data, have suggested that psychological differences between

men and women are considerably less marked and less significant than had

popularly been assumed. Currently however a number of feminists hold that

there are deeply-entrenched psychological differences between men and

women which are either innate or due to early and irreversible emotional

experiences between mother and child (53).

Women around the globe have joined forces to counter these moves

from the conservative and religious right and have engaged in an

international struggle against violations of their sexual and reproductive

rights. Several traditional cultural practices such as honor crimes, the stoning

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213). This depiction is not only misleading but also stands in sharp contrast

to the efforts of women’s movements in Muslim societies, which, in their

fight against such practices, are campaigning to raise public consciousness

that these practices are against Islam (213). Feminist prespective on Islam

can be seen on Holly Quran, An-Nisa surah verse one. “O mankind, fear

your Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and

dispersed from both of them many men and women. And fear Allah, through

whom you ask one another, and the wombs. Indeed Allah is ever, over you,

an Observer.”. This surah means that human are created by God. There is

no difference between man and woman. This surah exhorts the believers to

fear God and to avoid courting His displeasure.

The history of feminist movement has gone through three waves. First

wave feminism began in the 1830s and culminated with women’s suffrage in

1920 in the United States. Their movement to express of inequality and get

equal rights for women and men. The first wavers demanded about life for

women, higher education and profesional opportunities, the right of divorce,

own property, claim in heritance, win custody of children, and vote. They

worked to enact the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolished slavery in 1865.

After 1920, the year the Nineteenth Amendment granted women the right to

vote, the first wave is widely assumed to have ebbed (38).

The second wave feminism came from socialist and Civil Rights

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second-wave feminism broadened the debate to a wide range of issues:

sexuality, family, the workplace, reproductive rights, de facto inequalities,

and official legal inequalities. The second wave of feminism in North

America came as a delayed reaction against the renewed domesticity of

women after World War II: the late 1940s post-war (38).

Many historians view the second-wave feminist era in America as

ending in the early 1980s with the intra-feminism disputes of the Feminist

Sex Wars over issues such as sexuality and pornography, which ushered in

the era of third-wave feminism in the early 1990s (40).

The third wave feminism has its origin in the 1990s. It is the reaction

of failures of the second wave and to backlash against initiatives and

movements created by the second wave feminism during the 1960s to 1980s,

and the realization that women are of "many colors, ethnicities, nationalities,

religions and cultural backgrounds. The third wave is influenced by

postmodernism and multiracial feminism. Third wave perspectives are

shaped by the material conditions created by globalization and technoculture,

and tend to focus on issues of sexuality and identity (Shaw 13).

The missunderstanding of most people that feminism is always and

only about women seeking to be equal to men, and infact some of them think

that feminism is anti-male. The wrong minded notion of feminist movement

which implied it was anti-male carried with it. The wrong minded

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patriarchy and sexist thinking would be absent. Many women, even those

involved in feminist politics, chose to believe this as well (40).

Various kinds of feminism differ in terms of their specific

explanations for understanding the social organization of gender and their

ideas for social change. Branches of feminism are radical feminism, liberal

feminism, marxist feminism, cultural feminism, socialist feminism,

ecofeminism, black feminism, and the other forms of feminism.

2.1.2. Liberal Feminism

Liberal feminism is a form of feminism that argues that equality for

women can be achieved through legal means and social reform. Liberal

feminism has always been a voice, though one that often has gone unheard,

throughout the three-hundred years history of liberal political theory.

Feminists have demanded that the prevailing liberal ideals should also be

applied to women. In the 18th century, they argued that women as well as

men had natural rights; in the 19th century, they employed utilitarian

arguments in favor of equal rights for women under the law; and in the 20th

century, with the development of the liberal theory of the welfare state,

liberal feminists demand that the state should actively pursue a variety of

social reforms in order to ensure equal opportunities for women (Jaggar 28).

Liberal feminism is grounded squarely on an acceptance of this

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individual’s sex is irrelevant to her rights and by the feminist concerns to

prove that women are capable of full rationality. So far, the liberal feminist

position seems to be that male and female natures are identical; or, to put it

more accurately, that there is no such thing as male and female nature: there

is only human nature and that has no sex (37).

Liberal feminism attemptsto remove obstacles to women’s full

participation in public life. Strategies include education, federal and state

policies, and legal statues (Shaw 11). Liberal feminism defends the equal

rationality of the sexes and emphasize the importance of structuring social,

familial, and sexual roles in ways that promote women’s autonomous s elf-fulfillment. They emphasize the similarities between men and women rather

than the average differences between them, attribute most of the personality

and character differences between the sexes to the social construction of

gender, and tend to promote a single set of androgynous virtues for both

women and men (333).

Ultimately, there are two fundamental tensions in liberal feminism.

