The Awakening of Miss Prim

by Natalia Sanmartín Fenollera

The basis of a good marriage, a reasonably happy marriage—don’t delude yourself, there is no such thing as an entirely happy marriage—is, precisely, inequality. It’s essential if two people are to feel mutual admiration. Listen carefully to what I’m about to tell you. You must not aspire to finding a husband who’s your equal, but one who’s absolutely and completely better than you.” Miss Prim was about to object, but the steely glint in the old lady’s eyes gave her pause. From her seat by the fire, Virginia Pille suppressed a smirk. “Does that only apply to women,” asked Miss Prim, “or must men also marry women they admire?” “Of course they must. They must seek women who, from one or several points of view, are better than them. If you look back over history you’ll see that most great men, the truly great ones, have always chosen admirable women.”