The New Angel of the House: An Un-Academic Post of Anger

Margaret perplexes, vexes, enchants, disgusts, and impresses me. As a single woman she lived a life much like us academics, the life of the mind. In this life, she is both a picture of the Victorian New Woman and impressive philosopher. I even like her politics for the most part.
 But then Henry comes along. Henry. Hateful Henry. It seems that he represents a new kind of capitalistic manhood and that Margaret, under his romantic influence, is the angel of the house. While she resists his beliefs for the most part once they get engaged and married, she is also heavily influenced by him and hopes that she will be able to make him a better man.
Well, that sounds awfully familiar. However, she is really rather ineffective. Henry is nearly immovable. In addition, it's difficult for me to get over the red haze under which I see Margaret responding to Henry's previous indiscretion. "Oh no, Henry. It's fine. That was a different chapter in your life. I only feel bad for Mrs. Wilcox." Vomit.
But if I can get past the retching that Henry/Margaret combination cause all the way up to Charles being sent to prison, I can feel glad that Henry becomes broken. Margaret's role as the angel of the house can actually be fulfilled when Henry becomes a pale, fragile vision of his former self. While it seems that Henry, Margaret, Helen, and the baby are all very happy together, they could not be so if Henry had remained a raging asshole unwilling to change. Unfortunately, this does not lend me to think, "Good for you, Margaret!"