One is between the rejection of sexual difference and unequal treatment, on

the other hand, and the commitment to improve the status of women, on the

other to charge that by denying or ignoring the differences between the sexes,

liberals are unable to advocate true sexual equality which in virtue of these

differences, may not be best served or attained by identical treatment.

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androgynous ideal seems to disadvantage women if they do not adopt it as

their own (339).

The second tension is between the idea that women’s sexual

subordination is a kind of injustice and the idea that sexuality is located in a

private realm of autonomous choice. Because liberals are commited to

neutrality about specific forms of the good life for humans, they tend to

reject any constraint on what happens. Whether these relationships are

intitutionalized, as in marriage, or a template of patriarchal heterosexuality

and other relationships of sexual domination, the violate liberal ideas of

equality and justice. Liberalism relegates them to the realm of the private,

beyond the reach of justice (339).

2.1.3. New Criticism

New Criticism is a literary criticism which concerns into interpretation

and evaluation rather than source of study and socio-cultural background. It

focuses critical attention on literature itself. New Criticism developed

speculative positions on techniques of reading that provide a vital

complement to the literary and artistic emergence of modernism (Searle 32).

New Criticism dominated literary studies from the 1940s through the

1960s, has left a lasting imprint on the way we read and write about

literature. The biographical-historical criticism that dominated literary

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was common practice to interpret a literary text by studying the author’s life

and times to determine authorial intention, the meaning the author intended

the text to have. The author’s letters, diaries, and essays were combed for

evidence of authorial intention as were autobiographies, biographies, and

history books (Tyson 129).

New Criticism focuses only on the intrinsic elements such as plot,

theme, character, setting, point of view, etc. It ignores the extrinsic elements

and is not affected by the social and political conditions at the time. It only

focuses on text itself including its organization and language.

2.1.3.1. Character

Character is the name of a literary genre; it is a short, and usually witty,

sketch in prose of a distinctive type of person. The character is the person

represented in a dramatic or narrative work who are interpreted by the reader

as being endowed with particular moral, intellectual, and emotional qualities

by inferences from what the peoplesay and their distinctive ways of saying it,

the dialogue, and from what they do, the action. The grounds in the

characters’ temperament, desires, and moral nature for their speech and actions are called their motivation. A character may remain essentially stable

or unchanged in outlook and disposition from begining to end of a work

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curiosity and fascination, affection and dislike, admiration and

condemnation.

Character could be individuals as well as mixing the various interests,

emotional, and moral principal of individuals. Character is an important

factor that plays the course of the story. In a story, there is a main character,

the protagonist (good character), the antagonist (the bad character), and

supporting roles that participated to build a story.

Characters may seem flat and round character. It depends on the writer

makes the story line. Flat characters tend to stay the same throughout a story.

Flat characters need not be stock characters. Round character often changes

immediately. Round character has pychological depth and complexity. They

are difficult to predict what is their real character. Flat characters tend to be

static and round characters tend to be dynamic (Kennedy and Gioia 75).

2.1.3.2. Characterization

Characterization is the way in which a character is created. Characters

are all the product of characterization, they have been made in particular way.

Characters are what they like because the way they have been made. The

creation of these imaginary persons so they exist for the readers is called

characterization. The ability to characterize is a primary attribute of a good

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writer reveals the personality of a character. So the author presents details

that give the reader clues about the character’s personality.

2.2. Review of Previous Study

On this study, there are several researchers have done in the same area

with the researcher of this paper. However, the focus of this research is

different.

The first writing is written in 2016 by Liya Maritta Dewi from UIN

Sunan Ampel Surabaya with titleWoman’s Oppression in the Color Purple

Alice Walker. This novel is talking about the oppression of young black

woman. The researcher used Feminism theory to analyze this novel. There

are some oppression that happened to the main character. She is the victim

of gender stereotypes. She gets the oppression both biological and mental.

She never talks and and fights back because she is not brave enough to fight

them. This situation has bad effects when she is an adult. She thought that

every man is the same. She had two statement problems to solve the

problems. First is about kinds of Cellie’s oppression and how did Cellie

struggle from the oppression as her second question. The result of this

research is Cellie be an independent woman and her friendship with Shug

brings positive effect. Now, Cellie is able to save herself. She becomes a

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The second is Elvira Mauritta from University of 17 Agustus 1945

Surabaya in 2009 with titleA Study of Feminism as Reflected in the Main

Character, Tzu Hsi, in Pearl S. Buck’s Imperial Woman.Elvira’s study used

feminism approach as the extrinsic approach to analyze the novel,

particularly to analyze the main character, Tzu Hsi. This approach can be

used to explain the relation of the main character, Tzu Hsi, who is an

Empress leading an imperial that is usually led by men, with the society

among her and the effect of the feminism in her own life.

In her research, she had two statements of the problems. First, what

are Tzu Hsi’s ideas of feminism. In her result, she stated that Tzu Hsi

experiences some reactions because of her actions that reflect the ideas of

feminism. She experiences internal conflicts and external conflicts as the

reactions on herself and there are some reactions on the society. Second,

what are the reactions toward Tzu Hsi’s action. The result of this statement

is all of the actions have it risks and effects as the reactions. The young

emperor cannot love his mother, Tzu Hsi, because he thinks that his mother

never loves him. He thinks that his mother never cares him and she only

cares the country because she leads in the imperial. This is the effects toward

Tzu Hsi’s action that she prefers to rule the country better than listen to her

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Based on two previous studies, the researcher analyze the feminism

theory with different data source that is a novel entitledThe 19th Wifeby

David Ebershoff, to reveal the struggle and oppressions of women to get

freedom in slavery. From two previous studies, the focusing of studies are

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CHAPTER III

ANALYSIS

In this chapter the study conducts the discussion based on the statement of

problems. the discussion focuses on the major character of the novel. The study tries

to answer in detail some problems under discussion. First, it is discussing about Ann

Eliza’s characterization and for the second problems would like to discuss the motive

and fight back of Ann Eliza to rebel the polygamy law in Mormon Church.

3.1. Ann Eliza’s Characterization

Ann Eliza is the main character inThe 19th Wife. Ann is depicted as round

character who has several characteristics. Characterization is the way in which a

character is created. Characters are all the product of characterization, they have been

made in particular way (Holman and Harmon 81). The writer will explain more

detail about Ann Eliza’s characteristics and the author’s way depicts her

characteristics.

3.1.1. Stubborn

The first characterization about Ann Eliza is stubborn. Ann Eliza is the third

daughter of Chauncey Webb and Elizabeth Churchill Webb. The first and the second

are Gilbert Webb and Aaron Webb. Chauncey Webb is a wagon maker and Elizabeth

is a housewife. Her parents are fanatic follower of their Prophets of Mormon Church,

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about polygamy value. Elizabeth’s fanaticism brings her to believe all of instruction

from the Prophets.

She was born as a Mormon, the daughter of early converts, two devout Saints

who rears her on the Book of Mormon and the epic story of the birth of that faith. She

was born into the Church, and her parents are faithful members, her deep hatred of

Mormonism has surprised and confused many people. She could not decide about her

faith that was brought from her parent. She realizes that she was born as a Mormon

people and already converted into it.

“When I left, Ann Eliza followed me to my wagon. “Do you want to replace

Mother?”

“No, no, no, no, nothing like that at all.” “Then what are you doing?”

I tried to explain but failed. “One day you’ll understand.” “I doubt it.” (Ebershoff 209)

Based on explanation above, Ann Eliza asks to his father that he will get

married soon. She gets hurt too when she looks at her mother. There is no other

choice to her mother. It is all about her dedication to her faith. Ann Eliza’s reaction continues to sting and inspire of hatred in her young heart.

Her rebellion of polygamy grows since she sees her father will marry their

housemaid as his second wife. Someday, Ann Eliza and her friends get conversation.

Some of them are dreaming to get married with Brigham. But, that is definitely

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“This is silly. If he were to ask me, which he won’t, but if he were, I would say thank you very much but no. I’m going to marry a man who wants one wife.” (246)

It proves that Ann does not want to get married with polygamy man and just

going to marry a man who does monogamy. She meets her crush in the same theater

in the Lion House. James Dee is an actor. They fall in love and decide to marry. With

her sincerity, she talks with her mother and Ann debates with her mother;

“Engaged?” cried my mother. “You hardly know the man.” “I used to know men like James Dee.”

Like any young woman defying her mother, I stormed out the door. At the

Lion House I sought an ally in Maeve. “Tell me you’re happy for me,”

I begged. (257)

Ann Eliza shows the stubborn when she tries to talk with her mother who has

thought differently with her about married. Her mother will say if Ann will marry

with Brigham. The another proof about their conversation;

“My ma entered the fray. “Ann Eliza, settle down. You act like he’s come to lock you up.”

“Hasn’t he? Isn’t that what he wants—for me to be one of a hundred

wives?”

“He doesn’t have a hundred wives,” said my ma. “No? Then how many?”

“That’s enough,” said my ma. “All Brigham’s done is propose.”

Ann Eliza cooled herfury. “Mother, I know you love him. And I love

him too, but as my Prophet, not my husband.” (275)

Sometimes she feels disappointed with her mother, but depeer in her soul, she

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Ann always wonders inside her heart about her mother who is always support the

polygamy.

3.1.2. Caring

Ann Eliza is depicted as a caring person. It can be proven when she helps her

brother to solve his problems, “...You look upset about something” (Ebershoff 287).

Gilbert retells the conversation with Brigham and she comes to understand it, she

became very still and sad. Gilbert decides to leave his town at that night and Ann

talks with Gilbert about his family and not to leave the family. Gilbert does not has

any choice about pay the debt except marrying Ann with Brigham. It is such pathetic

to Gilbert that Ann does not want polygamy. As good sister, she does not has any

choice too. She just wants to help Gilbert to be free about his debt. Here is the

quotation;

“I’ve made up my mind.”

“Ann Eliza, please—” I pleaded with my sister for an hour or more but she had made her decision. I didn’t want her to, I never wanted her to, but I’m an

honest man and I will admit here down in the deepest crevice of my heart I

felt a throb of relief. I dislike myself for feeling it, but it’s true. The next day Ann Eliza accepted Brigham’s proposal and soon they married and that’s how my sister became the 19th wife. If it weren’t for me it would never have been

so,and this is the truth as far as I know it and I swear by it, and for this I’ve

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Based on quotation above, she is caring to Gilbert so that Gilbert will be free.

The biggest decision after she declares that she does not want polygamy. it can be

understood that Ann is not a selfish person and always cares about her family.

3.1.3. Dauntless

The next characterization of Ann Eliza is dauntless. Ann Eliza is the only

woman in Utah who is brave to answer back and argue with Brigham and the other

men. She was doing that to survive about all of accusation and also suppression to her.

Repeating the rumors back to her husband wil bring no happiness. It will only make

her look as a fool. That’s way, she was hiding the truth, “There have been a few

words spoken that your faith is less than full.” Oh, what a mistake to be dishonest!’

(Ebershoff 260) She argues with her husband;

“As you no doubt know, the best way to incite outrage is to attack false piety.

When provoked, the insincere man must certify his earnestness. It

is the animal in him—the scratching, the grunting, the marking of territory.

This ishow I account for Dee’s subsequent actions.” (Ebershoff 260)

Based quotation above, it proves that Ann will take revenge as they did to her

and bring her into anger. She is angry to her husband that will take her best friend as

the second wife. The only think that she was thinking is she would not to marry again

with anyone and promises to herself not to hear anyone about her decision.

Ann Eliza refuses the Brigham’s proposal. Brigham always persuades Ann to

want marry with him. But her characteristic is stubborn and also dauntless, she

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“Do you think you’ll ever remarry?” Brigham asked. “I hope not.”

“What if it were your duty?”

“Thankfully it isn’t.” (Ebershoff 273)

From quotation above, Brigham was questioning her about her status of

marriage. With strongly conviction, she says that she will not marry again. Brigham.

But the situation has changed, due to her decision to not marry again, she does not

has any chance to do that, and with perforce, she is married with Brigham and instead

brings her into her first commitment,

“I never became a regular wife at the Lion House, and after a few

months I stopped dining there altogether. I remember one afternoon Brigham was visiting me in the cottage. He thought to ask,

“When did you stop supping with us?” “Months ago.”

“Has it been that long? I miss seeing my wife.” “I’m not your wife,” I said.” (Ebershoff 332)

The writer makes this quotation as the last proof of her dauntless because of

she is the first woman who is brave to stop the dinner with husband. Whereas the

other wives commonly wait to get dinner and share their needs only in dinner time. It

has been clear out that Ann is dauntless person. She does that to make everyone who

brings her into mad become her enemy.

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The characteristic of Ann is optimistic. She always believes that what happens

in the next will happen if only she is optimist. The promise that she sat the outset of

her book and also her adventure. They are dificult questions to pose before peers,but

eventually a brave soul, typically a woman, ventures forth. Then there is great relief

in the hall as everyone’s mutual curiosity is satisfied, she makes a statement, “Never

have I told my story without someone inquiring about the conjugal relations between

Brigham and myself. I will sate your curiosity now by telling you those relations

ceased between me and Brigham sometime in my third year at Forest Farm. I now

realized a great cost attached itself to this revised arrangement.” (Ebershoff 339). She is only realized if the high cost must be paid because of the change of the

arrangement.

One day, two men of Brigham come to her. They argue something about Ann

Eliza’s disbelief toward Mormon church. Ann Eliza argues some time that she does

not care anymore about ceremonies, but the men do not relent. They warn her of her

lonely fate and the chill of an eternity without the live of God. “On your deathbed,

Sister, you will regret this day. On your deathbed, I guarantee it, you will hear my

voice.” and she replies them with her optimist

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From quotation above, Ann Eliza is always believes and optimist about her

decision to rebelled the law and also her husband. It has been clear out that Ann is an

optimistic person.

3.2. Ann Eliza’s Motives to Lead the Rebellion

In this discussion, the researcher focuses on Ann Eliza’s motives to lead the

rebellion. There so many suppression that bring her to make movement. The factor of

needs, include her need of psychic and physical and search of freedom are the reason

behind her rebellion. Here are some explanations;

3.2.1. Before Marriage

Ann Eliza has different thought about polygamy. She also has anger into that

sytem when she was child. Her first anger because oh his father, Chauncey Webb. He

asks permission to his wife, Elizabeth, about taking their servant, Lydia, as a second

wife. She saw her mother cried and angry but that was vision from God that was

delivered through Joseph Smith and absolutely she could not do anything.

“In the end, I suppose my greatest disappointment has been in realizing my

father, like Joseph and Brigham before him, tried to shroud his passions in the mantle of religion. He used God to defend his adultery. I have yet to hear him

acknowledge his lies.” (Ebershoff 213)

Based on the quotation above, Ann Eliza shows her anger when her father

asks to marry their servant. She could not believe that her father also doing that

system. Ann sees her mother fightswith Lydia; “Lydia scratched my mother until

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bring happiness to men, nor to wives. They must divide their love, place, time, and

also the wealth, even their husband is poor or rich. She concludes that;

“So often plural marriage reduces a thoughtful, generous, mature woman to a sniveling, selfish little girl. Perhaps it is the cruelest outcome: the removal,

and destruction, of a woman’s dignity. I have seen it too many times to count.

I forgive the men who have done this to womankind, but I neverforget.”

(Ebershoff 121)

Based on the quotation above, Ann Eliza young sees her mother and the other

wives are truly having breaking emotion. They are must accepting all of their

husband’s decision about taking new wives. Ann Eliza is a Mormon girl and after she

grows old, she also does that system. That is different with her thought, she thinks

polygamy makes women become selfish in order to get her husband’s attention.

3.2.2. After Marriage

Here are some explanation about the movement of Ann Eliza after she gets

married with Brigham;

3.2.2.1. Factor of Needs

The researcher divides the factor of needs into two parts. The first is need of

psychic and the second is physical.

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As a wife, Ann Eliza is not given money and status of marriage by her

husband. Ann Eliza wants to make clearly her status of marriage. She wants everyone

knows that she is Brigham’s wife. After she gets married, even her children know

nothing of their mother’s new status. Shewants to tell them, but she cannot bring

herself to explain the peculiar circumstances. “Yet in my case, whenever I left my

husband after an assignation in the carriage, I carried the humiliation of a

second-choice whore.” (Ebershoff327). This quotation explains how their meeting as a

couple must be hiding and secret into Brigham’s follower. Their last meeting is in the

carriage and Ann Eliza faces the truth that she is not his prominent wife and

pretending that she is not his wife.

After their marriage, what for most couples is known as the honeymoon, every

Sunday she attends services pretending that she has no more relation to Brigham than

before. Sunday services in Deseret is a time for society to

assert itself, and there is a great fuss put into where one sits and with whom.

“As a divorced woman, my status was lower than that of a widow or virgin.

My secret wedding had changed none of this in the eyes of the community of Saints. I would sit with my mother and the boys on a bench at the back, while Brigham preached to his thousands of followers. Up in front, filling a dozen

rows, was the brigade of his family—the wives, the daughters, the sons, their

wives, and so on. To them, I was nothing more than one more eager disciple

in a land filled with some fifty thousand. They paid me no mind.” (Ebershoff

327)

Based on the quotation above, Ann Eliza needs confession about her marriage.

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Glory, as Brigham proclaimed, “what did this mean to me?”. She took a great

disliking to herself during this time, and in her thoughts referred to herself as simply

No. 19. There are many times she cannot look her boys in the face.

3.2.2.1.2. Physical Needs

The researcher looks at a lot of factors of psychic and physical need of

marriage. Before he gets married with Ann, he promises to fulfill her need about

property and money. He explains to her father and family that he will bring her into

happiness and forget about her past.

“First I need you to agree. If she doesn’t care for the Lion House, I’ll set her

up in a fine home of her own, furnished as she likes, and provide her with five

hundred dollars a year. Each boy will have a room. I have a house in mind—

it’s not far from mine. There’s a tree out back with an elbow where the boys can build a tree house. I’ll help them. Think of it—your daughter will have a

husband. Your grandsons will have a father.” (Ebershoff 274)

It proves in the begining of the story, Brigham convinces her family that he is

good man who fulfill her needs and also her children. He shows his power, money,

and sincerity.

“Brigham would accuse me of demanding money at the end of our interludes,

but there is no truth to this claim. I received nothing except a rumpled dress, a

dented bonnet, and an urgent need to bathe.” (Ebershoff 327)

In fact, years later during their divorce, Brigham accuses Ann Eliza arguing

some money but the truth is Ann Eliza just receives nothing.

Their fight happened in some reason, the first is her mother is not permitted to

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hardly amounted to anything at all. The second inadequacy is a lack of a well, forcing

her to draw water from her neighbors. She tries to distribute her borrowings equally

among them. The last, when Brigham visits the cottage for the first time, he

announces that he was bearing bad news.

“I’m afraid my revenues are no longer what they were,” he said. “We’re all scaling back. I’m going to have to cut your allowance.”

“Cut it? By how much?”

“I’m afraid we’re cutting your allowance entirely.” “You’re giving me nothing?”

“Not nothing. You’ll live in this house without rent and you can still collect your rations at the store.” (339)

Based on the statement above, Brigham says that he is no longer to fulfill her

right. He will cut her allowance. In fact, Brigham never give Ann money and let her

to work in the Farm. The biggest motive of Ann Eliza does refusal is the suppression

of unfullfill promises from Brigham to her. When Brigham moved them into the

Farm, she is like so many plural wives no longer on the schedule, a financial burden;

“How am I to feed my boys?” I asked.

“Start a garden. Hire out your needle. Take in some laundry.”

“Takein some laundry! I have to walk up and down the street with bucket in

hand begging for water. You don’t know—no, you can’t know— what it’s like for me to have to ask for water. These people, these kind people, don’t

have the heart to turn me away. But they work hard too. The well is only so

deep. Why should they have to share their water with me?” (Ebershoff 340)

Their argument continues for some time until Brigham says;

“All right. I’ll think about it.”

“You won’t think about it. You will give me a checknow so I can place the

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“Sir, I am your wife and you will provide for my most basic needs.”

(Ebershoff 345)

Based on the quotation above, Ann Eliza argues with Brigham about unfulfill

her needs. There is such a regretness in herself. She is too weary to be skeptical, too

raw to protect herself further, and too depleted, in every sense, to lose anything more.

She is not going to pry, nor, even, as some do. Pretending that she is satisfied with

nothing says when in fact they craves every detail. She knows about everything and

ready to face Brigham.

3.2.2.2. Search of Freedom

Ann Eliza’s activities would be monitored and restricted. She comes to

understand that she will lead a lonely existence. She can no longer expect to visit with

friends as she once did or stroll down the street alone, or don any of the daily activites

that brings a basic kind of enjoyment to the day.

“I was now a married woman, and would be expected to behave as such, yet

unlike most wives I did not have a husband in any sense of the word. I was neither maiden, widow, nor even divorcee. I was a plural wife, and this little house, with the cheap runner on the stairs, represented my conjugal

purgatory in such fine relief thatI felt a piercing to my heart.” (Ebershoff 328)

The explanation above declares that she searches the freedom when she gets

married with Brigham. She is afraid that all of her activites will be limited by

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The proof of search the freedom can be seen in, the decision of Brigham cuts

the allowance of Ann, brings her to rent her house as hotel of Gentiles. Gentile is anti

Mormon. They live movely as a comunity. They are Judge Hagan and wife, Major

Pond, Rev. Stratton, a Methodist. That her boarders are Gentile.

“Thus my house was transformed in less than a week. It was by coincidence

and circumstances of the time, but in no part by design, that my three boarders

were Gentiles.” (Ebershoff 341)

Based on the quotation above, the non Mormons come to her house and share

about their adventure. There is no such preparation to transform her house become a

lodge.

Each night she works in the kitchen while listening in. She always hates

washing dishes, but never more so during these evenings when the water and the

clinking cutlery obscures an important word in the dialogue. She takes to propping

the window with a block of wood so that the deas can travel to the kitchen more

clearly. “I longed to join my boarders but knew I could not.” ( Ebershoff 341). She

hesitates about their offerings.

They offer to Ann to join their mission as Gentile. In the middle of her

confusion, there is no reason Ann Eliza that she has same thought with them. She

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“I was too weary to be skeptical, too raw to protect myself further, and too depleted, in every sense, to lose anything more. “I don’t know where to begin,”

I said. Rev. and Mrs. Stratton said nothing further. They were not going to pry, nor even, as some do, pretend they were satisfied with

nothing said when in fact they craved every detail. “I hardly know what’s happened.” (Ebershoff 343)

Based on quotation above, she is no longer to hold her emotion up. She

reveals the history of her rebellion to the Mormon Church law and also the prophet as

the husband too. The first time she is confused and does not want to tell anyone. But

she finds advisor from Gentile that has same mission to break out the rule.

3.3. Fight Against the Polygamy Suppression

The struggle of Ann Eliza does not end yet. After having difficult effort to run

and hide from her husband and his followers, she still try her best to achieve her

dreams. She does her best to rebel the polygamy law. She does not expect to mush on

her dream. She wants to make sure that women are freely to deliver her own thought

and get freedom as men do. According to Shaw, liberal feminism attempt to remove

obstacles to women’s full participation in public life. Strategies include education,

federal and state policies, and legal statues. Liberal feminism defend the equal

rationality of the sexes and emphasize the importance of structuring social, familial,

and sexual roles in ways that promote women’s autonomous self-fulfillment. (Shaw

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Because some of right of women in this novel is not fully yet. Here are some points

and explanation that the researcher found in this novel. They are;

3.3.1. Being First Mormon Lady who Rebel the Law

Her first appearing in Brigham’s house when Ann Eliza and her mother get

invitation to visit Brigham in his office. She turns her attention to the Lion House,

which located across a small courtyard from Brigham’s house. Many of his wives live

there and his children too, in small rooms and apartments similar to those one might

find in a depot hotel. She sees women and girls staring at her. Some of those girls

about her age. She has a thought, “Were they Brigham’s wives or daughters? Or

both? (He was known to marry more than one step-daughter.)” (Ebershoff 249). Ann

Eliza asks to herself, imagines how if she is his wife and lives with many women that

she knows that Brigham gets married more than one of his step-daughter. Ann says;

“Polygamy inspires this in otherwise thoughtful women—the relentless need

to know another’s business. And yet what did I have to hide? Soon Mr. Dee would move me out of the Lion House and I would never have to suffer another night with the eyes of a dozen lonely wives dismantling me with their glares. (Ebershoff 257)

Based on the quotation above, she inspires the rebellion when she sees many

wivesin Brigham’s house. When she will marry with Dee, she is happy because she

can move out from the Lion House and gets far from Brigham Young.

One day, two young men, one thick with fatty muscle while his companion

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their chairs, their air an admixture of compassion and distaste. “Sister, we’ve been

sent out to evaluate the quality of your faith,” the bearded one began”( Ebershoff 394).

“If I may begin the evaluation. Now, first of all, do you remain faithful to the

Revelations of Joseph and the Prophecy of Brigham Young?” “No.”

The men looked at each other. I doubt anyone had ever answered as such. The thicker man appeared astonished; his companion seemed pleased to meet a challenge. “I’m sure you don’t know what you’re saying,” he said. “Brother Broadhead was asking if you hold the Prophets in your heart.” “I understand, and I do not.” (Ebershoff 348)

The young men look each other once again. Their expressions change from

surprise to irritation. One of them says;

“What you’re saying could get you in a lot of trouble, not just with

God and in Heaven, but with Brigham and everyone else. You need to be

more careful. I’m going to have to report everything you say to the Bishop.”

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Ann Eliza replies him with certainly and directly to them;

“Tell me then, yes, please tell me, how am I supposed to love this

religion? Perhaps it has brought you personally nothing but joy, and perhaps

you, too, and your families and everyone you know. Perhaps you’ve profited

under this system, found yourself nourished and enriched both physically and spiritually. In that case, I can understand your fervor and your desire to share

it. But, Brothers, please try, for a momenttryand see what it has done to me.

If you do, you might understand why my faith is crumbling, even as we speak

here now.” (349)

Based on the explanation above, they argue for some time. They talk about

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her disbelief will be washed away. They warn her of her lonely fate and the chill of

an eternity without the love of God;

“On your deathbed, Sister, you will regret this day. On your deathbed, I guarantee it, you will hear my voice.”

“I have no idea what will happen after I die,” I said, “yet I know one thing for sure: Neither do you.” (Ebershoff 349)

After this, she never tries to believe in the Latter-day Saints. Her faith had

been emptied out like a can. When she tells her mother, she says;

“You don’t know what you’re saying.” “Mother, I do.”

“You’ll lose everything.”

“I already have.” (Ebershoff 349)

Based on the explanation above, Ann Eliza still debates with her mother who

is still agree with Brigham Young. Ann Eliza does not believe after her needs does

not fulfill by him. Her escape from Mormondom begins with six men and a moving

van. They dismantle her house and haul the load to auction. When the house is empty

she sit on the porch with her boys to tell them about the great adventure they were

embarking on, “Like the Pioneers?” says James (Ebershoff 350). Ann Eliza says yes

and tries to explain briefly to his boy;

“Yes, something like that. And like all adventures, there will be difficult times.

And now is going to be one of those. I need both of you to be brave and not

cry even if you feel like crying.” I was sending James, my eldest, to live with

my father and his wives until I was settled. (350)

Based on the quotation above, when she tells him this, his eyes flickered with

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down.“I promise we’ll be together again very soon.” (Ebershoff 350). The truth is she cannot face her coming ordeal alone. She needs one of her boys with me, yet even

one is probably more than she will be able to care for over the coming days. James

begs her not to leave him.

Since beginning her preparations to flee, she had been too preoccupied to

ponder her fate. Now the fullness of it seemed to be pressing at the door of Suite No.

412. In abandoning her husband, she has given up almost everything she had ever

known. She is sleepless that night, alert to every sound in the hall.

“....I heard the man breathing on the other side of our door. He stood there for

some time. His breath was the sound of a man hesitating, or praying, before

committing a dangerous act. I grew certain it was one of Brigham’s Danites,

come to assassinate me. I imagined the cold animal black in his eyes. I was too frightened to move. I awaited the rattle of the knob and the turn of the stolen key. ( Ebershoff 351)

Based on explanation above, in place for hiding Ann is always fear if Brigham

knows about her hiding place. She always hears some noises from outside of the

room. She is always frightened.

Day by day, Ann Eliza becomes famous woman from Utah who is first

woman that rebel the polygamy law. She is a wonderful woman who is inspiring the

others to raise up;

“To this day I do not know how my story got out, but the dissemination

was so thorough and in such detail that Americans everywhere woke up to my tale. I would later learn I was on the front page of the papers in San Francisco, Saint Louis, and New York. The farther from Mormondom,

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Based on the explanation above, she did not know how her story spreads and

becomes inspiration to American people. On July, 15, 1873, Ann Eliza and Lorenzo

move into the Walker House. In Brigham’s mind, and the minds of his followers, this

is her act of apostasy, not the lawsuit she files against him ten days later or the

charges she lays out in the newspapers over the next many months. The Walker

House is known throughout the Territory as a Gentile den. The rumors about it

included orgiastic gatherings in the parlor, a Satanic altar in a linen closet, and

murderous rituals practices in the root cellar. Brigham spreads the rumor through

newspaper and makes the wrong statement;

“I am not going to recap for you how the feud between my mother and

Brigham played out in the press. Suffice it to say Brigham’s papers, especially

theHerald,waged a robust campaign against her. I am sure you

have read the accounts in the archives. He laid upon her every accusation

short of murder. “( Ebershoff 361)

This statement is from her child. It is said that Brigham is against her with any

of assumption even it is wrong. And from media itself, the famous of Ann Eliza

through her oration and absolutely from Brigham. he pays the newspaper to blow up

her. Two things she recalls from her child’s vantage. Brigham sent, via an agent, an

offer to her mother. This is a few days after they arrive at the Walker House. He must

have realized she is determined to carry out as public a divorce as possible.

“He offered—I believe it was—$20,000, to, as they say, disappear. my mother insists she was indignant at the offer and dismissed it at once. That is not my recollection. Tempted by the large sum, she lingered over it,

consulting with her advisers. Both Judge Hagan and Major Pond told her it

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my mother said. She looked to me as she said this. My memory of it is as clear as if it occurred this morning. Or right now. “ (Ebershoff 364)

Based on the explanation above, Brigham offers some money to Ann. He

hopes that Ann Eliza will stop her rebellion to him. But it is not Ann Eliza’s purpose.

She is just only to change the law of Polygamy in her land. By the end of July, Ann

had formally files suit against the Prophet of the Latter-day Saints. On the subject of

irony, Brigham responds with an unexpected legal maneuver. Via his lawyers he

claims Ann Eliza is not his legal wife for the simple reason that he is already married.

At the time there was a dual justice system in Utah—Brigham’s and the American

code of law. They lay a top one another in a not always natural fit. Some matters are

brought before the Church, others before the courts. Brigham chooses to use the

federal laws for his counterattack. The courts, of course, did not (and do not)

recognize polygamy. Therefore, Ann is not married to Brigham, never had been his

wife, and hence has no valid claims to his property. In essence, he makes legal claim

that he has never married her. After his declaration and claimed that Ann Eliza. She

is angry at him. She is ready to face Brigham;

“You must remember, I was born into this system. It was all I knew. I did not

know a Gentile until I was an adult woman. I had been raised to believe Brigham delivered messages from God. And above all, I was told this was my

spiritual duty, and that if I wanted to enter Heaven—and who among us, Miss

Lee, does not?—then I would need to submitto Brigham’s command and

become a plural wife.” (Ebershoff 413)

We can see at the quotation, Ann Eliza was born into this system. she cannot

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motivation to release women to be free and keep inspiring their children as much as

they can.

“I wish that were true. I wish my experience was wholly alien to the

women of Utah. If that were the case, I could go home to my other son today and settle into a house somewhere with my boys, and live out the rest of my life in privacy. My mission would be done. But this is not the

case. And until it is the case, I intend to speak about what I know.” (Ebershoff

414)

Based on the quotation above, Ann Eliza declares that she is the first woman

who does rebellion in Utah. She speaks to every woman that she can do what every

women of Utah did. But here is her truly motivation and took a journey to reveal

every one that Brigham’s law just brought sadness.

“If polygamy is a religious practice, if it’s part of the Mormons’ eternal

beliefs, why should you, or anyone, stop them from pursuing their faith?

Don’t the Mormons have the right to practice their religion as they please under the Constitution?”

There is nothing wrong with religion that is brought by parents, it is just how

human can be realized that the law just get from the God not from their human’s

thought itself. Every instruction from the bible is followed by Ann, but Ann is an

unordinary woman. She just wants to face the reality of herself being a victim of

Brigham’s polygamy;

“And if someone were to say, I believe in slavery because it appears in the

Bible, would you say, Go then, and be free to practice it. I believe this country has answered that question rather firmly. (416)

We can see at the quotation, she had learned something she had heretofore